Mars
Mars,next to Jupiter the chief Italian god. Months were named after him at Rome (Martius, mod. Eng. March), Alba Longa, Falerii, Aricia, Tusculum, Lavinium, and among the Italic Hernici, Aequiculi, Paelignians, and Sabines (Ovid Fasti 3. 89–95, presumably from Verrius Flaccus). At Rome his festivals came in March and October, with the exception of the first Equirria (27 February). They were the feriae Marti on 1 March (old New Year's Day), second Equirria (14 March), agonium Martiale (17 March), Quinquatrus (19 March; afterwards extended to five days and supposed to be a festival of Minerva), and Tubilustrium (23 March). All these may be reasonably explained, so far as their ritual is known, as preparations for the campaigning season, with perfor-mance of rites to benefit the horses (Equirria), trumpets (Tubilustrium), and other necessaries for the conduct of war. On 1, 9, and 23 March also,...
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