Marsor Mayors

Mars, or Mayors, was the Italian god of war, corresponding to the Ares of the Greeks. As the traditional father of Romulus (q.v.). he was also regarded as a specially Roman god, and was styled Marspiter (" Father Mars"). By the Romans be was also called Quirinus, the god of the Quirites, or citizens. The field where the Roman youth trained themselves in arms and athletic exercises was known as the Campus Martius; the first month of the year bore the name of the god; and the annual games were called Ludi Martiales. Temples of Mars were numerous at Rome; his priests, called the Salii, were clad in armour. The wolf and woodpecker were sacred to him.