Ares - Ancient History Encyclopedia Ares by Mark Cartwright published on 11 July 2012 The ancient Greek god of war Ares ( Roman name: Mars ) was perhaps the most unpopular of all the Olympian gods because of his quick temper, aggressiveness, and unquenchable thirst for conflict. Described by Hesiod as ‘shield-piercing Ares’ and ‘ city -sacking Ares’, the god represented the more brutal and bloody side of battle - in contrast to Athena , who represented the more strategic elements of warfare . In mythology , Ares was usually to be found in the company of his children with Aphrodite , Phobos (Fear) and Deimos (Terror), with his sister Eris (Strife), and with his charioteer Ennyo. Remove Ads Advertisement Son of Zeus and Hera , Ares’ sisters were Hebe and Eileithyia. He had various children with different partners, several of whom were unfortunate enough to come up against Hercules when he performed his celebrated labours.

Ares’ daughter Hippolyta, the Amazon queen, lost her girdle to Hercules, his son Eurytion lost his cattle, and Diomedes had his horses stolen by the Greek hero. The courageous but war-like Amazons were also thought to be descendants of Ares. The Iliad shows Ares in a less than positive light and he is described as ‘hateful Ares’, ‘the man-killer’, and the ‘curse of men’. Ares was noted for his beauty and courage, qualities which no doubt helped him win the affections of Aphrodite (even though she was married to Hephaistos ) and with whom he had a daughter, Harmonia. As punishment for his indiscretion, Ares was temporarily banished from Mount Olympus. He also upset the harmony of Olympus when he was accused of killing Poseidon ’s son Halirrhothios near a stream below the Athenian acropolis . A special court was convened - the Areopagos - on a hill near the stream, to hear the case. Ares was acquitted as it was disclosed Halirrhothios had raped Ares’ daughter Alkippe.

Thereafter in Athens , the Areopagus became the place of trial for cases involving murder and impiety. Perhaps unsurprisingly, considering the city’s strong militaristic culture, Ares was greatly esteemed in Sparta . He also had a cult in Thrace and was popular among the Colchians on the Black Sea. Remove Ads Advertisement The most popular myth involving Ares was his fight with Hercules. Ares’ son Kyknos was infamous for waylaying pilgrims on their way to the oracle at Delphi , and so earned the displeasure of Apollo who sent Hercules to deal with him. Hercules killed Kyknos and a furious Ares engaged the hero in a fight. However, Hercules was protected from harm by Athena and even managed to wound Ares. Another myth and ignominious episode for Ares was his capture by the twin Giants Ephialtes and Otus when they stormed Mount Olympus. They imprisoned the god in a bronze jar (or cauldron) for one year and he was only freed through the intervention of Hermes . In Homer ’s version of the Trojan War in the Iliad, Ares supports the Trojans, sometimes even leading them in battle along with Hektor.

The Iliad shows Ares in a less than positive light and he is described as ‘hateful Ares’, ‘the man-killer’, ‘the war-glutton’, and the ‘curse of men’. Homer’s picture of Ares, like the above mythological tales, also often demonstrates his weakness in comparison to the other gods. Ares is roundly beaten by Athena who, supporting the Achaeans, knocks him out with a large rock. He also comes off worse against the Achaean hero Diomedes who manages to injure the god with his spear, albeit with the help of Athena. Homer describes the scream of the wounded Ares as like the shouts of 10,000 men. Fleeing back to Olympus, Zeus ignores the complaints of Ares but instructs Paiёon to heal his wound. In ancient Greek Archaic and Classical art, Ares is most often depicted wearing full armour and helmet and carrying a shield and spear. In this respect he may appear indistinguishable from any other armed warrior. Sometimes he is shown riding his chariot pulled by fire-breathing horses.

The myth of Ares’ battle with Hercules was a popular subject for Attic vases in the 6th century BCE. ARES - Greek God of War & Battlelust (Roman Mars) Ares Ares, Athenian black-figure amphora C6th B.C., Worcester Art Museum ARES was the Olympian god of war, battlelust, courage and civil order. In ancient Greek art he was depicted as either a mature, bearded warrior armed for battle, or a nude, beardless youth with a helm and spear. MYTHS Ares had an adulterous affair with the goddess Aphrodite but her husband Hephaistos trapped the pair in a golden net and humiliated them by calling the rest of the gods to witness. << More >> When Aphrodite fell in love with the handsome youth Adonis, the god grew jealous, transformed himself into a boar, and gorged the boy to death as he was out hunting. << More >> Ares transformed his daughter Harmonia and her husband Kadmos (Cadmus) of Thebes into serpents and had them carried away to the Islands of the Blessed.

<< More >> The god slew Hallirhothios to avenge the rape of his daughter Alkippe. He was tried at the court of the Areiopagos in Athens but acquitted of murder. << More >> Ares apprehended the criminal Sisyphos, an impious man who had dared to kidnap the god of death Thanatos. << More >> During the battle between Herakles and Ares' villianous Kyknos (Cycnus), the god intervened but was wounded by the hero and forced to flee back to Olympos. << More >> Ares actively supported his Amazon-queen daughters in their many wars and battles. The most celebrated of these was Penthesileia who joined the Trojan War. << More >> When the Aloadai giants laid siege to Olympos, Ares battled them but was defeated and imprisoned in a bronze jar. He was later rescued by the god Hermes. << More >> During the course of the Trojan War, Ares, who had sided with the Trojans, was wounded by the Greek hero Diomedes who drove a spear into his side, sending him flying back to Olympos bellowing in pain.

<< More >> Many other minor myths are detailed over the following pages. SYMBOLS & ATTRIBUTES Ares' main attribute was a peaked warrior's helm. Even in domestic scenes, such as feasts of the gods, he was depicted either wearing or holding his helm. The god's other attributes included a shield, a spear and sometimes a sheathed sword. Although his shield was often decorated with an emblem of some sort, ancient artists simply used a generic one drawn from their standard repertoire rather than something specific to the god. Ares was usually dressed as a standard Greek warrior with a short tunic, breastplate, helm and greaves. The breastplate was often ommitted in favour of a simple tunic, and he was sometimes depicted nude except for the helm and shield. Ares can be quite difficult to identify in ancient Greek art as there is little to distinguish him from other warrior figures. << More >> SACRED ANIMALS Ares' sacred animal was the serpent. He was also associated with certain birds, such as the vulture and a few species of owl, which ancient augury identified as portents of war, sedition and ill-fortune.

<< More >> The most famous of the god's animals in myth were the Colchian Dragon, a serpent set by Ares to guard the Golden Fleece, and the Ismenian Dragon, a giant snake which guarded his sacred spring near Thebes. << More >> ARES PAGES ON THEOI.COM This site contains a total of 13 pages describing the god, including general descriptions, mythology, and cult. The content is outlined in the Index of Ares Pages list (left column or below). FAMILY OF ARES PARENTS [1.1] ZEUS & HERA (Hesiod Theogony 921, Homer Iliad 5.699, Aeschylus Frag 282, Apollodorus 1.13, Pausanias 2.14.3, Hyginus Preface, et al) [1.2] HERA (no father) (Ovid Fasti 5.229) OFFSPRING See Family of Ares Ares was a son of Zeus and Hera, King and Queen of the Gods, and brother of the goddesses Eileithyia and Hebe.

His half-brothers and sisters included Athena, Aphrodite, Apollon, Artemis, Hermes, Dionysos and Hephaistos. Ares had three children by the goddess Aphrodite named Deimos (Fear), Phobos (Terror), and Harmonia (Harmony). His daughter Harmonia's daughter Semele was the mother of the god Dionysos. Ares also had numerous mortal offspring. Many of these inherited their father's violent temperament and in myth were often cast in the role of villains. << More >> Below are two graphics depicting Ares' family tree, the first with names transliterated from the Greek and the second with the common English spellings:- ENCYCLOPEDIA Ares, Greco-Roman bronze statue, Gaziantep Museum of Archaeology ARES (Arês), the god of war and one of the great Olympian gods of the Greeks. He is represented as the son of Zeus and Hera. (Hom. Il. v. 893, &c.; Hes. Theog. 921; Apollod. i. 3.

§ 1.) A later tradition, according to which Hera conceived Ares by touching a certain flower, appears to be an imitation of the legend about the birth of Hephaestus, and is related by Ovid. (Fast. v. 255, &c.) The character of Ares in Greek mythology will be best understood if we compare it with that of other divinities who are likewise in some way connected with war. Athena represents thoughtfulness and wisdom in the affairs of war, and protects men and their habitations during its ravages. Ares, on the other hand, is nothing but the personification of bold force and strength, and not so much the god of war as of its tumult, confusion, and horrors. His sister Eris calls forth war, Zeus directs its course, but Ares loves war for its own sake, and delights in the din and roar of battles, in the slaughter of men, and the destruction of towns. He is not even influenced by party-spirit, but sometimes assists the one and sometimes the other side, just as his inclination may dictate; whence Zeus calls him alloposallos. (Il. v.

889.) The destructive hand of this god was even believed to be active in the ravages made by plagues and epidemics. (Soph. Oed. Tyr. 185.) This savage and sanguinary character of Ares makes him hated by the other gods and his own parents. (Il. v. 889-909.) In the Iliad, he appears surrounded by the personifications of all the fearful phenomena and effects of war (iv. 440, &c., xv. 119, &c.); but in the Odyssey his character is somewhat softened down. It was contrary to the spirit which animated the Greeks to represent a being like Ares, with all his overwhelming physical strength, as always victorious; and when he comes in contact with higher powers, he is usually conquered. He was wounded by Diomedes, who was assisted by Athena, and in his fall he roared like nine or ten thousand other warriors together. (Il. v. 855, &c.) When the gods began to take an active part in the war of the mortals, Athena opposed Ares, and threw him on the ground by hurling at him a mighty stone (xx.

69, xxi. 403, &c.); and when he lay stretched on the earth, his huge body covered the space of seven plethra. The gigantic Aloadae had likewise conquered and chained him, and had kept him a prisoner for thirteen months, until he was delivered by Hermes. (v. 385, &c.) In the contest of Typhon against Zeus, Ares was obliged, together with the other gods, to flee to Egypt, where he metamorphosed himself into a fish. (Antonin. Lib. 28.) He was also conquered by Heracles, with whom he fought on account of his son Cycnus, and obliged to return to Olympus. (Hesiod, Scut. Herc. 461.) In numerous other contests, however, he was victorious. This fierce and gigantic, but withal handsome god loved and was beloved by Aphrodite : he interfered on her behalf with Zeus (v. 883), and lent her his war-chariot. (v. 363; comp. Aphrodite.) When Aphrodite loved Adonis, Ares in his jealonsy metamorphosed himself into a bear, and killed his rival.

According to a late tradition, Ares slew Halirrhotius, the son of Poseidon, when he was on the point of violating Alcippe, the daughter of Ares. Hereupon Poseidon accused Ares in the Areiopagus, where the Olympian gods were assembled in court. Ares was acquitted, and this event was believed to have given rise to the name Areiopagus. (Dict. of Ant. s. v.) The warlike character of the tribes of Thrace led to the belief, that the god's residence was in that country, and here and in Scythia were the principal seats of his worship. (Hom. Od. viii. 361, with the note of Eustath.; Ov. Ars Am. ii. 585 ; Statius, Theb. vii. 42; Herod. iv. 59, 62.) In Scythia he was worshipped in the form of a sword, to which not only horses and other cattle, but men also were sacrificed. Respecting the worship of an Egyptian divinity called Ares, see Herodotus, ii. 64.

He was further worshipped in Colchis, where the golden fleece was suspended on an oak-tree in a grove sacred to him. (Apollod. i. 9. § 16.) From thence the Dioscuri were believed to have brought to Laconia the ancient statue of Ares which was preserved in the temple of Ares Thareitas, on the road from Sparta to Therapnae. (Paus. iii. 19. § 7, &c.) The island near the coast of Colchis, in which the Stymphalian birds were believed to have dwelt, and which is called the island of Ares, Aretias, Aria, or Chalceritis, was likewise sacred to him. (Steph. Byz. s. v. Areos nêsos; Apollon. Rhod. ii. 1047; Plin. H. N. vi. 12; Pomp. Mela, ii. 7. § 15.) In Greece itself the worship of Ares was not very general. At Athens he had a temple containing a statue made by Alcamenes (Paus. i. 8.

§ 5); at Geronthrae in Laconia he had a temple with a grove, where an annual festival was celebrated, during which no woman was allowed to approach the temple. (iii. 22. § 5.) He was also worshipped near Tegea, and in the town (viii. 44. § 6, 48. § 3), at Olympia (v. 15. § 4), near Thebes (Apollod. iii. 4. § 1), and at Sparta, where there was an ancient statue, representing the god in chains, to indicate that the martial spirit and victory were never to leave the city of Sparta. (Paus. iii. 15. § 5.) At Sparta human sacrifices were offered to Ares. (Apollod. Fragm. p. 1056, ed. Heyne.) The temples of this god were usually built outside the towns, probably to suggest the idea that he was to prevent enemies from approaching them.

All the stories about Ares and his worship in the countries north of Greece seem to indicate that his worship was introduced in the latter country from Thrace; and the whole character of the god, as described by the most ancient poets of Greece, seems to have been thought little suited to be represented in works of art : in fact, we hear of no artistic representation of Ares previous to the time of Alcamenes, who appears to have created the ideal of Ares. There are few Greek monuments now extant with representations of the god; he appears principally on coins, reliefs, and gems. The Romans identified their god Mars with the Greek Ares. Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES Aphrodite and Ares, Athenian red-figure kylix C5th B.C., Tarquinia National Archaeological Museum I) THE HOMERIC HYMNS Homeric Hymn 8 to Ares (trans.

Evelyn-White) (Greek epic B.C.) : "Ares, exceeding in strength, chariot-rider, golden-helmed, doughty in heart, shield-bearer, Saviour of cities, harnessed in bronze, strong of arm, unwearying, mighty with the spear, O defender of Olympos, father of warlike Nike (Victory), ally of Themis, stern governor of the rebellious, leader of the righteous men, sceptred King of manliness, who whirl your fiery sphere [the star Mars] among the planets in their sevenfold courses through the aither wherein your blazing steeds ever bear you above the third firmament of heaven; hear me, helper of men, giver of dauntless youth! Shed down a kindly ray from above upon my life, and strength of war, that I may be able to drive away bitter cowardice from my head and crush down the deceitful impulses of my soul. Restrain also the keen fury of my heart which provokes me to tread the ways of blood-curdling strife.

Rather, O blessed one, give you me boldness to abide within the harmless laws of peace, avoiding strife and hatred and the violent fiends of death." II) THE ORPHIC HYMNS Orphic Hymn 65 to Ares (trans. Taylor) (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.) : "To Ares, Fumigation from Frankincense. Magnanimous, unconquered, boisterous Ares, in darts rejoicing, and in bloody wars; fierce and untamed, whose mighty power can make the strongest walls from their foundations shake: mortal-destroying king, defiled with gore, pleased with war’s dreadful and tumultuous roar. Thee human blood, and swords, and spears delight, and the dire ruin of mad savage fight.

Stay furious contests, and avenging strife, whose works with woe embitter human life; to lovely Kypris (Cypris) [Aphrodite] and to Lyaios (Lyaeus) [Dionysos] yield, for arms exchange the labours of the field; encourage peace, to gentle works inclined, and give abundance, with benignant mind." PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF ARES Classical literature offers only a few, brief descriptions of the physical characteristics of the gods. Homer, Iliad 5. 592 ff (trans. Lattimore) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) : "Ares made play in his hands with spear gigantic and ranged now in front of Hektor and now behind him. Diomedes of the great war cry shivered [with fear] as he saw him." Homer, Iliad 18. 516 ff : "[In a battle-scene engraved on the shield of Akhilleus (Achilles):] And Ares led them [an army of men], and Pallas Athene.

These were gold, both, and golden raiment upon them, and they were beautiful and huge in their armour, being divinities, and conspicuous from afar, but the people around them were smaller." Hesiod, Shield of Heracles 56 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or 7th B.C.) : "Ares insatiable in battle, blazing like the light of burning fire in his armour and standing in his chariots, and his running horses trampled and dented the ground with their hooves . . . And all the grove and the altar . . . were lighted up by the dread god, Ares, himself and his armour, and the shining from his eyes was like fire . . . manslaughtering Ares screaming aloud, courses all over the sacred grove." Hesiod, Shield of Heracles 191 ff : "[In a battle-scene engraved on the shield of Herakles:] And on the shield stood the fleet-footed horses of grim Ares made gold, and deadly Ares the spoil-winner himself.

He held a spear in his hands and was urging on the footmen: he was red with blood as if he were slaying living men, and he stood in his chariot. Beside him stood Deimos (Fear) and Phobos (Flight), eager to plunge amidst the fighting men." Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 1. 923 ff (trans. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) : "Straight from Olympus down he [Ares] darted, swift and bright as thunderbolt terribly flashing from the mighty hand of Zeus." Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 7. 400 ff : "Ares, to gory strife he speedeth, wroth with foes, when maddeneth his heart, and grim his frown is, and his eyes flash levin-flame around him, and his face is clothed with glory of beauty terror-blent, as on he rusheth: quail the very gods." ANCIENT GREEK & ROMAN ART Statius, Thebaid - Latin Epic C1st A.D. Statius, Silvae - Latin Poetry C1st A.D.

Apuleius, The Golden Ass - Latin Novel C2nd A.D. BYZANTINE Suidas, The Suda - Byzantine Greek Lexicon C10th A.D. OTHER SOURCES Source status of Ares pages:- 1. Fully quoted: Homer (Iliad & Odyssey), Hesiod, Hesiod, Homeric Hymns, Epic Cycle & Homerica, Apollodorus, Pausanias, Strabo, Herodotus, Orphic Hymns, Quintus Smyrnaeus, Callimachus, Aesop, Aelian,Ovid (Metamorphoses), Hyginus (Fabulae & Astronomica), Apuleius; 2. Partially or not quoted (Greek): Pindar, Greek Lyric (Fragments), Greek Elegaic (Fragments), Apollonius Rhodius, Diodorus Siculus, Antoninus Liberalis, Euripides, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Aristophanes, Plato, Theocritus, Lycophron, Plutarch, Philostratus & Callistratus, Nonnus;, Oppian, Tryphiodorus, et.

al.; 3. Partially or not quoted (Latin): Ovid (Fasti), Cicero, Statius, Colluthus, Propertius, Valerius Flaccus, et. al. Ares/Mars - Roman and Greek Mythology Roman and Greek Mythology Roman Myths Similarities and Differences Between Ares and Mars Ares and Mars were similar because they both were the gods of war. Lots of times, Ares, the Greek god, was not the favorite god of the Greeks because he loved bloodshed and battle. Unlike Ares, Mars was the second most important god to the Romans, under Jupiter. He was originally a god of agriculture but then became a god of war, which was when the Romans identified him with the Greeks god Ares. He was different then Ares because he was the god of agriculture and Ares was never more then just a god of war and battle. Ares (Mars) - Greek God of War.

| Greek Mythology Pantheon Greek Mythology Pantheon Greek Mythology Pantheon > Ares (Mars) – Greek God of War Ares (Mars) – Greek God of War Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by GenzoMan Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by GenzoMan Ares (Roman equivalent is Mars) was the Greek god of war. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. In Greek literature, he often represents the physical or violent and untamed aspect of war, in contrast to the armored Athena, whose functions as a goddess of intelligence include military strategy and generalship. Since ancient times the people, in order to solve their differences resorted to the most painful act for humans, war. The ancient Greek mythology is dominated by two major combat operations: the ten-year Trojan War and the Argonaut’s campaign. So the Greeks coined a god, Ares, who personified this terrible scourge. He was always thirsty for blood and his main feature was the irrational rage and the lack of any courtesy. Ares belongs to the second generation of Olympians. He was lawful son of Zeus and Hera.

His love to cause wars and quarrels made him obnoxious not only to other gods but also to his father Zeus, who never missed an opportunity to attack him and call him a "stubborn head". The biggest controversy was between Ares with Athena, who was also a war goddess. But Athena was, in parallel, the goddess of wisdom, so she was combining power with intelligence. That's why most of the times she prevailed against bellicose Ares and was bringing him to shame. The most significant conflicts between them were made during the Trojan War. Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by Peterprime Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by Peterprime As we are informed by Homer, the brawler God had promised to his mother Hera and Athena to help the Greeks. But, seduced by the beauty of Aphrodite, he passed at a critical moment in the opposing faction. For some time, he stood by at the main hero of the Trojans, Hector, who decimated the Achaean warriors, since Achilles was missing from the battlefield.

Hera was indignant with her son who, since childhood, only caused problems, ran to Zeus and asked permission to evict Ares from the battle, injuring him. He accepted, since he was not at all fond of his son. Immediately Hera sent Athena to arrange the matter as she knew. The wise goddess wore the Kynee, the cap of her uncle Hades, which made her invisible, and jumped at once from Olympus in the Trojan plain. Then she stood on the chariot of Diomedes that started battle with Ares, without knowing of course that he was against an Olympian god. Ares first threw his bronze spear against mortal warrior, but the unseen Athena repelled it with both her hands and it fell on the ground. Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by el grimlock Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by el grimlock Then Diomedes threw his spear and Athena directed it in the side of Ares. He fell wounded on the ground and screamed with a terrible voice that panicked Greeks and Trojans, for he was like ten thousand warriors shouting together. Then he flew to Mount Olympus shrouded in thick clouds and immediately went to the palace of Zeus.

He showed him his wound and while weeping, he started complaining: “Father Zeus, you see the injustices take place, but you are not mad. All gods always do your will and obey your orders. But you can not see Athena who always makes her own. You never argue with her since you gave birth to her by yourself. And now, she puts a mortal to hit me with his spear and ridicule me!” The father of gods and men, furious with his son, responded with insulting words. Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by TaekwondoNJ Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by TaekwondoNJ “Are you not ashamed to come before me whining? Know that I hate you, because you always like wars, fights and quarrels. You are a stubborn head exactly like your mother Hera. Know that if your father was any other, he would have thrown you in Tartarus, even more below than the Titans.” Although Zeus used insulting words, Ares was his son was and he could not bear to see him hurt and crying. So Zeus instructed Paionian, doctor of the gods to heal his wound.

But in the final battle of the Trojan War all the gods, with the permission of Zeus, ran fully armored in the battlefield. In the Greek camp joined Hera, Athena, Poseidon and the divine blacksmith Hephaestus. Beside the Trojans arrived dreadful Ares, master archer Artemis, long-haired Phoebus, Leto, the smiling Aphrodite and the river Xanthus. Ares, who was embittered with Athena, because she always embarrassed him in front of the Olympians, charged with the first opportunity towards her and started talking with bad words: Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by SteveArgyle “Shameless bitch, with your ego and insolence you have caused a lot of trouble to the gods!” Then he threw his spear at aegis of Athena that even the thunder of Zeus could not pierce. The goddess shook and took two or three steps backwards. Without losing her courage, grabbed a huge rock that people had set up for border and hurled it the bellicose god. The rock struck Ares on the neck, forcing him to bend on his knees and fall down. His huge body spread seven square kilometers as he fell on the ground.

His knees bled and his hair was filled with soils. All the gods started to laugh when they saw the god of war lying on the ground, who once again was ridiculed by Athena. Only Aphrodite ran to him, helped him get up and grabbing him by the hand raised him to Olympus. Ares (Mars) Greek God in attack stance - Art Picture Ares (Mars) Greek God in attack stance - Art Picture Ares also had several differences with the famous hero Heracles (Hercules), who was enjoying the protection of Athena. Once, the Swan, son of warlike god and Pelopeias, wanted to build a temple from the skulls of men, in honor of his father. Therefore he was killing every passerby. So he tried to do the same thing with Heracles. Ares rushed alongside his son and forced the hero to withdraw. But then Heracles returned and killed the Swan. For this event there are several variations. So, one myth tells that Swan agreed with Ares to kill Heracles. During the conflict the hero killed the Swan and the wounded immortal god in the thigh. Another poet tells that the Swan was the son of Ares and Pyrinis and challenged Heracles to a duel.

The god wanted to help his son and tried to burn the opponent. But Zeus, who was the father of the hero, threw a thunder between them and separated them. Another son of Ares that had differences with Heracles was Diomedes of Thrace. Ares (Mars) Greek God in the sky - Art Picture Ares (Mars) Greek God in the sky - Art Picture This country was barbaric and Ares had many relationships with her. It is said that there was his second palace and lived there for a long period of time. This son had mares that were feeding with human flesh. Heracles grabbed them the led them to the sea. Diomedes persecuted the hero, but eventually was killed by his arrows. Still, they say, that Ares had brought up the Stymphalian Birds, predatory vultures fed with human flesh. These birds were killed by Heracles, while performing one of the twelve labors that Eurystheus had assigned to him. This feat took place with the help of Athena, who gave him the cymbals of Hephaestus.

Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by deimoscomics Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by deimoscomics But Ares, in the war with the Giants, where he ought to have a leading role, did not perform particularly well, as opposed to Athena and Heracles, who even then was still mortal. From what Hesiod tells us he killed only one Giant, named Milantas. Nevertheless, from the generation of the Giants, Ares had experienced another terrible humiliation. The Aloades Giants, Otos and Ephialtes, took him prisoner. This happened either when the Giants were attempting to climb up Mount Olympus, placing one mountain on top of another, either during the execution of the task entrusted to them by Aphrodite, namely to guard Adonis. Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by rudyao Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by rudyao For one reason or another, the Aloades kept their prisoner into a large copper bottle for thirteen months. And he would stay even longer if the secret had not escaped from Erivoias’s mouth, stepmother of Giants. When Hermes heard about it, he ran to release him.

Ares did not dare to appear in front of the immortals, he knew that he would have to deal with the reprimand of his father, but also with the laughs and jokes of the other gods and especially Athena’s. So he ran and hid in the rocks of Naxos. Ares once mated with Agrafi, the daughter of Cecrops, and acquired Alkippi. But Alirrothios, son of Poseidon and the Nymph Evritis, was dazzled by her beauty. As the daughter resisted his erotic call, Alirrothios raped her. Ares, in order to avenge the dishonor of his daughter, killed him. Neptune called an emergency court of gods to judge him guilty of murder. The court session was on a hill near the Acropolis. There the gods decided the acquittal of Ares. Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by konnee Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by konnee The hill was named Areopagus (Rock of Ares) and since then it was decided that all criminal cases would be judged there. Others say that the Amazons, the famous warriors, were the daughters of Ares.

Once they occupied Athens in the years that Theseus was King, they offered sacrifice to their father on the hill, who since then was named Ares. Ares held an important role in the myth of Cadmus, the founder of Thebes. More specifically, Cadmus killed a dragon that was the son of the Olympian god and the Nymph Telphousa. For this reason, the hero was forced to serve Ares as slave for a year. By order of the god, Cadmus sowed half the dragon's teeth in a plowed field and the earth grew fierce warriors named Spartoi. With a clever plan of Cadmus, they killed each other and only five survived, who were the first citizens of Thebes. Ares (Mars) Greek God fighting monsters - Art Picture Ares (Mars) Greek God fighting monsters - Art Picture Later, Ares was reconciled with Cadmus and gave him Harmony as his wife, Are’s daughter by Aphrodite. All Olympian gods attended the marriage of the goddess with the mortal hero. Apollo and the Muses sang beautiful hymns and Hephaestus gave the bride a beautiful silk veil and a golden necklace.

The most famous love affair of Ares is his illicit affair with Aphrodite. She was the lawful wife of Hephaestus. When Aphrodite saw the body workout of Ares and his beautiful face, she was unable to resist the call of love. This infidelity was perceived by Helios, who revealed the details of this incident to the divine blacksmith Hephaestus. In order to catch them in the act, he put in his bed magically nets and pretended he was leaving for a trip to Lemnos. The god of war, moments after he saw him leaving, ran to his palace and met Aphrodite. The two lovers, when they lied down in bed, were caught in the magic nets. Soon, Hephaestus appeared and alerted all the gods. They began to laugh when they saw the trapped lovers. Once Hephaestus freed them after the intervention of Neptune, Aphrodite took refuge in the temple of Paphos and Ares in Thrace.

Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by jarling art Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by jarling art Except his daughter Harmony, Ares had two sons, Deimos (Terror) and Phobos (Fear), from his relationship with Aphrodite. They were inseparable companions and servants of Ares. They followed him in all the battlefields and the ancient Greeks worshiped them along with the god of war. They offered sacrifices before the start of the battle, to chase away the fear from their line up and scatter it to their opponents. Additionally, Ares copulated with the Bride Arpina and acquired Oinomaos. Oinomaos had a very beautiful daughter, Hippodamia. He did not want her to get married because he was also in love with her. Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by rhinoting Ares (Mars) Greek God - Art Picture by rhinoting For this reason, he was inviting the aspiring grooms to a chariot race. He had two horses in his chariot, gift of his father, who ran faster than the wind. So he was winning every time and then was killing the prospective grooms.

Only Pelops managed to beat him, with the advice of Hippodamia, which she fell in love with him. Also, Meleager was the son of Ares from Althea, wife of Eneas. She managed to save her son at the last moment, hiding the torch of his fate in a box. But when Meleager, in order to defend his beloved Atalanta, killed Althea’s brothers, she threw the torch into the fire and her son died instantly. Greek God Ares (Mars) holding his shield Statue Greek God Ares (Mars) holding his shield Statue Moreover, another son of Ares was Aeropis, who with the intervention of the god managed to nurse from his dead mother. Additionally, Filonomi was seduced by the warlord god and gave birth to Lykasto, who later became king of Arcadia. In addition, with Chrysi (Golden) he acquired Ixion and Koroni. Finally, in Libya, another of his sons named also Lykastos, used to sacrifice to his father all the foreigners that were arriving in his country.

The ancient Greeks may not have liked the warlike god, so we do not often see magnificent temples and shrines, as we do with the other Olympians of the Pantheon. Greek God Ares (Mars) Statue Greek God Ares (Mars) Statue His worship was widespread mainly in the Peloponnese, Argos, Mantinea and Sparta. It was thought that Ares was present in all the battle fields, sometimes on foot, sometimes on his chariot, drawn by four horses, children of Erinya (Fury) and Voras (North). Besides Deimos and Phobos, the terrible Eris, who personified the discord, and Keres, who crossed the battlefields and was scattering destruction were also attended as his escorts. The main symbols of Ares were the spear and torch. From the animal kingdom, his symbols were the vultures that ate the corpses of slain warriors and dogs which were sacrificed in Sparta along with bulls and cocks.

Please leave a comment if you liked this article 🙂 All pictures are also uploaded in Albums on the Greek Mythology Pantheon page on Facebook, visit us at : You may also like: Ares easy read ARES (AIR-eez; Roman name Mars) was the god of war, or more precisely of warlike frenzy. Though an immortal deity, he was bested by Heracles in battle and was almost killed when stuffed into a jar by two giants. When another hero wounded him during the Trojan War, he received scant sympathy from his father Zeus. In appearance, Ares was handsome and cruel. He is often depicted carrying a bloodstained spear. His throne on Mount Olympus was said to be covered in human skin. The Roman god Mars, with whom Ares was identified, was the father of Romulus and Remus, the mythological founders of Rome. Thus he was more important to the Romans than his Greek counterpart. He was also more dignified. A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, Ares A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology William Smith, Ed. Hide browse bar Your current position in the text is marked in blue.

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Ares （ Ἄρης ), the god of war and one of the great Olympian gods of the Greeks. He is represented as the son of Zeus and Hera. ( Hom. Il. 5.893 , &c.; Hes. Th. 921 ; Apollod. 1.3.1 .) A later tradition, according to which Hera conceived Ares by touching a certain flower, appears to be an imitation of the legend about the birth of Hephaestus, and is related by Ovid. (Fast. 5.255, &c.) The character of Ares in Greek mythology will be best understood if we compare it with that of other divinities who are likewise in some way connected with war. Athena represents thought-fulness and wisdom in the affairs of war, and protects men and their habitations during its ravages. Ares, on the other hand, is nothing but the personification of bold force and strength, and not so much the god of war as of its tumult, confusion, and horrors.

His sister Eris calls forth war, Zeus directs its course, but Ares loves war for its own sake, and delights in the din and roar of battles, in the slaughter of men, and the destruction of towns. He is not even influenced by party-spirit, but sometimes assists the one and sometimes the other side, just as his inclination may dictate ; whence Zeus calls him ἀλλοπόσαλλος . ( Il. 5.889 .) The destructive hand of this god was even believed to be active in the ravages made by plagues and epidemics. (Soph. Oed. Tyr. 185.) This savage and sanguinary character of Ares makes him hated by the other gods and his own parents. ( Il. 5.889 - 909 .) In the Iliad, he appears surrounded by the personifications of all the fearful phenomena and effects of war (4.440, &c., 15.119, &c.); but in the Odyssey his character is somewhat softened down.

It was contrary to the spirit which animated the Greeks to represent a being like Ares, with all his overwhelming physical strength, as always victorious; and when he comes in contact with higher powers, he is usually conquered. He was wounded by Diomedes, who was assisted by Athena, and in his fall he roared like nine or ten thousand other warriors together. ( Il. 5.855 , &c.) When the gods began to take an active part in the war of the mortals, Athena opposed Ares, and threw him on the ground by hurling at him a mighty stone (20.69, 21.403, &c.); and when he lay stretched on the earth, his huge body covered the space of seven plethra. The gigantic Aloadae had likewise conquered and chained him, and had kept him a prisoner for thirteen months, until he was delivered by Hermes. (5.385, &c.) In the contest of Typhon against Zeus, Ares was obliged, together with the other gods, to flee to Egypt, where he metamorphosed himself into a fish. (Antonin. Lib.

28.) He was also conquered by Heracles, with whom he fought on account of his son Cycnus, and obliged to return to Olympus. (Hesiod, Scut. Herc. 461.) In numerous other contests, however, he was victorious. This fierce and gigantic, but withal handsome god loved and was beloved by Aphrodite : he interfered on her behalf with Zeus (5.883), and lent her his war-chariot. (5.363; comp. APHRODITE.) When Aphrodite loved Adonis, Ares in his jealonsy metamorphosed himself into a bear, and killed his rival. [ADONIS.] According to a late tradition, Ares slew Halirrhotius, the son of Poseidon, when he was on the point of violating Alcippe, the daughter of Ares. Hereupon Poseidon accused Ares in the Areiopagus, where the Olympian gods were assembled in court. Ares was acquitted, and this event was believed to have given rise to the name Areiopagus. (Dict. of Ant. s.

v.） The warlike character of the tribes of Thrace led to the belief, that the god's residence was in that country, and here and in Scythia were the principal seats of his worship. ( Hom. Od. 8.361 , with the note of Eustath.; Ov. Ars Am. 2.585 ; Statius, Stat. Theb. 7.42 ; Hdt. 4.59 , 62 .) In Scythia he was worshipped in the form of a sword, to which not only horses and other cattle, but men also were sacrificed. Respecting the worship of an Egyptian divinity called Ares, see Herodotus, 2.64 . He was further worshipped in Colchis, where the golden fleece was suspended on an oak-tree in a grove sacred to him. ( Apollod. 1.9.16 .) From thence the Dioscuri were believed to have brought to Laconia the ancient statue of Ares which was preserved in the temple of Ares Thareitas, on the road from Sparta to Therapnae. ( Paus.

3.19.7 , &c.) The island near the coast of Colchis, in which the Stymphalian birds were believed to have dwelt, and which is called the island of Ares, Aretias, Aria, or Chalceritis, was likewise sacred to him. (Steph. Byz. s. v. Ἄρεος νῆσος ; Apollon. 2.1047 ; Plin. Nat. 6.12 ; Pomp. Mela, 2.7.15.) In Greece itself the worship of Ares was not very general. At Athens he had a temple containing a statue made by Alcamenes ( Paus. 1.8.5 ); at Geronthrae in Laconia he had a temple with a grove, where an annual festival was celebrated, during which no woman was allowed to approach the temple. (3.22.5.) He was also worshipped near Tegea, and in the town (8.44.6, 48.3), at Olympia (5.15.4), near Thebes ( Apollod.

3.4.1 ), and at Sparta, where there was an ancient statue, representing the god in chains, to indicate that the martial spirit and victory were never to leave the city of Sparta. ( Paus. 3.15.5 .) At Sparta human sacrifices were offered to Ares. (Apollod. Fragm. p. 1056, ed. Heyne.) The temples of this god were usually built outside the towns, probably to suggest the idea that he was to prevent enemies from approaching them. All the stories about Ares and his worship in the countries north of Greece seem to indicate that his worship was introduced in the latter country from Thrace; and the whole character of the god, as described by the most ancient poets of Greece, seems to have been thought little suited to be represented in works of art : in fact, we hear of no artistic representation of Ares previous to the time of Alcamenes, who appears to have created the ideal of Ares. There are few Greek monuments now extant with representations of the god; he appears principally on coins, reliefs, and gems. (Hirt, Mythol. Bilderb. i. p.

51.) The Romans identified their god Mars with the Greek Ares. [MARS.] Ares vs Mars Ares vs Mars A myth submitted to the site by Big Mike Greece, Greece Many gods have been praised for their rule but Ares and Mars were worshiped for their battle skills. The people of all beliefs including Norse, Greek, and Roman had one god that was a ruthless killer. They were named gods of war but also some were named gods of battle strategy. Ares and Mars are similar in the ways that they are both the gods of war and they both carry a blood spear; however, they are different in the ways that one gave mercy to ones who deserved and one did give any at all. Ares is a well know god, but there is one thing that the god of war Mars has in common with him. The mighty weapon they both carry is a blood spear even though the blood spear Ares carries may not be made of blood stone, but it always is stained with blood. The god mars carries his blood stone made weapon with him and Ares’s blood stained spear is awaiting the blood of enemies.

The website [Heritage history academy.com] states,” That Ares carries a blood stained spear,” but the website [Encyclopedia Mythica.com] shows,”That mars has a spear made of blood stone.” Thats not the only thing these gods have in common. Mars and Ares are both the gods of war. Being the god of war means that you will be a great fighter in battle but also in life, but you control the blades of your followers as well. The website [Encyclopedia Mythica.com]points out that the god Mars was worshiped for being god of war,”He has many temples named after him being the father of the founders of Rome and the god of war.” Also on the website [Heritage history.com] Ares was praised,”Many gods would be inpressed by Ares often calling him Bloody Ares.” Thats why the gods Ares and Mars are similar to each other even though there different people. How the god Ares is different from Mars is because he was a ruthless killer. Ares gave no mercy to any of his enemies and loved having the blood of his enemies meet his mighty spears blade.

The website [Heritage History.com]says ares was ruthless,”Zues often called him Bloody Ares or Raging Ares.” Many gods were scared of the power of Ares so they locked him up in an urn. Mars gave mercy to the people who deserved it like noblemen. He often killed people if they had done wrong and was not a good person.[Encyclopedia Mythica.com]states that the god mars gave mercy,”The god often didn't kill all of his enemies.” Thats why many people did praise mars for his good soul. He was worshiped as a merciful god. The gods Ares and Mars are very similar but they also have many things about them that are different. Both of the gods were the gods of war even though they may not have been the best gods. Mars was merciful and had a heart for the good people of Rome. Ares on the other hand was very deadly and terrifying to all the people of the land. This shows how different and similar Mars and Ares are. BIBLIOGRAPHY: "Heritage History | Homeschool History Curriculum | by." Heritage History | Homeschool History Curriculum | by. Heritage History Academy, n.d. Web. 13 Nov.

2013 Lindemans, Micha F. "Mars." Mars. Encyclopedia Mythica, 3 Mar. 1997. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. By Big Mike Ares, the fierce God of War in Greek Mythology Family of Ares Parents: Ares was a son of Zeus , the King of the Gods, and Hera , the goddess of marriage. Siblings: Eilithyia, the goddess of childbirth, Hebe , the goddess of youth and Hephaestus , the Olympian god of Metallurgy. Relationships: Ares' secret mistress was Aphrodite , the goddess of Love and Beauty. Children: Among Ares' children with Aphrodite were Himeros (desire), Pothos (desire), Phobos (fear), Deimos (terror), Armonia (harmony), Eros (love) and Anteros (mutual love). Ares also had one daughter with Aglaulus called Alcippe, who was raped by Allirothios, a son of Poseidon.

Personality of Ares Just like his mother Hera, Ares had a very difficult character to deal with and was therefore rather unpopular among the other deities and mankind. For this reason, no Greek city wanted to have him as its patron. He often had conflicts and fights with his half-sisters Artemis and Athena, especially during the Trojan War. Interesting Facts about Ares Ares was the first Greek god to be tried on the hill of Areopagus, the highest council of Ancient Greece. Ares was accused by the Greek god Poseidon for having murdered his son Alirrothios, because Allirrothios attempted to rape Ares' daughter, Alkippe. The month March was named in honour of Ares (Mars), and war dances were held during that period. The symbols of Ares were his weapons, the shield and the spear. According to the legend, the male gender symbol 's shape ( a circle with an arrow emerging from it) is associated with the weapons of Ares. The sacred animal of Ares was the dog.

Mars - NovaRoma Mars Home | Latíné | Deutsch | Esperanto | Español | Français | Italiano | Magyar | Português | Română | Русский | English Mars, god of war, was originally an agricultural god whose character changed with that of His people. For this reason, He is the most Roman of the gods, representing the abundance of the fields, and the battles that must be won to keep and enlarge the provinces that kept Rome fed and thriving. He is the son of Iuno and Iuppiter, husband of Bellona, and the lover of Venus. He was the most prominent of the military gods that were worshipped by the Roman legions. The martial Romans considered Him second in importance only to Iuppiter. His festivals were held in March (named for him) and October. As the word Mars has no Indo-European derivation, it is most likely the Latinised form of the agricultural Etruscan god Maris. Initially Mars was a Roman god of fertility and vegetation and a protector of cattle, fields and boundaries and farmers.

In the second century BC, the conservative Cato the Elder advised "For your cattle, for them to be healthy, make this sacrifice to Mars Silvanus you must make this sacrifice each year" (De Agri Cultura 83). Mars later became associated with battle as the growing Roman Empire began to expand, and he came to be identified with the Greek god Ares. Unlike his Greek counterpart, Mars was generally revered and rivaled Iuppiter as the most honoured god. He was also the tutelary god of the city of Rome. As He was regarded as the legendary father of Rome's founder, Romulus, it was believed that all Romans were descendants of Mars. His priests were dancing warriors, the Salii , who sang their war-songs in the streets during his festivals. His sacred spears and 12 shields were kept in his temple on the Palatine Hill . Mars has many aspects, attributes, names and epithets, due to His enormous popularity across the Roman world.

Among them are: Epithets Mars Alator, a fusion of Mars with the Celtic deity Alator (possibly meaning "Huntsman" or "Cherisher"), known from an inscription found in England, on an altar at South Shields and a silver-gilt votive plaque at Barkway, Hertfordshire. Mars Albiorix, a fusion of Mars with the ancient Celtic deity Toutatis, using the epithet Albiorix ("King of the World"). Mars Albiorix was worshiped as protector of the Albici tribe of southern France, and was regarded as a mountain god. Another epithet of Toutatis, Caturix ("King of Combat"), was used in the combination Mars Caturix, which was worshipped in Gaul, possibly as the tribal god of the Caturiges. Mars Balearicus, statues of a warrior discovered in the Mallorca Island, associated by the archaeologists to the Roman god Mars. Mars Barrex, from Barrex or Barrecis (probably meaning "Supreme One"), a Celtic god known only from a dedicatory inscription found at Carlisle, England.

Mars Belatucadrus, an epithet found in five inscriptions in the area of Hadrian's Wall in England, based on equating the Celtic deity Belatu-Cadros with Mars. Mars Braciaca, a synthesis of Mars with the Celtic god Braciaca. This deity is only known from a single inscription at Bakewell, England. Mars Camulos, from the Celtic war god Camulus. Mars Capriociegus, from an Iberian god who was linked to Mars. He is invoked in two inscriptions in the Pontevedra region of north-west Spain. Mars Cocidius, a combination of Mars with the Celtic woodland hunting god Cocidius. He is referenced around north-west Cumbria and Hadrian's Wall, and was chiefly a war god only in instances where he was equated with Mars. Mars Condatis, from the Celtic god of the confluence of rivers, Condatis. Mars Condatis, who oversaw water and healing, is known from inscriptions near Hadrian's Wall, at Piercebridge, Bowes and Chester-le-Street. Mars Corotiacus, A local British version of Mars from Martlesham in Suffolk.

He appears on a bronze statuette as a cavalryman, armed and riding a horse which tramples a prostrate enemy beneath its hooves. Mars Gradivus, god of War. Mars Lenus, A fusion of Mars with the Celtic healer-god Lenus. In the main cult centre of the god, the indigenous name always comes first (Lenus Mars), an indication that Lenus was an established god, with whom Mars was later equated. Mars Rigisamus, Mars was given this title (which means 'Greatest King' or 'King of Kings') at West Coker in Somerset, where a bronze figurine and inscribed plaque dedicated to the god were found in a field, along with the remains of a building, perhaps a shrine. The figurine depicts a standing naked male figure with a close-fitting helmet; his right hand may have once held a weapon, and he probably originally also had a shield (both are now lost). The same epithet for a god is recorded from Bourges in Gaul. The use of this epithet implies that Mars had an extremely high status, over and above his warrior function.

Mars Ultor, under Augustus he obtained this title, meaning Avenger, in recognition of his victory over Caesar's assassins. Aris Aris See More Aris Pictures > Ares was the god of war, and son of Zeus and Hera . He represented the raw violence and untamed acts that occured in wartime, in contrast to Athena , who was a symbol of tactical strategy and military planning. He was disliked by both his parents. Whenever Ares appeared in a myth, he was depicted as a violent personality, who faced humiliation through his defeats more than once. In the Iliad, it is mentioned that Zeus hated him more than anyone else; Ares was also on the losing side of the Trojan War , favouring the Trojans. He was the lover of his sister, Aphrodite , who was married to Hephaestus . When the latter found out about the affair, he devised a plan and managed to humiliate both of them. The union of Ares and Aphrodite resulted in the birth of eight children, including Eros , god of love. There were few temples attributed to Ares in Ancient Greece.

Sacrifices would usually be made to him when an army would march to war; Spartans would make sacrifices to Enyalius, another lesser god and son of Ares and Enyo . However, the name was also used as a byname for Ares . When Ares went to war, he was followed by his companions, Deimos (terror) and Phobos (fear), who were the product of his union with Aphrodite . Eris , goddess of discord and sister of Deimos and Phobos , often accompanied them in war. Aris Is also called Mars, Ares.

Question: Ares, equating to the Roman god Mars, is the Greek god of?
Answer: War