Limelight: Of Mars and men By Lubna Abdel-Aziz Observing the starlit sky, man was constantly dazzled by the magnetic red planet, known as Mars. Venus and Jupiter may be brighter, but Mars stands out with its flamboyant reflection, fiery, red, strong, and threatening. It has forever preoccupied man, long before telescopes were in existence. Its name 'Mars,' comes from the ancient Roman god of war, son of the goddess Juno and a magical flower. Mars was originally the god of fertility and vegetation in Roman mythology. His month March marked the beginning of spring, the growing season. He later became associated with battle, and more widely worshiped than any of the Roman gods as he was considered the father of Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome. Before going to battle Roman troops offered him sacrifice, and shared with him their victory spoils. The burning planet is named after this warring god, and the word 'martial' meaning 'warlike,' is also based on his name. All the ancients revered this orange-reddish planet in their own way. In Babylonian astronomy it was named after 'Mergal' the deity of fire, war and destruction. The Egyptians called it 'Hr Dsr' or 'Horus the Red.' The Hebrews called it 'Ma'adum,' 'The One who Blushes.' Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese cultures refer to it as 'The Fire Star,' and in Hindu mythology it is known as 'Mengala,' though the Sanskrit name is 'Angaraka,' after the celibate god of war. For the ancient Greeks Mars was known as the 'Star of Ares' later translated by Romans as 'Stella Martes' or Star of Mars, which became simply Mars. The Arabic and Persian etymology for their name 'El Merrikh' remains unknown. By whatever name you wish to call it, the intensely radiant planet, with its torrents of flames, has seduced mankind, threatening his planet with its fire and heat, and its blazing reddish dominance in the celestial dominion. On August 27, 2007, earthlings were able to get their closest look at the blazing Mars, burning in the silvery blue horizon. This provocative planet was only 56 million kilometres away from earth. Before you gasp in frustration, this is a relatively short distance on the scale of the solar system. At 12:30 am "Mars blazed forth against the dark background of space with a splendour that outshines Sirius (the brightest star) and rivals the giant Jupiter himself." It's blinding lustre came roaring as the earth was mute, breathtaking in its splendour, Mars was spotted by millions of worshipers on earth, awed by the closeness of this mighty ball of fire. It was the closest the two planets ever reached. Cameras flickered and flashed in every corner of the globe to record that rare wondrous encounter. Was it an invitation to dance or to duel? At a modest 75 power magnification Mars looked as large as the full moon to the naked eye. It rose in the East at 10:00 pm and reached its azmuth about 3:00 am. Furiously rushing against the edge of the sky, a moment to be cherished, a tale to be told, to child and grandchild, as it is not likely to occur again in any of our lifetimes. Aristotle was among the first known writers to describe his observations of Mars, but it was left to Galileo (1564 1642) to view Mars through the first telescope in 1609. By the 19th century an improved telescope enabled Italian astronomer Giovanni Schaparelli to produce the first detailed maps of Mars. He observed long straight lines which he called 'canali.' They were later mistranslated into 'canals.' Buoyed by Schaparelli's discovery of water on another planet, Orientalist Percival Lowell, created several fantastic stories about Mars, which a delighted public eagerly devoured without question. Through the years, the 'canali' myth was seized upon by several other writers until the water theory was thoroughly dispelled by NASA's Mariner in the mid 60s. Our curiosity is endless. With pious persistence, we question, we seek, we probe. Our thirst for knowledge is born afresh with every infant's cry, and when answers are not readily available, we invent them. That is how mythology was born. In every culture myths of gods and goddesses were developed to fit their characters and convictions. Modern man has also sought to fit the gaps of knowledge with his own imagination an array of fictitious characters, sketches, and adventures, intensely original, infinitely appealing. Jonathan Swift made remarkable references to the moons of Mars in Gulliver's Travels, 150 years before their actual discovery. Best known of these fictions, inspired by speculations on the nature of the red planet is H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds, where Martians seek to escape their dying planet by invading earth. This was adapted for the screen in 1956, and remade by Steven Spielberg in 2006. Orson Welles' famous radio rendition of the same subject drove a terrified populous out of their homes into the streets of New Jersey in 1938. We claim to seek truth, but are more intrigued by a fanciful tale of Martians and men. Other famous writers have explored the Martian myths including Ray Bradbury's Martian Chronicles, in which human explorers accidentally destroy a Martian civilization. Edgar Rice Burroughs is another noted writer who produced The Barsoom Series, and Robert A Heinlin also authored a number of stories, all written prior to 1965, many adapted for the big and small screen. Now that we know Mars is lifeless, canal-less, waterless, not even red, and not at all threatening, are we to abandon our Martian myths? In her Martian Trilogy Kim Stanley Robinson has led a series of more accurate Mars descriptions, but the popular themes of the ancients are not readily forsaken. Having discovered the cold reality of the face of the moon, has it become less stunning to the human eye, less illuminating, less inspiring, less romantic? Fantasy-loving mortals cannot relinquish their mythical notion of the moon's magic spell that smiles benevolently on many a beating heart. So will Mars remain a blazing red light in the dark heavens, gazing at our planet, perhaps defiantly, perhaps hiding little Martians beneath its crust, perpetually ready to make war. What care we, if this is far from the truth! We saw Mars on August 27th, it was spectacular, it was awesome, and yes it was gigantic and fearsome. But the night wore, off and the moment flew away! The heavens call to you, and circle around you, displaying to you their eternal splendours, and your eye gazes only to earth The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri (1265-1321)
