MARS--ARES.
_Ques._ Who was Mars?
_Ans._ He was the son of Jupiter and Juno, and was worshipped as the
god of war.
_Ques._ How was he represented?
_Ans._ As a warrior in splendid armor, standing in a chariot driven by
Bello´na, a distracted woman, who holds a torch in her hand. Mars is
fierce in aspect and brandishes a spear. Sometimes Discord is
represented going before him in tattered garments, while Anger and
Clamor follow in his train. Fear and Terror are the horses which draw
the chariot.
_Ques._ What animals were sacred to Mars?
_Ans._ The dog, on account of its sagacity in the pursuit of prey; the
horse, for its uses in war; the wolf, for its rapacity and cruelty;
the raven, because it follows armies, watching for the carcasses of
the slain; and the cock, as an emblem of the vigilance which guards
against surprise.
_Ques._ What other names had Mars?
_Ans._ He was called Quiri´nus when he was quiet, Gradi´vus when he
was raging; therefore the Romans built him two temples, one to Mars
Quiri´nus within the walls, that he might keep the city in peace; and
one without, to Mars Gradi´vus, that he might defend them against
their enemies. Among the Romans, priests called Salii attended to the
sacrifices of Mars, and on festival days went about the city dancing
with their shields. Their name comes from the Latin word "to dance,"
and was considered appropriate, because Mars is inconstant in his
temper, and inclines now to this side, now to that, in time of war.
Except the story of his attachment to Venus, the poets relate but
little of Mars.
Bellona, the goddess of war, was, according to some, the sister of
Mars. She is generally represented as above, but some poets have
described her as rushing through the ranks of war, waving a flaming
torch, and exciting the combatants by her cries. The temple of Bellona
at Rome, was without the city, near the Carmental gate. Here the
Senate gave audience to such ambassadors as they were not willing to
admit within the walls. A pillar stood before the temple, over which
the herald cast a spear when he proclaimed war. The priests of
Bellona, when officiating, held naked swords, with which they gashed
their arms and shoulders, making libations of their own blood, to the
terrible goddess.