Mars was the Roman god of war, and the son of Juno and Jupiter. As the word Mars has no Indo-European derivation, it is most likely the Latinized form of the agricultural Etruscan god Maris. Initially the Roman god of fertility and vegetation and a protector of cattle, fields and boundaries, Mars later became associated with battle as the growing Roman Empire began to expand, and he was identified with the Greek god Ares. He was also a tutelary god of Rome. Unlike his Greek counterpart, Mars was generally well liked and rivaled Jupiter as the most honored god. As he was regarded as the legendary father of Rome's founder, Romulus, it was believed that all Romans were descendants of Mars.