Mars vs Ares

Mars vs Ares

In Ancient history, two competing beliefs or religions were Greek Mythology and Roman Mythology. The Greek pantheon and Roman pantheon were two different takes on the same group of deities, although it can be argued that the roman pantheon borrowed from the Greek pantheon. The two conflicting religions were based on the same principles of each god being a person instead of a concept and each god having control over a respective of life, for example Poseidon and Neptune ruling over water and the seas.

Two conflicting gods coming from Greek and Roman religion were Ares and Mars, the god of war in their respective religions. Each god is one of many gods that are part of the Pantheon, an ideology called Hellenism, exclusive to the Greek and Roman's pantheons. Although they both represent the same god, they are depicted in different ways, this is because each religion chose to portray him in a different light in order to send a different message.

Ares is represented as a more evil, violent character                                   Mars is more dignified and powerful

In Greek culture Ares was portrayed to be some what of an untamed, disrespectful and reckless character where as in Roman culture mars was depicted to be a more dignified character and a guardian of the people as well as being the second most important god. This is because the Greek believed that war was a more untamed aspect of life and therefore something to be avoided much like the god ruling over war, Ares. Unlike the Greeks, the Romans took more pride in war and violence and thought of it as to be a part of life, because of this the ruler of war, Mars was represented to be a more important god than Mars.

Ares and Mars are at heart the same god but because of conflicting beliefs were represented in a different light in order to send a different message.