Mars 

Mars -- The Archetype of "The Warrior or God of Masculine Sexuality", ruler of the sign Aries. Mars symbolizes that character within us who is dedicated to our survival, at whatever the cost. He is the "I AM" principle of the psyche, willing to do what is needed to continue to be. He relates to our capacity to form, protect, defend and courageously project our own unique sense of identity. Mars relates to our competitive spirit, our unique "brand" of courage, the need for self-assertion to define/establish our personal territory, and the use of aggression when needed, in order to defend it. Venus and Mars are often paired astrologically, representing the feminine and masculine polarity regarding sexuality and survival. This is best understood in nature, and a more primitive stage of human development, where successful continuation of the species demands that the female use discernment and good judgment to choose the strongest (most valuable) male in the gene pool, and the males actively compete with each other to establish this position. On some level of our psyche, this dance/war between the sexes continues to this day.