Māvors, vortis, m. [from mah, magh, to cut; Gr. μάχη, μάχαιρα, and vor, root of vortere; i. e. the turner of the battle], old and poetic name for Mars (q. v.), the god of war, etc.
- I. Prop.: urbs Mavortis, i. e. Rome, Verg. A. 6, 872; 8, 630; 12, 179; Cic. N. D. 2, 26; 3, 24; Luc. 7, 569: Mavors pater, Val. Fl. 6, 178: genitor Mavors, Ov. F. 4, 828: Iliae Mavortisque puer, i. e. Romulus, Hor. C. 4, 8, 23.
- II. Transf., war, battle: civili Mavorte, Aus Idyll. 4, 65.
Hence, Māvortius, a, um, adj., of or belonging to Mavors or Mars (poet.): moenia, i. e. Rome, Verg. A. 1, 276: tellus, i. e. Thrace, id. G. 4, 462: conjux, i. e. Venus, Val. Fl. 2, 208: proles, i. e. the Thebans, Ov. M. 3, 531; cf.: seges Mavortia belli, the armed men that sprang up where the dragon’s teeth were sown, Claud. III. Cons. Hon. 135.
As subst.: Māvortius, i, m., Meleager, son of Mavors, Ov M. 8, 437; cf. Hyg. Fab. 471; but of Mars, Petr. poët. 124, v. 261; Inscr. Grut. 57, 1.
Transf., of or belonging to war, warlike, martial: Amazon, Val. Fl. 5, 90: tela, Stat. Ach. 1, 626: vulnera, Grat. Cyn. 344.