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According to Plutarch, March,
originally called the first month of the year and named for Mars, the god
of war, (presumably signifying that the military campaigns interrupted by
winter could be resumed) by the original founder of Rome, Romulus; became
the third month under Numa Pompilius rule. In Roman mythology, Mars was
the god of war, of agriculture, and of the state. He was the
parthenogenetic son of Juno, the husband of the goddess Bellona, and the
lover of Venus. He was originally Mars Sylvanus, a god of spring
vegetation. As Mars Gradivus, he was identified with the Greek war god
Ares. As Mars Quirinus, he takes his place as guardian of produce and
fertility, represented by the grain and likewise with Janus, the guardian
of the gates and of beginnings in general. His festivals in March and
October marked the opening and closing of the military campaign season.
Coincidentally, the two moments in the year when the Sun is exactly over
the equator, and day and night are of equal length, are called the
equinoxes. In the Northern Hemisphere the first day of spring, or vernal
equinox occurs about March 21 and the city of Rome celebrated its birthday
on this day sacred to Mars.
"He (Numa Pompilius) also altered the order of the months; for March,
which was reckoned the first he put into the third place; and January,
which was the eleventh, he made the first; and February, which was the
twelfth and last, the second." "January was also called from
Janus, and precedence given to it by Numa before March, which was
dedicated to the god Mars; because, as I conceive, he wished to take every
opportunity of intimating that the arts and studies of peace are to be
preferred before those of war."
Portraying March in music not only required the martial character that we
associate with Mars, the God of War, but also the feline ferocity that is
often attributed to March in the old wives' tale: "March comes in
like a Lion, and goes out like a Lamb..." or vice versa! |