Mars

Amulius seized the throne from his older brother, Numitor, after their father, King Proca, died. He sent Numitor to live on a small farm nearby and ordered the deaths of Numitor’s two sons. He then banished Numitor’s daughter, Ilia, to the temple of Vesta. Ilia became a Vestal Virgin and vowed to remain chaste for thirty years. Amulius intended the vow to prevent her from having children who might threaten his rule.

Mars came to Ilia in his sacred grove. He took her against her will and fathered twin sons with her. When Ilia gave birth, Amulius summoned her and demanded to know how a Vestal Virgin had borne children. Ilia answered that Mars was the father. She said that the god had taken her against her will and pleaded that the birth was not her fault.

Amulius became furious when he heard that his niece had given birth to twins. He ordered his men to take Ilia and the babies to the Tiber and drown them. The men carried out his order, but the twins survived. In one telling, they placed the babies in a tub and set it adrift. The tub struck a stone and overturned, leaving the twins in the river mud. A she-wolf heard their cries, carried them to her cave, and nursed them. A woodpecker guarded them and brought them food. Both animals belonged to Mars, who provided for his sons.

Mars and Venus carried on a secret affair. They met in Vulcan’s marriage bed and stayed together too long. The sun saw them at dawn and told Vulcan what had happened. Vulcan became angry and went to his forge.

He forged a bronze net from fine wire. The bonds could not be broken or loosened. He made the net so fine that no one could see it, not even a god. He spread it around the bedposts and hung more of it from the roof beams. Then he pretended to leave for Lemnos, the place he loved most.

Venus returned from Thrace and told Vulcan that she had been away on business at Corinth. Vulcan said that he planned to take a short holiday on Lemnos. Venus did not go with him. After he had left, she sent for Mars, who soon arrived. They went to bed together, and Vulcan’s hidden net closed around them. At dawn, Mars and Venus lay naked and unable to escape.

Vulcan turned back and found them caught in the net. He opened the doors and summoned the gods to witness his dishonour. The gods saw the lovers locked together and laughed at their embarrassment. Vulcan asked that they be punished for the affair, but the gods set Mars and Venus free.