In Greek classical mythology, Ares, the hot head, is said to be the God of war and courage. Different sources provide accounts of Ares’ birth and family lineage, confusing the mythological depiction of God.
The conflicting narratives contribute to the complexity and intrigue surrounding Ares’ character in ancient mythology. He is said to be one of the 12 Olympian gods on Mount Olympus and the son of Zeus and Hera. Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, Hebe, Dionysus, and Hephaestus were Zeus children and siblings of Ares.
In some Greek stories, Hera had Ares without the help of Zeus by using a magical herb. While Ares was still an infant, he was captured by two giants and put into a bronze jar. He would have remained there forever, but the giant’s mother found out and told the god Hermes, who rescued Ares.
His behaviour was always debatable among the Greeks, as he had the physical valour necessary to win a war but sheer bloodlust and brutality. The origins of Ares show him to be Mycenaean; his savagery reflects his origin as a Thracian deity.
1. Personality And Characteristics
In ancient Greek religion, Ares is known as the mighty God of war who scares away everyone and is brutal in the war. Unlike his sister Athena, who represents strategic and just warfare, Ares is associated with the violence and chaos of battle.
If someone associates with Ares, places, objects, and other deities are said to be tarnished with a savage, dangerous, or militarized quality and are often kept at arm’s length.
He’s also often mocked for having an affair with Aphrodite. Ares’ special powers were those of strength and physicality. As the God of war, he was a superior fighter in battle and caused great bloodshed and destruction wherever he went.
2. Appearance And Symbols
Despite being a bloodlust maniac, the Ancient Greek God of war, Ares, is said to have a great appearance, wooing up many women. Ares can be seen wearing divine armour, which includes a helmet, breastplate, and greaves. He wields a spear or a sword, symbolising his role as the God of war.
His physical appearance, with a muscular and athletic build, is often idealised, characteristic of the Greek ideals of beauty and strength. In many representations, Ares is depicted with a stern and intense facial expression, underscoring his association with war’s brutal and chaotic aspects. His countenance may convey a sense of determination or aggression, emphasising his role as a warrior deity.
Ares is sometimes accompanied by or associated with specific animals that emphasise his connection to war. Vultures, dogs, and boars are among the creatures linked to him. Symbols of war, such as shields and helmets, show artistic representations of Ares. Ares may be depicted wearing chlamys, a short cloak worn by warriors, emphasising his martial attributes.
3. Cult And Festivals
Ancient sources and modern historians have documented the rituals, sacrifices, and legends associated with Ares. The myths and cults of Ares have left a lasting impact on historical records and scholarly studies.
Ares, the Greek God of war, had few temples and a more complicated relationship with the ancient Greeks than other gods. Despite being an essential deity in Greek mythology, Ares was often called a disruptive and violent force, leading to a lack of widespread worship.
Only a few formal temples and cults were dedicated to Ares in mainland Greece and the Peloponnese. Pausanias, a Greek traveller and geographer from the 2nd century AD mentioned an altar to Ares at Olympia. Additionally, during Augustus’s reign, the Temple of Ares was moved to the Athenian agora, where it became a Roman temple dedicated to the Augustan Mars Ultor in 2 AD.
The Areopagus, also known as the “mount of Ares,” was a significant location in Athens associated with Ares. According to mythology, this was the place where Ares was accused and punished and later freed by the Greek gods after he killed Poseidon‘s son, Halirrhothius, for revenge because he raped Ares’s daughter, Alcippe.
As seen in ritual practices and statues, gods like Ares could be bound and restrained. Ares was given animal and historic human sacrifices in an obscure rite known as the Hekatomphonia. A Thracian deity identified as Ares was ritually offered sacrifices by the Scythians, including human sacrifices in ancient myth.
Ares was worshipped by various cultures, including the Thracians, the Scythians, the Huns, and the people of Asia Minor. His cult involved blood sacrifices, iron swords, and complex platform altars.
Ares was a prominent deity in Asia Minor, often linked with a local god or cultic hero. His cults were well-attested in southern Asia Minor and represented on over 70 local coin issues. In ancient Asia Minor, the western part of modern-day Turkey, the worship of Ares, the Greek God of war, was part of the broader influence of Greek culture and religion.
As with many regions in the ancient world, the introduction of Greek religious practices and deities into Asia Minor occurred through colonisation, trade, and cultural exchange. However, with the arrival of Greek settlers, local beliefs often blended or syncretised with Greek gods and rituals.
A sanctuary of Aphrodite was rebuilt on Crete as a double sanctuary for Ares and Aphrodite. In this local cult, Aphrodite was seen as a ‘warrior-protector acting in the realm of Ares’. As the Mycenaeans expanded their influence in the Aegean region, including Crete, they brought their religious beliefs, which were integrated with local Minoan traditions. This process contributed to incorporating Greek deities, including Ares, into the spiritual landscape of Crete.
The worship of Olympian gods gained prominence with the establishment of Greek city-states and colonies on Crete. Temples, cult sites, and rituals dedicated to deities like Ares became part of the religious practices on the island.
The integration of Ares into the religious practices of Crete reflects the cultural exchange and syncretism that often occurred in ancient civilisations. Local traditions may have blended with incoming religious influences.
While there is evidence of human sacrifice in some ancient cultures, there is no widespread historical or mythological account of human sacrifices dedicated specifically to Ares in ancient Greece. The religious practices in ancient Greece involved a variety of rituals, including sacrifices to appease and honour the gods, but human sacrifice was not a standard or integral part of Greek religious traditions.
The Greeks performed animal sacrifices, particularly offerings of goats, sheep, and pigs. These rituals were performed at temples, altars, or other sacred sites to seek favour from the gods, express gratitude, or fulfil religious obligations. The blood and smoke from the burning sacrifices were believed to reach the divine realm and establish a connection between mortals and the gods.
As the God of war, Ares received offerings related to martial activities. Soldiers and warriors might make dedications to Ares before going into battle, seeking his favour for success and protection. Such offerings typically involved symbolic items like weapons, armour, or representations of war.
Without explicit evidence supporting human sacrifice for Ares in ancient Greece, Ares’s worship likely followed the broader Greek religious practices of animal sacrifice, prayers, and rituals. The details of these practices varied across different city-states and regions, reflecting the diversity of Greek culture and beliefs.
4. Diving Into The History
The Greek deity, Ares, being battle lust, short-tempered, and easily provoked, is a maniac who constantly pokes his nose everywhere and creates trouble that leads to bloodshed. His presence in TrojanWarr, the Thrace campaign, the affair with Aphrodite’s reactions to the Greek God Zeus and other Gods, mortality, and his casualties are the ones to be discussed.
5. Trojan War
Greek mythology says the war God Ares stood on the side of the Trojans during The Trojan War, driven by his love for Aphrodite, who supported the Trojans. Ares played a role in battles, favouring chaos and bloodshed. Ares is a chaotic and impulsive deity lusting for the violence of war.
He is involved in battles that provoke soldiers and wreak havoc on the battlefield. Ares is mentioned explicitly in various battle scenes in the “Iliad.” His presence brings a surge of bloodlust and intensity to the fighting, with God actively participating in the conflict
In Homer’s Iliad, Ares initially sides with the Trojans but is later driven from the battlefield by Athena and Zeus. Athena overpowers Ares during the war, and their previous injury leads to Ares attacking Athena to avenge himself.
Ares’ approach to warfare contrasts with that of Athena, the Goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare. While Athena represents disciplined and strategic warfare, Ares embodies the brutality and chaos of battle. In the Iliad, Ares and Athena are portrayed as opposing forces, reflecting the duality of war.
6. Thrace Campaign
The Thrace campaign shows Ares’ interactions with the hero Hercules (Heracles) during the Twelve Labors. As part of his Twelve Labors, Heracles was given the task of capturing the fierce and man-eating Mares of Diomedes, horses belonging to the Thracian king Diomedes.
These horses were considered particularly aggressive and fed on human flesh. During this labour, Ares, the God of war, sided with the Thracians to protect the Mares of Diomedes. Ares likely saw the conflict as an opportunity to unleash chaos and bloodshed, aligning with his nature as a deity associated with the brutal aspects of war.
During the Thracian Wars, Heracles encountered Ares on the battlefield. The hero, known for his strength and courage, battled with the God of war. Despite Ares’ divine status, Heracles emerged victorious, reflecting the hero’s exceptional abilities and the mortal’s triumph over a god.
The encounter between Heracles and Ares in Thrace symbolises the triumph of strength, courage, and mortal prowess over war’s impulsive and chaotic nature. It reinforces the idea that mortal heroes can overcome even gods through courage and skill.
7. Aphrodite – The Secret Affair
Ares was humiliated before the Olympian gods when Hephaestus caught Aphrodite and Ares having a secret affair. Ares put the young soldier Alectryon on guard duty to conceal his affair with Aphrodite, but Alectryon fell asleep, resulting in their discovery.
Ares and Aphrodite had multiple divine sons, Deimos, Eros, Anteros, Phobos, and a beautiful daughter, Harmonia. Ares had romantic liaisons and children with other goddesses and mortal women, resulting in various offspring with different fates.
The twin giants often associated with Ares are Phobos and Deimos. These two figures are fear and terror, commonly called the sons of Ares and Aphrodite. Phobos and Deimos are derived from the Greek words for fear and terror, respectively.
7.1. Phobos (Fear)
- Attributes: Phobos is the personification of fear and is often depicted as grotesque and intimidating.
- Symbolism: He is associated with the psychological aspect of warfare, representing the fear that precedes and accompanies battle. Soldiers may feel the presence of Phobos as they approach conflict.
7.2. Deimos (Terror)
- Attributes: Deimos is the personification of terror and is similarly depicted as a frightening and formidable figure.
- Symbolism: Deimos represents the more visceral and immediate terror experienced during the heat of battle. His influence is felt in the chaos and panic that can grip soldiers amid warfare.
Ares is accompanied by Deimos and Phobos, his children with Aphrodite, and other spirits of war, such as Eris, Enyalius, and Polemos. Hebe, Ares’ sister, is responsible for drawing his baths, and local inhabitants of Therapne, Sparta, recognised Thero as a nurse of Ares. Ares is associated with multiple genealogical connections, including his offspring and family tree among the Greek gods. His connection to other deities shapes his significance in mythology and religion.
Moons of Mars: In astronomy, the two moons of Mars are named Phobos and Deimos about these mythological figures. The names were chosen to reflect the martial nature of the planet named after Ares’ Roman counterpart, Mars.
While Phobos and Deimos are not as prominent as some other figures in Greek mythology, their role as personifications of fear and terror adds depth to the narrative surrounding Ares and the psychological impact of war. They embody the emotional toll of conflict, the enduring connection between war, and the potent human experiences of fear and terror.
8. Ares – A Taint On Zeus
Zeus unleashed his wrath on his son. As the king of the gods and Ares’ father, Zeus did not always approve of his son’s actions. While Ares was considered a necessary force in war, his impulsive and reckless nature sometimes drew Zeus’s disapproval.
In Homer’s “Iliad,” Zeus rebukes Ares for his interference in the battle, questioning his role and reminding him that war should be left to mortals. This reflects Zeus’ concern about Ares’ overindulgence in violence.
In the Iliad, Fatherr Zeus expresses a recurring Greek hatred toward the God when wounded Ares returns and complains from the battlefield at Troy:
Then looking at him darkly Zeus who gathers the clouds spoke to him:
“Do not sit beside me and whine, you double-faced liar.
To me you are the most hateful of all gods who hold Olympus.
Forever quarrelling is dear to your heart, wars and battles.
…
And yet I will not long endure to see you in pain, since
you are my child, and it was to me that your mother bore you.
But were you born of some other god and proved so ruinous
long since you would have been dropped beneath the gods of the bright sky. Ares always ridiculed Zeus.
ILIAD BY HOMER
All the other gods and goddesses had mixed reactions to Ares. Athena, the Greek Goddess of strategic warfare, often opposed Ares and favoured more organised approaches to battle.
Despite his inclination toward chaos, Ares had his devotees, and some cities, like Sparta, held him in high regard, considering him a patron of their warrior society.
9. Mortality And Casualties
Ares’ involvement in wars inevitably led to a significant loss of mortal lives. The mythology doesn’t delve into specific numbers, but the tales emphasise the destructive consequences of war that Ares symbolises.
Ares’ presence in any conflict is generally marked by increased violence and a disregard for the more strategic aspects of warfare. The myths suggest that battles where Ares is involved tend to be more chaotic, resulting in higher mortality rates.
Through his association with war, Ares serves as a reminder of the grim and brutal realities of armed conflict. His actions and the consequences of wars highlight the dual nature of his character – a necessary force in war but also a potentially destructive and chaotic influence.
Ares’ association with war and its casualties carries symbolic weight. The mythology uses the God of war to represent the harsh realities of armed conflict, emphasising the destructive consequences that warfare can bring to mortal societies.
10. The Roman Counterpart
The Greek God of war and the son of Zeus, Ares, is called Mars, a Roman God in Roman Religion. In ancient Rome, Ares was considered Mars, the father of the Roman people and the city’s protector. As Mars, he was also associated as God of war and was considered a significant figure in the Roman pantheon.
Mars was pre-eminent among the Roman army’s military gods and considered a guardian deity of the Roman state and its people. Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome, were believed to be descendants of Ares through his rape of Rhea Silvia. Another belief is that the Trojan prince Aeneas, the offspring of the Goddess Venus, is considered the founder of Rome.
Greek mythology about Ares was interpreted by Roman writers as Mars, leading to the assimilation of the two figures in Western art and literature. Under Roman rule, Greek writers recorded Ares’s cult practices and beliefs under the name of Mars.
In Renaissance and Neoclassical art, Ares’s symbols were a spear and helmet, representing courage. In the literature of these periods, Ares was replaced by Roman Mars, reflecting a romanticised emblem of manly courage, unlike Ares.
Unlike Ares, Mars was a famous and essential god. The Romans thought of Mars as a powerful nature god and the God of war. They prayed to him to protect their crops and farm animals. The month of March was named after Mars because it was the time when farmers began to plant their crops. Mars, the fourth planet from the sun, was also named after him.
11. Conclusion
Ares was the most potent yet unrighteous Greek God. He was always bloodlust and wanted war. He was easily provoked and caused havoc everywhere he went. Most of the ancient Greeks hated him because of his behavior. He was blinded by arrogance and pride and didn’t care much about reputation.
His sister Athena was strategic about war but not bloodthirst. Zeus, the God of Thunder and father of Ares is always concerned about Ares’s behaviour.
Ares was also lustful for women and had multiple relationships but married none. He had two sons, Phobos and Deimos, with his consort, Aphrodite, known as the Goddess of love. She was the reason Ares stood with the Trojans in the Trojan War and provoked their soldiers.
Although he is such a powerful yet negative character in Greek mythology, he is precisely the opposite character as the Roman God, The Mars, in Roman mythical prehistory. Mars was often prayed to and called the city’s protector, and the Roman counterpart of Aphrodite was Venus.
Last Updated on March 24, 2024 by Khushahal Malakar