The Roman God Mars is identified with Aries, the Greek God of War. Aries was driven by rage and a love of violence. He enjoyed the great noise of battle and loved bloody warfare.

Yet Aries was also associated with agriculture and particularly with the laurel tree. The month of March was sacred to him as messenger of the rebirth of plant life and the season of wars and campaigns.

Mars was the father of the famous Roman heroes Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. For that reason Mars was believed to come to the aid of Rome in times of crisis.