Ares is the god of war, one of the Twelve Olympian gods and the son of Zeus and Hera. In literature he represents the violent and physical untamed aspect of war, which is in contrast to Athena who represents military strategy and generalship as the goddess of intelligence.
Although Ares embodied the physical aggression necessary for success in war, the Greeks were ambivalent toward him because he was a dangerous, overwhelming force that was insatiable in battle.
He is well known as the lover of Aphrodite, who was married to Hephaestus, and though Ares plays a limited role in literature, when he does appear in myths it is typically facing humiliation. For example, one famous story of Ares and Aphrodite exposes them to ridicule by the gods when her husband Hephaestus trapped them both naked in a bed using a clever device he made.
The Roman counterpart to Ares was Mars, who was known as a father to the Roman people. Because of this, he was a less aggressive and physical form, revealing a more calm and understanding demeanour.
The Origins and Family of Ares
Ares boasts a lineage that positions him among the Olympian elite. He is the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and Hera, the queen and goddess of marriage. This parentage marks Ares as a legitimate member of the pantheon, with both of his parents being original Olympians who ruled from Mount Olympus, the mythological home of the gods.
Zeus and Hera had a complex relationship with Ares. Hera, who was often frustrated by her husband’s infidelities, was nevertheless fiercely protective of Ares. Zeus had a more strained relationship with his son, often displaying disdain for Ares’ brutal and bloodthirsty nature.
As a deity, Ares embodied the physical aggression necessary for success in war, in contrast to his sister Athena, who represented strategic aspects of warfare. Despite his noble lineage, Ares was not widely celebrated among the Greeks, who viewed his destructive and chaotic nature with suspicion and often preferred to venerate Athena’s wisdom in battle strategy over Ares’ sheer force. Nevertheless, Ares’ divine heritage was undisputed, and he commanded a place in the many stories and myths that comprise Greek mythology, often serving as a symbol of the savagery of war.
Symbols, Items and Sacred Animals
It should come as no surprise, that many of the symbols, sacred animals and items associated with Ares, are those of a powerful or violent, war-like nature.In art, he is generally depicted wearing a spear and a helmet.
Perhaps the most prominent of these symbols is Ares’ spear. An instrument of war that signifies his role as a deity of battle and conflict.Often depicted in art alongside Ares, the spear represents the direct and brutal nature of warfare, embodying the raw aggression and physical prowess that Ares personifies. Accompanying the spear is the helmet, another key symbol of Ares.
The flaming torch and the chariot are also powerful symbol linked to the God of War. In ancient Greek art and literature, the torch is quite often depicted as a tool of destruction. Used to set fire to cities and fields in times of war. For Ares, the flaming torch represents not only the physical devastation of war but also the fiery passion and energy that drives conflict.
The chariot, a vehicle used in warfare during ancient times, underscores his role as a leader in battle, guiding and influencing the course of conflicts.
Animals associated with the God of War include the vulture, a bird often seen circling battlefields. The vulture symbolizes death and decay, reflecting the aftermath of war and the role of Ares as a harbinger of destruction. The dog, represents both the loyalty of soldiers in battle and the ferocity required in warfare.
Lastly, the boar is another emblem often linked to Ares. In Greek myths, these wild animals are seen as a symbol of strength and ferocity. Qualities that are intrinsic to Ares and his nature of war.
Facts about Ares God of War
- Ares was most notably referred to as the God of War; he represented the unpleasant aspects of battle.
- He was the son of Zeus and Hera, both of whom hated him (according to Homer).
- He was most often characterized as a coward in spite of his connection to war. He responded to even the slightest injury with outrage.
- According to some sources, Ares was described as Aphrodite’s lover and was held in contempt by her husband, Hephaestus. The affair between them was not a secret among the Olympians.
- Ares was never very popular—either with men or the other immortals. As a result, his worship in Greece was not substantial or widespread.
- He came from Thrace, home of a fierce people in the northeast of Greece.
- His bird was the vulture.
- The Amazons, warrior women, were his daughters. Their mother was a peace-loving nymph named Harmony.
- Otus and Ephialtes, twin giants, imprisoned Ares for a lunar year by binding him with chains of brass; he was eventually rescued by Hermes.
- He always took the side of Aphrodite in the Trojan War. He fought for Hector (a Trojan) until a Greek warrior, Achilles, pierced him with a spear that was guided by Athena. He then departed the battlefield in order to complain to Zeus about Athena’s violence.
- Harmonia, Goddess of Harmony, was the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite.
- He also had a son Dinlas with Aphrodite.
- Eros (more commonly known as Cupid) was also the child of Ares and Aphrodite.
- Tereus, a son of Ares, was known to have inherited his father’s abhorrent qualities.
- He was the biological father of at least three of Hercules‘ enemies: Cycnus, Lycaon, and Diomedes.
- He had a sister named Eris, who was the Goddess of Discord.
- Hebe, another sister of his, was the Goddess of Youth.
- Ares rarely figures into mythology stories, but when he does, he usually suffers some form of humiliation.
- He was associated with two other war deities: Enyalius and Enyo.
- He had many offspring, which is characteristic of nearly all of the notable Greek gods. He conceived more mortal children than divine children.
- The other children of Zeus and Hera are Hebe and Hephaestus.
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