{"id":1127,"date":"2026-03-02T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/?p=1127"},"modified":"2026-04-05T12:51:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T12:51:32","slug":"marzo-antigua-roma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/en\/marzo-antigua-roma\/","title":{"rendered":"March in Ancient Rome: When the Year Began with Mars"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kb-image1127_841f7a-65 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image1127_841f7a-65 alignfull size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/marzo-en-la-antigua-roma.png\" alt=\"Representaci\u00f3n art\u00edstica de la Antigua Roma en primavera, simbolizando el mes de marzo y el renacimiento del a\u00f1o romano\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-1130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/marzo-en-la-antigua-roma.png 1536w, https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/marzo-en-la-antigua-roma-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/marzo-en-la-antigua-roma-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/marzo-en-la-antigua-roma-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/marzo-en-la-antigua-roma-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In Ancient Rome, March was not just another month.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was the beginning of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before January took that place, the Roman calendar started with <strong>Martius<\/strong>, a month dedicated to the god Mars and filled with rituals, purifications, and ceremonies marking the start of a new cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the Romans, the year did not begin in winter, but when the earth awakened, the fields were prepared, and the city returned to motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>March was the month of rebirth\u2026 but also of action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Martius: The Month of Mars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The name March derives from <em>Martius<\/em>, in honor of Mars, one of the most ancient divinities of the Roman pantheon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although today he is remembered primarily as a god of war, in his earliest origins Mars was not solely a warrior deity. He was also associated with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the fertility of the land<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the protection of the fields<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the growth of crops<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the order and defense of the community<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In early Roman thought, Mars was both an agricultural protector and a military guardian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The True Beginning of the Roman Calendar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Roman tradition, the first calendar was attributed to <strong>Romulus<\/strong>, the mythical founder of Rome, around the 8th century BCE.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This primitive calendar consisted of <strong>ten months<\/strong> and began in March. The year therefore started with the awakening of nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Later, King <strong>Numa Pompilius<\/strong>, (traditionally dated <strong>715\u2013673 BCE<\/strong>) reformed the system and added:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Ianuarius<\/em> (January)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-admin\/post.php?post=870&amp;action=edit\"><em>Februarius<\/em> (February)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Completing the annual cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet for centuries, March retained its immense symbolic weight as the natural beginning of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Month of Rituals and Purification<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>March was filled with public ceremonies intended to close the previous cycle and prepare for the new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among the most important festivals were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Equirria&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>March 14<\/strong> (and traditionally also <strong>February 27<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Horse races dedicated to Mars, associated with strength, speed, and military preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They were not merely sporting competitions but ritual events linked to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>vital energy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>military readiness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the renewal of collective momentum<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image1127_b030c2-e4 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image1127_b030c2-e4\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-medium_large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/las-equirrias-marzo-roma.png\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\" aria-label=\"equirrias carreras en la antigua roma\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/las-equirrias-marzo-roma-768x512.png\" alt=\"Carreras de caballos durante las Equirria, festividad romana dedicada a Marte en el mes de marzo.\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-1136\" srcset=\"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/las-equirrias-marzo-roma-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/las-equirrias-marzo-roma-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/las-equirrias-marzo-roma-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/las-equirrias-marzo-roma-18x12.png 18w, https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/las-equirrias-marzo-roma.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Mamuralia&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>March 14 or 15<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A deeply archaic ritual connected to the semi-mythical figure <strong>Mamurius Veturius.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It symbolized:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the \u201cold year\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>what was worn out<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the ending cycle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the symbolic winter<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>According to tradition, an elderly man representing Mamurius, dressed in animal skins, was ritually struck with rods and symbolically expelled from the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was a rite of transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Anna Perenna&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>March 15<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A popular festival dedicated to <strong>Anna Perenna<\/strong>, a goddess associated with the annual cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her name means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Anna<\/em> - year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Perenna<\/em> \u2014 perpetual, continuous<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It was celebrated in the <strong>Campus Martius (Field of Mars)<\/strong> through:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>large communal picnics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>abundant drinking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>songs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a festive atmosphere<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It was customary to drink as many cups as the number of years one wished to live.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image1127_839c25-42 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image1127_839c25-42\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-medium_large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/anna-perenna-marzo-roma.png\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\" aria-label=\"festividad anna perenna\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/anna-perenna-marzo-roma-768x512.png\" alt=\"Celebraci\u00f3n de Anna Perenna en el Campo de Marte, festividad popular romana asociada al ciclo anual.\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-1129\" srcset=\"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/anna-perenna-marzo-roma-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/anna-perenna-marzo-roma-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/anna-perenna-marzo-roma-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/anna-perenna-marzo-roma-18x12.png 18w, https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/anna-perenna-marzo-roma.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Ceremonies of the Salii<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Salii<\/strong>, warrior-priests of Mars, moved through the city during March:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>dancing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>striking sacred shields (<em>ancilia<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>chanting ancient hymns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These rituals symbolically awakened the energy of the god after the stillness of winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Tubilustrium&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>March 23<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ritual de purificaci\u00f3n de las trompetas sagradas (<em>tubae)<\/em>A ritual purification of the sacred trumpets (tubae), used in both religious and military contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>March did not merely inaugurate spring \u2014 it set Rome into motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Campus Martius (Field of Mars)&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Campus Martius<\/strong> was a vast alluvial plain beside the Tiber River, located <strong>outside the pomerium<\/strong>, Rome\u2019s sacred boundary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the Republic, it functioned as an open space dedicated to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>military training<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>assemblies and elections&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>public rituals&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>purification ceremonies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>There stood the <strong>Ara Martis (Altar of Mars)<\/strong>, an ancient sacred altar rather than a monumental temple.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image1127_fcc5e7-e2 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image1127_fcc5e7-e2\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-medium_large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/campus-martius.png\" class=\"kb-advanced-image-link\" aria-label=\"campus martius antigua roma\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/campus-martius-768x512.png\" alt=\"El Campo de Marte en la Antigua Roma, espacio ritual y pol\u00edtico fundamental en el calendario romano.\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-1132\" srcset=\"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/campus-martius-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/campus-martius-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/campus-martius-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/campus-martius-18x12.png 18w, https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/campus-martius.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From Ritual Plain to Monumental District<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>During the Imperial era, the Campus Martius was transformed into a monumental urban center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among the structures built there were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Theatre of Pompey \u2014 55 BCE<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Baths of Agrippa \u2014 25 BCE<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pantheon of Agrippa \u2014 built between 27 and 25 BCE by the statesman and architect Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, close ally of Emperor Augustus<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The present-day Pantheon was later rebuilt by <strong>Hadrian<\/strong> between <strong>118 and 125 CE.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When January Replaced March<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The decisive shift occurred in <strong>153 BCE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From that point onward, consuls began their term on <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/en\/1-de-enero-el-origen-de-ano-nuevo\/\">January 1<\/a><\/strong>, officially moving the start of the year.\nIt was a political and administrative adjustment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was a political and administrative adjustment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet the symbolic weight of March never entirely disappeared.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even today, months such as <strong>September, October, November, and December<\/strong> preserve numerical names that no longer align with their calendar positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Spring remains, almost instinctively, associated with beginnings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">War, Agriculture, and Balance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For the Romans, war and agriculture were not opposites. Both formed part of the same equilibrium:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the land had to remain fertile<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the city had to be protected<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>order had to be maintained<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Mars embodied this duality between creation and defense, between life and conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">March and the Universal Archetype<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rome ritualized March within a pattern shared by many ancient cultures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the end of winter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the return of light<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the renewal of the cycle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the restart of time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>While other peoples expressed this through agricultural myths or rebirth goddesses, Rome transformed it into calendar, ritual, and social structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Curiosities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Campo de Martius<\/strong> did not disappear.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of the world\u2019s most visited landmarks stand upon its former territory:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Trevi Fountain<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spanish Steps<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Campo Marzio district<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Few visitors realize that one of the most photographed places on Earth \u2014 the Trevi Fountain \u2014 lies within the ancient Field of Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Where cameras flash and coins fall into water today, rituals, military training, and ceremonies dedicated to Mars once took place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Time changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The place remains.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>En la Antigua Roma, marzo no era un mes m\u00e1s.&nbsp; Era el comienzo del a\u00f1o. Antes de que enero ocupara [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1130,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,5],"tags":[422,214,120,71,213,212,433,126,511,210,211,125,470,441,439,440,514,513],"class_list":["post-1127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-roma","category-antiguas-civilizaciones","tag-ancient-rome","tag-ano-romano","tag-antigua-roma","tag-calendario-romano","tag-campo-de-marte","tag-campus-martius","tag-dioses-romanos","tag-festividades-romanas","tag-march-ancient-rome","tag-marte","tag-martius","tag-rituales-romanos","tag-roman-calendar","tag-roman-festivities","tag-roman-gods","tag-roman-mythology","tag-roman-rituals","tag-roman-year"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1127"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1127\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1265,"href":"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1127\/revisions\/1265"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huellasdelpasado.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}