The Greek Gods

According to Greek mythology, Ares was the god of war, or the spirit of battle. He was never as popular as his Roman counterpart, Mars. He was not worshiped much in Greece and that might be because he represented the bad, distasteful aspects of the ward and slaughters. According to the Illiad by Homer, he was the son of Hera and Zeus. He had many consorts (lovers) and many children. Ares was an Olympian god but he was not liked by the other gods. Those who did worship him were mainly in the northern part of Greece. He was associated with Aphrodite who was sometimes portrayed as his wife and sometimes as his lover. He went into battle with two of his and Aphrodite’s children, and also his sister, Eris (goddess of Strife). The children were Phobos (Panic) and Deimos (Rout).

Ares had a half sister named Athena and she was also a god (goddess) of war but she was considered to be strategic warfare and Ares’ was considered to be unpredictable violence. Ares was born in a far off place among the barbarous and warlike Thracians. After he split up with Aphrodite he went back to his home place.

Ares rode in a chariot with four gold bridled, fire breathing immortal stallions. He was recognized by his brazen armor. It seems that he brandished a spear while in battle. He had keen and sacred birds and they were the barn owl, the woodpecker, the eagle owl, and vulture. This was his flock and they were a group of feather dart dropping birds which guarded the Amazons’ shrine of Ares, which was located on a coastal island in the Black Sea. There was a night time sacrifice of a dog to Enyalios and it became assimilated to the cult of Ares. The dog and the vulture was both important to Ares on the battlefield. A sacrifice was sometimes made to Ares on the eve of a battle to gain his support for those making the sacrifice.

Ares’ sister Eris (also known as Enyo), was the goddess of bloodshed and violence. Ares was also accompanied in battle by the demon of the din of the Makhai (Battles). The Hysminai (Manslauthers), Polemos (a minor spirit of war), and Polemos’ daughter, Alala, goddess of the Greek war cry.

It is said that when he a boy, his sister Hebe had to draw baths for him. One of the roles that Ares portrayed was the progenitor of the water dragon which was slain by Cadmus. It is also written that the dragons teeth were sown in the ground and from them sprouted fully armored Spartans. The Spartans were a race of fighting men and were the descendants of Ares. In order to satisfy Ares, Cadmus married Harmonia who was the daughter of Ares. As the myth goes, this harmonized all strife and founded the city of Thebes.