Mars in fiction

A Martian is a term used to refer to anything related to the planet Mars, or more specifically, to its hypothetical or actual inhabitants. The term is derived from the Roman god of war, Mars, who was known as Ares in Greek mythology. In Hebrew, a Martian is called מרציאני (Martziani). In other languages, the term is similarly derived from the Latin Martius, such as in French (Martien), Spanish (Marciano), and Italian (Marziano). The concept of Martians has been a popular theme in science fiction, often depicting them as alien beings with varying degrees of intelligence and technological advancement. Historically, the idea of life on Mars captivated public imagination in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fueled by observations of apparent canals on the planet's surface and speculative literature. However, subsequent exploration by spacecraft has revealed a cold, desert-like environment with no definitive signs of life, though the possibility of past or microbial life remains a subject of scientific inquiry.