The Greek Gods

There were many Greek gods and goddesses and Ares was one of them. According to the Greek mythology, Ares was the son of Zeus and Hera. He is often thought of as the god of war but he is more recognized as the god of savage war, bloodlust, or slaughter. The Romans recognized him as Mars, the Roman god of war and agriculture. Ares held a much higher position to the Romans than he did to the Greeks. The Hellenes did not trust Ares. He was unpredictable in his violence during the wars. He was the half sister of Athena and she was also a war god but she was not a vicious one. Ares was from far off among the barbarous and warlike Thracians. He left there after he was caught having an affair with Aphrodite.

Ares was included in many poems about the Greek gods but he was very rarely mentioned in the cult of the ancient Greece. There was a statue of him in chains, in Sparta, and a temple for him in the agora of Athens. There may have been a few other statues or temples which recognized him. The Romans had idols and statues of him to worship.

It is written that Ares had a quadriga which was drawn by four gold bridled stallions. He was well recognized with his brazen armor and the spear he brandished in battle. He had some sacred birds (the barn owl and the woodpecker, the eagle owl, and the vulture). His birds were a flock which guarded the Amazons’ shrine of the god on the coastal island in the Black Sea. It was not unusual for a sacrifice to be made to Ares on the eve of a battle.

Together Ares and Aphordite gave birth to Deimos (Dread), Eros (in some sources) Harmonia, and Phobos (Fright). Ares and Aglaulus gave birth to Alcippe. Ares and Cyrene gave birth to Diomedes. Ares and Harpina gave birth to Denomaus. Ares and Otrera gave birth to Penthesilea. Ares and Pyrene gave birth to Cycnus. Ares and Astyoche gave birth to Ascalaphus and Ialmenus. Ares and Bistonis had Tereus. Ares and Rhea Sylvia gave birth to Remus and Romulus. Ares also fathered Antiope, Biston, Enyo, Eurytion, Hippolyte, Melanippe, and Thrax and the mothers are unknown.

It is said that when Ares had the affair with Aphrodite, he put a young man at his door to warn him if Helios showed up. It seems that the youth went to sleep and Helios found Ares with Aphrodite together and told Hephaestus. Ares was so mad he turned the youth into a rooster. The rooster now crows at dawn and reminds everyone that the sun is coming up.