# Tars Tarkas — The Gods of Mars character guide

> Tars Tarkas in The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

**Role:** major

**First appearance:** 0001-the-gods-of-mars

## Snapshot

A green Martian chieftain of Thark who learned friendship from an Earthman and now walks beside him into the forbidden Valley Dor.

## Who they are

Tars Tarkas is Carter's oldest ally on Barsoom, a towering Thark whose loyalty was forged when Carter taught him what friendship means. His strange, mirthful laugh in the face of horror marks him as both alien and deeply human, and his devotion to the memory of the woman he loved drives his pilgrimage south. His steadiness and knowledge of Martian ways make him indispensable as the mystery of the false gods unfolds.

## Relationships

### [Dejah Thoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/characters/dejah_thoris)

_friendship_

Dejah Thoris and Tars Tarkas share a strong bond of mutual respect and friendship as allies of Helium.

### [John Carter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/characters/john_carter)

_friendship_

John Carter and Tars Tarkas are steadfast friends and comrades-in-arms, bound by honor.

### [John Carter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/characters/john_carter)

_friendship_

John Carter and Tars Tarkas are steadfast friends and comrades-in-arms, bound by honor.

### [Dejah Thoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/characters/dejah_thoris)

_friendship_

Dejah Thoris and Tars Tarkas share a strong bond of mutual respect and friendship as allies of Helium.

### [Dejah Thoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/characters/dejah_thoris)

_friendship_

Dejah Thoris and Tars Tarkas share a strong bond of mutual respect and friendship as allies of Helium.

## In the story

### [The Gods of Mars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/chapters/the-gods-of-mars)

Mentioned as a friend and ally, though not present in this chapter.

### [The Plant Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/chapters/i-the-plant-men)

Mentioned as the leader who once gathered green warriors to rescue Dejah Thoris; not present in the chapter.

### [A Forest Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/chapters/ii-a-forest-battle)

The great Thark Jeddak fights back-to-back with John Carter; reluctantly accepts Carter's plan to enter the tree and later defends the opening from the mob.

### [The Chamber of Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/chapters/iii-the-chamber-of-mystery)

Expresses bitter disillusionment upon discovering the Valley Dor is not heaven but a place of danger; fights alongside John Carter against the banths.

### [Thuvia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/chapters/iv-thuvia)

Found fighting for his life against banths; weak from wounds but resolute; agrees to follow John Carter.

### [Corridors of Peril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/chapters/v-corridors-of-peril)

Accompanies John Carter and Thuvia, suggests making the escape attempt after dark for better chances.

### [The Black Pirates of Barsoom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/chapters/vi-the-black-pirates-of-barsoom)

Accompanies John Carter and Thuvia; his great weight prevents the flier from lifting, leading to John Carter's sacrifice.

### [When Hell Broke Loose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/chapters/xi-when-hell-broke-loose)

Mentioned in a flashback as having fought alongside John Carter against the Warhoon.

### [A Break for Liberty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/chapters/xiii-a-break-for-liberty)

Mentioned as a great fighter John Carter wishes were with them.

### [The Eyes in the Dark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/chapters/xiv-the-eyes-in-the-dark)

Mentioned as a prisoner being taken to an audience chamber, presumably for sentencing.

### [Flight and Pursuit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/chapters/xv-flight-and-pursuit)

Assists in stealing thoats and is rescued by John Carter from imprisonment.

### [Under Arrest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/chapters/xvi-under-arrest)

Jeddak of Thark, companion of John Carter, present as a prisoner.

### [The Death Sentence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/chapters/xvii-the-death-sentence)

Present at the feast, learns of his daughter Sola's involvement in the pilgrimage and grieves stoically for Dejah Thoris.

### [Sola's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/chapters/xviii-sola-s-story)

Participates in the planning of the rescue mission and agrees to assemble green warriors.

### [Black Despair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/chapters/xix-black-despair)

Present in the audience chamber when John Carter returns and participates in the planning.

### [The Air Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/chapters/xx-the-air-battle)

Planned to lead green warriors in a land assault on Issus's garden.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/characters/tars_tarkas
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gods_of_mars_se/characters