Mars

Mars is one of the best known of the Ancient Gods of War which patron the Order of Warriors and Order of Pagans alike. He was easily one of the more prominent and popular of Rome's ancient deities, second only in importance to Jupiter. 
Mars was most popular among the army, unsurprisingly, and he is said to have been the father of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome itself. 
== Facts: ==
-Actually, Mars was primarily the god of war in Roman Mythology, but to a lesser extent he was also the guardian of agriculture. Mars was a force of destruction, yes, but he was also a force of protection and stability. 
-Mars was the ancestor of Romulus and Remus, and through them, the people of Rome. Mars defended his children and they, in turn, adored him for it. 
-When Christianity proved ascendant over the older religions, Mars didn't give up and fade into the background. While outright worship of him was banned by the later Roman Emperors, Mars remained present in art, literature and culture. Here and there, pagan cults dedicated to Mars still existed, often meeting deep within Rome's labyrinthian catacombs, and many within the Roman armies still whispered prayers to him before battle. Rome may have forgotten Mars, but Mars never abandoned his people. 
-Now, in modern times, paganism has seen a renaissance, and many Pagan Adepts now openly worship and pray to Mars for his benevolence. 
-The development of the Brotherhood of the Wolf (of which Mars was a founding member) has now grown into the National Chapter for all of Italia. And Mars now views the entire peninsula as his own territory. 
-The sacred animal of Mars is the wolf and he is associated with the color red (the color of blood).
-Mars is often seen as the twin counterpart to Ares, the Greek God of War. However, were Ares is often seen as haughty, arrogant and disruptive; Mars is stern, commanding, productive and a champion of the republic. 
-As one of the Ancient Gods of War, Mars is a patron of the Order of Warriors. 
-Mars make up one of the three major trinities of Roman mythology. Along with Jupiter and Minerva, Mars was one of the most worshipped of Rome's gods. 
== Relationship With Roman Catholicism: ==
The Church of Rome has had a bloody history of empire building, statesmanship, and conquest. Whether through crusades or cultural takeover, Roman Catholicism has exhibited many of the same virtues espoused by Mars. The Catholic Church has sought conquest, stability, productivity, and above all a commitment to the good of the state. 
Some have whispered that Mars may have been even less than dormant during the period of Christianity's rise than previously thought. Could Mars have been a secret power operating within the Roman Church all along? 
== References: ==
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_(mythology)
-http://military.wikia.com/wiki/Mars_(mythology)
-http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/roman-mythology.php?deity=MARS
Category:War
Category:Pagan
Category:Brotherhood Of The Wolf
Category:Destroyer