Ares - Greek God Ares

Greek Mythology

Who Is Ares?

Ares is a war and violence god in Greek mythology. He was not well-liked or trusted by the Greeks and there are few tales about him. Cults of Ares were found mainly in Crete and the Peloponnese. Athena is also a war goddess, but was well-respected, as a polis protector and goddess of strategy instead of mayhem.

Cadmus - The Myrmidons, as re-told by Thomas Bulfinch is one myth in which Ares/Mars is a background character.

In the Iliad, Ares is wounded, treated, and returns to the fray. See Iliad V Summary.

God

• Gods and Goddesses Index

Thracian born Ares is usually counted the son of Zeus and Hera, although Ovid has Hera produce him parthenogenically. Harmonia (whose necklace turns up in stories of the founding of Thebes), the goddess of harmony, and the Amazons Penthesilea and Hippolyte were daughters of Ares. Through Cadmus' marriage to Harmonia and the dragon Ares sired that produced the sown men (Spartoi), Ares is the mythological ancestor of the Thebans.

Famous People in the House of Thebes:

• Cadmus
• Oedipus
• Dionysus
• Pentheus

Ares was called Mars by the Romans, although the Roman god Mars was much more important to the Romans than Ares was to the Greeks.

Ares has no unique attributes, but is described as strong, harnessed in bronze, and golden helmeted. He rides a war chariot. The serpent, owls, vultures, and woodpecker are sacred to him. Ares had unsavory companions like Phobos ("Fear") and Deimos ("Terror"), Eris ("Strife") and Enyo ("Horror"). Early depictions show him as a mature, bearded man. Later representations show him as a youth or ephebe (like Apollo).

Ares is a god of warfare and murder.

Ancient sources for Ares include: Apollodorus, Apollonius Rhodius, Callimachus, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Diodorus Siculus, Euripides, Hesiod, Homer, Hyginus, Nonnius, Ovid, Pausanias, Plutarch, Vergil, Statius, and Strabo.

The Homeric Hymn to Ares reveals the attributes (strong, chariot riding, goldern-helmeted, shield-bearer, etc.) and powers (savior of cities) attributed by the Greeks to Ares. The hymn also places Mars among the planets. The translation is in the public domain and is by Evelyn-White.

VIII. To Ares
(17 lines)
(ll. 1-17) 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 defence of Olympus, father of warlike Victory, ally of Themis, stern governor of the rebellious, leader of righteous men, sceptred King of manliness, who whirl your fiery sphere among the planets in their sevenfold courses through the aether 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.