the Roman god of war, was originally called Mars or Marus, and was identical with the Sabine and Oscar deity Mamers. Among the Romans he came gradually to be viewed in three different characters, and to receive different names corresponding to these characters. He appears to have been regarded originally as the father of Romulus, and accordingly was considered one of the tutelary divinities of Rome. In this character he was called Quirinus, a name derived from the Quirinal Hill, on which his ancient temple stood. But, as the founder and patron of Rome, Mars was naturally supposed to preside over agriculture, the favourite calling of the primitive Romans. He was therefore worshipped as a rustic deity, under the title of Silvanus. Another honourable vocation, however, in ancient Rome was the art of warfare. For the same reason, therefore, that Mars was held to be the god of agriculture he was supposed to be the god of war. In this last character he was worshipped under the name of Gradivus by priests called Salii. Mars was generally painted as an armed warrior of a fierce aspect, riding in a chariot, and brandishing a spear. His shield (anicle) is said to have fallen from heaven in the reign of Numa, and was carefully preserved as the symbol of the perpetuity of the Roman power. To lessen the chances of its being stolen, it was placed among eleven other shields exactly like it. At the ancient temple of Mars, near Reate (Rieti), the responses of the god were communicated by the mouth of his sacred bird the woodpecker (picus). He was also worshipped with great honours at Tuder (Todi), in a sanctuary still seen in ruins. Of the numerous temples dedicated to him at Rome, the most famous was that of Mars Ultor, built by Augustus in the Forum Augusti. The quadrupeds sacred to Mars and most acceptable to him in sacrifice, were the horse and the wolf. The name of his wife was said to be Nerio or Neriene. At an early period he was identified with the Greek god Ares. The month of March and the Campus Martius were named after Mars.