As Mars was mentionned in Astronomy board as being in a prominent position all this summer, and as for me personnaly, it looks like in this period of my life I have most especially to deal with Mars energy, so I remembered this book of Liz Greene and Howard Sasportas, Dynamics of the Unconscious (that I strongly recommend, BTW), where, in one of the chapters, Sasportas draws the distinction between the Greek Ares and the Roman Mars.

Basically, the Greek Ares presents the more negative aspects of aggressiveness, he was the God of War and the Greeks had not much esteem for him... and even his father Zeus was disgusted by him: "When Ares heard the clashing of arms, he grinned with glee, put on his gleaming helmet, and leapt into his war chariot. Brandishing his sword, he rushed into the thick of battle, not caring who won or lost as long as blood was shed. A vicious crowd followed at his heels, carrying with them Pain, Panic, Famine and Oblivion." (from Encyclopedia Mythica). He was only worshiped in Thracia, "a region known for its fierce people". He was seen as the selfish and blind power of violence. Despite his physical power, he loose all his battles and had to come before Zeus to get healed.

It's interesting to note how he doesn't get along with Zeus (the "law", and also the principle of the logos and the spirit - the light bearer) and his sister Minerva (the principle of a serene intelligence that one could relate to the Balance). But look how this changes for the Roman: (Mars is) "...one of the most prominent and worshipped gods. In early Roman history he was a god of spring, growth in nature, and fertility, and the protector of cattle. Mars is also mentioned as a chthonic god (earth-god) and this could explain why he became a god of death and finally a god of war." He was also the father of Romulus and Remus, so, one of the principles of the foundation of the Republic.

The Romans thought that Mars had a more positive side then that one of the expression of the blind and explosive rage. As an agriculture god, of spring and vegetation, he is associated to growth, culture and future. Even the names, Ares and Mars, are unrelated. Ares comes from a root name meaning, "to destroy" and Mars can have two root words: mas, meaning a generative force, or mar, meaning, "to shine". One of his epithets was Mars Gradivus, once again, connecting him to growth. Mars had as an escort very different figures, also: Honos (Honour) and Virtus (Virtue). Romans believed that their destiny was to rule the world, and so, the capacity of self-affirmation was a very respectable characteristic. The accomplishment of "destiny", was a form of being loyal to one's true nature... even when this meant to cut off the head of the enemy crossing one’s via!

Those two ways of looking at the nature of Ares/Mars tell us about the paradoxical approach of this force: Mars in the chart can as well symbolise a blind, destructive force, as the medium of self affirmation, being faithful to one’s inner individuality.