Mars: From a Mythological and Symbolic Perspective

astrology
Written By Jasmine

As I’ve been on my astrology journey, one of the ways I’ve connected to the planets has been through their mythological and archetypal correspondences, accompanied by the symbolism astrologers use to describe what the planets signify.

With that in mind, this series of posts, where I’ll cover each planet in our solar system (plus Pluto), I’ll write about their mythology, archetypes, and some general symbolism, including my own observations.

In this post, I will focus on Mars.

[I will add to this post when I broaden my knowledge of myths, deepen my knowledge of the planets, and make new observations concerning them.]

The Mythology of Mars

Ares

In Greek mythology, Ares (also known as Mars in Roman mythology) was the son of Zeus and Hera. He became the “god of war and, as such, was associated with the violence of war, bloodlust, panic, and the screams of the dying” (Giesecke 2020).

Edith Hamilton wrote that Homer called Ares “murderous, bloodstained, the incarnate curse of mortals; and, strangely, a coward, too, who bellows with pain and runs away when he is wounded. Yet he has a train of attendants on the battlefield which should inspire anyone with confidence” (Hamilton 1942). The Romans, however, according to Hamilton, liked Mars, the Roman equivalent of Ares “better than the Greeks liked Ares. He never was to them the mean whining deity of the Iliad, but magnificent in shining armor, redoubtable, invincible” (Hamilton 1942). She also notes that Ares is little more than a symbol of war. He is not a distinct personality, like Hermes or Hera or Apollo” (Hamilton 1942).

Interestingly, both Ares and Athena (daughter of Zeus and Metis) were associated with war. However, where Athena’s association lay in the intelligent art of war–like the strategy, planning, and tactics of war (her mother was a goddess of wisdom after all)–Ares’s associations were all forms of fighting, like battles and combat, as well as the violence, conquest, force, and aggression of it all.

He is also known for being Aphrodite’s lover and fathering, among others, Eros (known to the Romans as Cupid or Amor), which is an interesting combination of love and war, pleasure and pain, Venus and Mars, to create the god of love and sex.

The Symbolism of Mars

General Overview

  • Domicile: Aries & Scorpio

  • Detriment: Libra & Taurus

  • Exaltation: Capricorn

  • Fall/Depression: Cancer

  • Joy in the 6th House of Bad Fortune

  • Mars spends approximately forty days in each sign.

Symbolism

Mars is a malefic planet that’s connected to war, violence, conflict, anger, and fiery impulses. It can be both something you partake in yourself, something that’s done to you, or something you work with (i.e., you might funnel your anger into activism, you might have a tendency to get pulled into bar fights, or you might work with domestic violence victims, etc.).

Mars also has a sharpness and cutting quality to it, so it can manifest as scars on the body, or perhaps you work with sharp tools, like a surgeon.

Mars is also associated with energy and vitality, as well as desire, courage, grive, determination, taking action, and decisiveness. As I mentioned in the section about Ares above, his union with Aphrodite resulted in the birth of Eros, the god of love and sex. In other words, there’s a need for both the energies of Venus and Mars in romantic relationships where love, companionship, desire, passion, sex, etc. is part of the relationship. Venus is the love, companionship, pleasure, and sweetness, while Mars is the courage, willpower, and decisiveness to take the first step and keep the relationship going. It’s difficult for one to fully function without the other.

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Sources

Jasmine https://www.themultidisciplinarycreative.com/
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Jupiter: From a Mythological and Symbolic Perspective
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Venus: From a Mythological and Symbolic Perspective