Hey!!! So, I wanted to add my perspective on this discussion about how 'Ares' raped these two women. I just wanted to point out the nuances of the two sources since I don't think they were explicitly talking about Ares, but Mars. Also before I begin, I just wanted to say that I could be wrong, so take anything I say with a with a grain of salt. And now, let's begin!!!!!
Part One: Rhōmaikē Archaiologia (Roman Antiquities)
Dionysius of Halicarnassus wrote "Roman Antiquites" in Greek, and his choice to use the name Ares instead of Mars is likely influenced by his linguistic and cultural background. Writing for a Greek-speaking audience, Dionysius might have used the name Ares to make his work more accessible and familiar to his readers, even though he was referring to the Roman god of war. This linguistic choice does not imply he was invoking the Greek Ares specifically but rather adapting the Roman context into his Greek narrative framework. Also, "Roman Antiquites" solely focuses on the history of Rome, so the chances of Dionysius referring to Ares, the Greek god of war, instead of Mars is pretty slim.
Part two: Parallela Graeca et Romana
Similarly, Plutarch, another Greek historian, wrote his works in Greek and often catered to a Greek-speaking audience. Also, the presence of Roman names and references in the passage here, like "Septimius Marcellus," strongly indicates a Roman context. Septimius Marcellus is a distinctly Roman name, composed of the gens name "Septimius," indicating membership in the Septimia clan, and the cognomen "Marcellus," a diminutive form of "Marcus" connected to the god Mars. This naming structure follows the Roman tradition of praenomen, nomen, and cognomen, unlike Greek conventions which typically used a personal name followed by the father's name or a descriptor. This suggests that even when Ares is mentioned, it might be more the Roman god Mars rather than referring to the Greek God Ares specifically.
Also, I'd like to mention that Mars cannot be directly translated into Greek as it is the proper name of the Roman god of war and not a common noun. Instead, it translates to "Άρης" (Ares), the Greek equivalent, highlighting the cultural adaptation rather than a linguistic translation of the concept of war. So, I believe that's the reason these Greek historians just say "Άρης" and not a Greek word for Mars, because it doesn't exist.
Again, my view on this could be off, but I genuinely doubt that these works were talking about Ares, and not Mars. Feel free to correct me tho!!!
germansingergirl
turnnoffyourmind
vaporwave
stormborns
theartofmadeline
