Ares is known as the Greek God of War. He is one of the primary Olympian Gods and a son of Hera and Zeus. In the mythology, he is the representation of the untamed and the violent aspects of war.
- Most of his qualities contrast with Athena, who focused more on military tactics and strategies.
While Ares in Greek mythology embodies the aggressions of the war, people are indecisive toward him since he was depicted with overwhelming and dangerous power. He has an insatiable thirst for battle.
Meaning and Symbolism of Ares in Greek Mythology
If this is not the first time you are reading Greek mythology, you understand that most of them will be related to symbols and images. Sadly, Ares was not associated with some powerful images, perhaps due to people’s apprehension towards him.
He is known as the God of War, but most people will find it challenging to relate him to a particular symbol. There was also a lack of epithets that featured him, and those that exist mostly describe his despicable behavior.
Weapons
Ares was commonly depicted without a significant identifying feature. However, he will mostly be equipped with his tool of trade, such as the spear.
Sometimes, historians will represent him while holding a shield and sword; other times, he will be clothed with full battle gear; sometimes, he will be completely naked.
Usually, his appearance on the battlefield while wearing these weapons and armors symbolizes destruction. He was often described as a violent, evil-wrought, and furious entity.
Birds
Sometimes, Ares will also be described together with a carrion bird; in some accounts, there are vultures. This is due to the aftermath of the war.
The bloody battle attracts the interest of the birds, yearning for the taste of rotting flesh. Another bird associated with this god would be the Birds of Ares; they are ruthless creatures armed with feathers that shoot like a dart.
He gave this creature to the Amazons, his daughters. The woodpecker is also associated with him, believing that it is a bird of luck and fortune sacred to Ares.
Dogs
It has become a tradition or a ritual that a puppy will be sacrificed before going to a fight. This has become strongly associated with Enyalius, an attendant of the God of War.
Flaming Torch
As much as Ares loves the idea of war, in some stories, he is seen as someone seeking the validation of his parents. He also wants to prove that he is qualified to be one of the major gods.
Some of them will often cast him aside as inferior to the others. Thus, it is pretty standard for him to seek great things, especially becoming a victor in wars.
Serpent
The serpent is known as this god’s sacred animal. Perhaps the most renowned animal in Greek mythology is the Colchian Dragon, which Ares sent to protect the Golden Fleece. There’s also the Ismenian Dragon, which guards the sacred spring situated close to Thebes.
Chariot
- When entering the battlefield, Ares will often ride a golden chariot pulled by four fire-breathing steeds.
A Closer Look at Who Is Ares
In Greek Mythology, there is no comprehensive account of the life of the God of War. Nonetheless, he has always been related to Aphrodite.
In Sparta, she was regarded as the Goddess of War. In Roman mythology, his counterpart would be Mars. However, there are some variations in their story.
Perhaps the most famous battle of Ares would be his fight against Hercules. Kyknos, Ares’s son, has been stopping the pilgrims from going to Delphi to inquire about the oracle.
Apollo was enraged when he found out about this, and he summoned Hercules to kill Kyknos, who later died in their battle.
Ares wanted revenge and fought Hercules. However, Hercules has the protection of Athena, and he manages to wound Ares.
Ares Fighting Against Athena
There has been a constant sibling rivalry happening between Ares and Athena. Ares has no significant role in Greek mythology.
Perhaps this is because Athena has constantly suppressed him. Some believe that Athena was beyond him; thus, they will often be involved in a fierce competition.
Both were powerful, but their personality and skills were completely different. Athena has the beliefs and attitudes that are befitting of Greek deities. She is calm, intelligent, and highly skilled in battle tactics and warfare.
While she can be a fierce warrior, she has the demeanor of a smart scholar. She remains rational when deciding the best strategy during the war.
On the other hand, Ares has qualities that most people will see as damaging. He can be unempathetic, brutal, and vicious. He is simply a being that manifested for destruction. Ares is also blessed with fantastic intelligence.
However, he is more driven by the aggression and brutality of war. He embodies all the repugnant qualities of war, such as cruelty, devastation, and death. His throne seat is made from human skin, and the knobs have a human skull.
Ares During the Trojan War
Ares can often be seen on the side of his lover, Aphrodite, and he fought alongside Hector, the Trojan Prince. However, he once again received the spear of Athena, who was then helping the army of Sparta.
Afterward, he went to his father Zeus to complain about the violence of Athena. However, he was again ignored by Zeus.
Eventually, the Trojans were defeated. Notice how Zeus has ignored the bickering of Ares. For this reason, he has developed a sense of inferiority complex.
The God Yearning for Love
Ares was detested both by humans and Gods due to his brutal nature. In a battle with Diomedes, Zeus referred to him as the most hateful among the gods.
He also claimed that if Ares were not his son, he would definitely be in the company of the Titans and Cronus. Compared to other Gods, Ares has not developed a personality that is apart from the battlefield.
He is always depicted as the battle-thirsty god who will slaughter everyone. Due to this, there are not a lot of epithets that are dedicated to him. Most of these are unflattering.
Interesting Facts About Ares
Aside from being the God of War, he is also known as the deity of violence and bloodshed. His name has always been associated with imprecation, curses, and bane.
Ares was one of the most disliked Greek Gods. This can be proved by his lack of life accounts and epithets on Greek mythology.
The other lesser gods related to him, Enyo and Enyalius, are both described as identical to his nature of violence. Here are more interesting facts about him.
The Spartans Revered Him
While he may be one of the most disliked Greek gods, Sparta had a different attitude towards him. Sparta has an intense militaristic nature that reflects Ares’s values and character.
During the early history of Sparta, the prisoners of war were made as human sacrifices. They will also sacrifice dogs on the night before the battle to summon the support of the God of War.
In the eastern section of Sparta, an archaic monument of Ares stood wherein he was depicted as wrapped in chains. This symbolizes the victory of the war and that it should be chained within this city.
Ares Possessed Several Immortal Powers
Being the son of Hera and Zeus, it is only expected that Ares has some extraordinary powers. In Greek Mythology, he has been associated with various sacred animals that carry negative attributes such as immorality, cruelty, curse, and aggression.
He also has been linked with several war materials he held during the war. He is best known for his superhuman strength and superior physical abilities in battle.
He may not be known as the strongest physically, but he has been depicted with limitless stamina. He can run at an astounding speed and be immune to almost all kinds of diseases on Earth.
Ares has also been bestowed with the ability to communicate in various languages. In some stories, he has the power to summon other gods.
Ares Has Odikinesis Power
Ares has the power to manipulate the feelings and emotions of others, which apparently empowers him during the war. He often stimulates anger, rage, and strife to ensure that he is in control of the battlefield.
His ability to cause conflict, whether spiritually, mentally, or physically, can span a significant radius and may even cover an entire continent. He also has the power to shapeshift to manipulate the war to his liking further.
Conclusion
It is not uncommon for Ares to see a companion while on the battlefield. His infernal partners and blood-thirsty associates will mostly join him. Phobos and Deimos will usually be on his side.
If not, they will be replaced by Enyo and Eris. Ares in Greek Mythology is inside all of us. It encourages us to question our avoidance of engaging and our decision to make a compromise.
He reminds us never to justify our weakness, and there are situations when we need to be more aggressive. Ares is also a reminder to all of us not to be afraid in making painful decisions. a
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