Mars has always been visible from Earth. Its red color makes it stand out. The other planets appear white or whitish-yellow. Red is a color that people connect with violence, bloodshed, and death. In many cultures, Mars is associated with gods of death.
Greeks and Romans
Mars was named for the Roman god Mars (called Ares by the ancient Greeks). Mars was the god of war. He was cruel and always looking for a fight. When they were discovered in 1877, the moons of Mars were also given names from Roman mythology. Phobos means "fear," and Deimos means "terror." These were the names of the sons of Mars.
