A more realistic Greek-Hebrew connection

In which month was the world created? There is a relatively well-known dispute in BT Rosh Hashana 11a between R. Eliezer and R. Yehoshua, the former arguing for Iyar as the first month, and the latter arguing for Nisan.

I'm sure one can create many fascinating and meaningful explications of this debate; I myself - during various Rosh Hashana davenings - have tried. But I don't think we can even begin to grasp the full meaning of this debate without recognizing that:

1. Aries (ie Nisan) is the first astrological sign in the Zodiac.

2. March (=Mars, i.e. Aries) was the first month in the ancient Roman calendar.

On one level, the Talmudic debate is taking up whether or not the Greeks and early Romans got it right.