Mars
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Astronomy
Mars is the first planet whose orbit around the Sun lies outside that of the Earth and is therefore considered to be the first of the outer planets. Its equatorial diameter of 6794.4 km makes it only half the size of the Earth. Its average distance from the Sun is 227.9 million km and has an orbital period of 687 days (about two Earth years). Its maximum diurnal movement is 40 arc minutes with the average being 31 minutes. Because of its red glow it is often referred to as the red planet.
Mythology
Ares (Latin for Mars) was the god of war and one of the twelve Olympians. He was Zeus' and Hera's only son. Ares himself had many short-term relationships and countless affairs, the most prominent one being with Aphrodite (Venus), the goddess of love and beauty.
Ares is usually portrayed riding a chariot being pulled by two horses, Deimos (terror) and Phobos (fear). Later traditions considered Deimos and Phobos to be children born of his affair with Aphrodite. Ares' passion was the wild, unrestrained fight, usually involving great bloodshed. Rather than being the strategist who goes into battle with a plan, he was the firebrand with raw irrepressible power. His choleric and argumentative temperament on and off the battle field made him rather unpopular among gods and humans alike; he was therefore rarely honoured or idolised. However, even Ares has a conciliatory side. Deimos (terror) and Phobos (fear) were not the only offspring from his love affair with Aphrodite: He also fathered Harmonia, Eros and Anteros, two aspects of the god of love.
Mars, the Roman equivalent of Ares, was originally the god of agriculture. It was only with the increasing militarisation of Roman society that he came to be associated with the Greek god Ares.
Physical body
The male sexual organs are associated with Mars, together with muscles, blood and arteries. When blood is pumped along the arteries it transports oxygen to the body's various organs and muscles.
Interpretation
According to Dane Rudhyar, "Mars is the energy that forces the seed to germinate". So Mars stands for the initial impulse, the impulsive energy. Its house and sign position show where and how an individual initiates action, how they go about achieving something or asserting themselves. It also indicates the way an individual is likely to expend excess energy and get moving. Mars is associated with all kinds of instinctual drives and symbolises the personal will and love of conquest. But it can also stand for uncontrolled aggression, anger and rage. It also describes sexual energy.
In a man's horoscope Mars, in combination with the Sun, represents his masculine identity. Contrary to the Sun which stands for the paternal father, Mars is the conqueror who gives active expression to his desires. In a woman's horoscope the positions of Mars and the Sun indicate her inner image of the masculine principles.
When Mars is in aspect to other planets or an axis it dynamises and actives the horoscope factor involved.
When transiting Mars aspects other planets it energises and motivates them to action - although the influence of Mars transits is usually felt only for a couple of days. However, Mars transits that occur during periods of retrograde movement are more significant because it can then aspect the same horoscope factor three times.
Mars is the ruler of Aries and in exile in Libra. It is exalted in Capricorn and in fall in Cancer. Before the discovery of Pluto, Mars was also held to be the ruler of Scorpio and exile in Taurus.
