The month of March is named after the second most, although some would claim the primary god of the anicent Romans. To that end he was sometimes known as Marspater, or Father Mars, and his original name was Mavors. Although worshiped, at least from our historical prism, as the Roman god of war, he aslo was the protector of one of the more honorable and somewhat opposite pursuits, agriculture.

Although all of antiquity might understand this complex relationship, it was perhaps the Romans who both understood and exploited it best. It is one we know well since it is through farming and the production of excess food that allows for the rise of civilization and eventually to the State and subsequent armies to defend that State. As we uncover and discover more buried cities and shipwrecks, slowly our understanding of the ancient world is being rewritten to that which far more resembles our own world, in both technology and understanding of the universe. Also, as one who has read a detailed history of Rome, it was the Roman Emperors, who very much desired a State Religion in which to further control the population. But I digress.

Mars, like many goddesses had three aspects, as the martial god he was Gradivus, as the rustic god Silvanus and as patrol of the Roman state, Quirinus. He and his consort Neria, are commenrated on March 25.

Originally known as Mavors, his Greek equivalent was Ares, and in central and northern Europe, it was the sky god Tiu or Tiwaz. While in western and northern Europe, this diety was known as the Celtic god Teutates and the Norse god Tyr. The wolf and woodpecker are sacred to Mars.

Mi or Mharta is the Irish spelling, also honoring Mars. The Anglo Saxon, who honored the Earth Mother goddess Hertha or Nerthus the month was called Hrethmonth or Hertha's month. The Frankish name for the month is Lentzinmanoh, or "renewal month" honoring the vernal equinox.