Ares facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ares
God of war and courage
Member of the Twelve Olympians
The Ludovisi Ares, a Roman statue from around 320 BC.
Abode	Mount Olympus, temples in mainland Greece, Crete and Asia Minor
Planet	Mars
Symbols	Sword, spear, shield, helmet
Day	Tuesday (hēméra Áreōs)
Personal information
Children	Erotes (Eros and Anteros), Phobos, Deimos, Phlegyas, Harmonia, Enyalios, Thrax, Oenomaus, Cycnus, and Amazons
Parents	Zeus and Hera
Siblings	Aeacus, Angelos, Aphrodite, Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Dionysus, Eileithyia, Enyo, Eris, Ersa, Hebe, Helen of Troy, Hephaestus, Heracles, Hermes, Minos, Pandia, Persephone, Perseus, Rhadamanthus, the Graces, the Horae, the Litae, the Muses, the Moirai
Roman equivalent	Mars

Ares (Ancient Greek: Ἄρης, Árēs) is the Greek god of war and courage. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, the most important gods in ancient Greece. Ares is the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and Hera, the queen of the gods.

The ancient Greeks had mixed feelings about Ares. He represented the brave, physical side of war. But he also stood for the brutal and bloody parts of battle. This was different from his sister, Athena, who was the goddess of military strategy and wise leadership. When something was linked to Ares, it often meant it was wild, dangerous, or warlike.

Ares's name comes from ancient Mycenae. Some people thought his wild nature came from his possible origins as a god from Thrace, a region north of Greece. Some cities in Greece and Asia Minor held yearly festivals. They would "bind" Ares to keep him as their protector. Far from Greece, the Scythians would offer sacrifices to their god, who was like Ares. They would ritually kill one out of every hundred war prisoners.

Even though many stories mention Ares's love affairs and children, he doesn't play a huge role in Greek mythology. When he does appear, he is often embarrassed. For example, during the Trojan War, Aphrodite, who protected Troy, convinced Ares to fight for the Trojans. But the Trojans lost, and Ares's sister Athena helped the Greeks win. In another famous story, the god Hephaestus found his wife Aphrodite with Ares. He trapped them in a net and showed them to the other gods, who laughed at them.

Ares's closest match in Roman religion is Mars. Mars was much more important and respected in ancient Roman religion. He was seen as the protector of the Roman people and their state. Later, when Roman writers learned about Greek myths, they connected Ares's stories with Mars. Because of this, in later Western art and literature, the myths of Ares and Mars became almost the same.

What's in a Name?

The name Ares is thought to be connected to the Greek word arē, which means "bane," "ruin," or "curse." Some scholars believe Ares is an old word meaning "throng of battle" or "war." The earliest form of his name is a-re, found in ancient Mycenaean Greek writings.

The word Areios means "warlike." It was often added to the names of other gods when they acted like warriors. For example, Zeus Areios meant "Warlike Zeus." Even Aphrodite Areia was a warlike version of Aphrodite, sometimes shown in armor. In the famous poem Iliad, the word ares was also used as a common word for "battle."

In ancient Greece, Ares was sometimes called Enyalios. Enyalios was sometimes seen as Ares himself, and sometimes as a separate war god.

Ares's Worship

In mainland Greece, there were not many formal temples or places of worship for Ares.

• An altar to Ares was found in Olympia.
• A Temple of Ares was moved to the Athenian Agora around 2 AD. It was then dedicated to the Roman god Mars.
• The Areopagus ("mount of Ares") is a rocky hill in Athens. It was supposedly where Ares was put on trial by the gods. He was found innocent for killing Poseidon's son. This place later became a court.

Even though Ares "typified the traditional Spartan character," he didn't have a major cult in Sparta. However, he was sometimes worshipped there alongside a warlike version of Aphrodite. Wars were common between Greek states. War and warriors gave Ares his "tribute" and fed his desire for battle.

Ares is often shown with things used in war: a helmet, a shield, and a sword or spear. Some ancient writers said that apples were sacred to Ares. Sour apples were thought to mean conflict.

Chained Statues

Gods were immortal, but in myths and worship, they could be bound. In ancient Sparta, there was a statue of Ares in chains. It was in the temple of Enyalios. People believed this meant the spirit of war should stay in the city. Spartans also chained statues of other gods.

Later, in Pamphylia (in Anatolia), an oracle told cities to set up chained statues of Ares. These cities were often attacked by pirates. The oracle promised that if they chained "bloody, man-slaying Ares," he would become a peaceful god. He would then drive away enemies and bring good fortune. This version of Ares was called karpodotes, meaning "giver of Fruits."

Sacrifices

Like most Greek gods, Ares received animal sacrifices. In Sparta, after a battle, an ox was offered to him for a clever victory. A rooster was offered for a victory won by a direct attack. Usually, Athena received sacrifices before a battle.

There were old stories about human sacrifices to Ares in a rite called Hekatomphonia. However, this was actually an animal sacrifice to Zeus. It was offered by a warrior who had killed one hundred enemies. In Sparta, young men would sacrifice a puppy to Enyalios before a special hand-to-hand fight.

Thrace and Scythia

The historian Herodotus (around 484–425 BC) wrote about a Thracian god he identified as Ares. This god was one of three main gods worshipped by common Thracians. Herodotus also said the Scythians worshipped a local form of Ares. His sacred object was an iron sword. The "Scythian Ares" received blood sacrifices of cattle, horses, and one out of every hundred human war captives. Their blood was used to sprinkle the sword.

Asia Minor

In some parts of Asia Minor, Ares was a very important god who gave prophecies. This was not common in Greece. Ares was often linked with local gods or heroes and was seen as more powerful than in mainland Greece. His worship in southern Asia Minor lasted from the 5th century BC into the Roman era. He appeared on many local coins, shown with his helmet, spear, or as a fully armed warrior. The city of Metropolis built a large temple to Ares as their protector.

Crete

A sanctuary for Aphrodite was built on Crete. It was later rebuilt as a double sanctuary for Ares and Aphrodite. Inscriptions show that Ares and Aphrodite were called upon as witnesses for sworn promises. There was also a thank-offering to Aphrodite for victory, suggesting she also had a role as a "warrior-protector." While Greek art often showed Ares and Aphrodite together, their worship as a pair was mostly found on Crete.

Aksum

In Africa, Maḥrem, the main god of the kings of Aksum (before 4th century AD), was called Ares in Greek writings. Kings would say that Ares "begat me" and helped them win battles. A monument celebrating a king's conquests was dedicated to Ares.

Ares's Personality

Ares was one of the Twelve Olympians, the main gods of ancient Greece. In Greek stories, Ares often showed the wild, violent, and uncontrolled side of war. He was the god of pure brutality and bloodlust. This was different from his sister, Athena, who represented military strategy and smart leadership. When something was linked to Ares, it meant it was savage, dangerous, or warlike. But when Ares appeared in myths, he usually ended up being humiliated.

In Homer's Iliad, Zeus, the king of the gods, shows how much the Greeks disliked Ares. When Ares returns wounded from the Trojan War and complains, Zeus says:

Then looking at him darkly Zeus who gathers the clouds spoke to him:
"Do not sit beside me and whine, you double-faced liar.
To me you are the most hateful of all gods who hold Olympus.
Forever quarreling is dear to your heart, wars and battles.
...
And yet I will not long endure to see you in pain, since
you are my child, and it was to me that your mother bore you.
But were you born of some other god and proved so ruinous
long since you would have been dropped beneath the gods of the bright sky."

This dislike is also shown by the Greeks linking Ares to the Thracians. The Greeks thought of the Thracians as a wild and warlike people. Thrace was believed to be Ares's birthplace and where he went to hide after his affair with Aphrodite was discovered.

An old inscription from the 6th century BC shows the dangers of being under Ares's influence:

Stay and mourn at the tomb of dead Kroisos
Whom raging Ares destroyed one day, fighting in the foremost ranks.

Hymns to Ares

Ancient Greeks wrote hymns (songs or poems of praise) to their gods.

Homeric Hymn 8 to Ares (from 7th to 4th centuries BC)

This hymn describes Ares as very strong, a chariot-rider, and golden-helmeted. It calls him a "Saviour of cities" and "defence of Olympus." It asks Ares to remove fear and bad thoughts, and to help people live in peace, avoiding conflict and hatred.

Orphic Hymn 65 to Ares (from 3rd century BCE to 2nd century CE)

This hymn calls Ares "unconquered" and "boisterous." It says he enjoys "bloody wars" and "swords, and spears." It asks him to stop furious fights and instead encourage peace and abundance.

Ares in Mythology

Birth

Ares is one of the Twelve Olympians. He is the son of Zeus and Hera.

The Golden Fleece

In the story of the Argonautica, the famous Golden Fleece hung in a special grove. This grove was sacred to Ares. It stayed there until Jason stole it. The Birds of Ares would shoot feather darts to protect the Amazons' shrine to Ares.

Founding of Thebes

Ares played a key role in the story of how the city of Thebes was founded. He was the father of a water-dragon. The hero Cadmus killed this dragon. Cadmus then sowed the dragon's teeth into the ground. From these teeth, fully armored warriors called Spartoi grew. To make up for killing the dragon, Cadmus served Ares for eight years. He also married Harmonia, a daughter of Ares and Aphrodite. This marriage helped bring peace and allowed Cadmus to found Thebes. The plain where Thebes was built was often called "The dancing-floor of Ares" because of the many battles fought there.

Giants

In one old myth, two huge giants, Otus and Ephialtes, chained Ares in a bronze jar. He was trapped there for thirteen months. This would have been the end of Ares if the giants' stepmother hadn't told Hermes. Hermes rescued Ares. Later, Artemis tricked the giants into killing each other.

In another story, when the monster Typhon attacked Mount Olympus, the gods changed into animals and fled to Egypt. Ares turned into a fish.

Ares in the Iliad

In Homer's Iliad, Ares doesn't always stick to one side. He first promises to fight for the Achaeans (Greeks). But Aphrodite convinces him to join the Trojans. During the war, the Greek hero Diomedes sees Ares fighting for the Trojans. Diomedes asks his soldiers to retreat. Zeus allows Athena to push Ares off the battlefield. With help from Hera and Athena, Diomedes wounds Ares with his spear. Ares cries out loudly and flees to Mount Olympus, making the Trojans fall back.

Later, Ares hears that his son Ascalaphus has been killed. He wants to switch sides again to get revenge, even though Zeus ordered the gods not to fight. Athena stops him. When Zeus finally allows the gods to fight again, Ares attacks Athena. But Athena is stronger and defeats him by hitting him with a large rock.

Ares's Companions

Ares is often joined by his companions in war:

• Deimos ("Terror" or "Dread") and Phobos ("Fear"). According to the poet Hesiod, they are also his children with Aphrodite.
• Eris, the goddess of discord, or Enyo, the goddess of war and violence. She was seen as Ares's sister and companion.
• Kydoimos, the spirit of battle noise.
• The Makhai ("Battles") and the "Hysminai" ("Acts of manslaughter").
• Polemos, a minor spirit of war.
• Alala, Polemos's daughter, who is the goddess of the Greek war-cry. Ares uses her name as his own battle cry.
• Ares's sister Hebe ("Youth") also prepares baths for him.

In Sparta, some people believed that Thero, meaning "feral" or "savage," was Ares's nurse.

Ares's Children and Affairs

Even though Ares doesn't have a huge role in many Greek myths, he had many love affairs and many children.

The children of Ares and Aphrodite include the gods Eros, Anteros, Phobos, Deimos, and Harmonia.

Cycnus was a son of Ares from Macedonia. He tried to build a temple for his father using the skulls and bones of travelers. Heracles fought him and, in one story, killed him. In another story, Ares fought Heracles to avenge his son, but Zeus stopped them with a thunderbolt.

Ares also had a romantic relationship with Eos, the goddess of the dawn.

With a woman named Teirene, Ares had a daughter named Thrassa. Thrassa had a daughter named Polyphonte. Polyphonte was cursed by Aphrodite to fall in love with a bear. She had two sons, Agrius and Oreius, who were rude to the gods and ate their guests. Zeus sent Hermes to punish them. Ares and Hermes later agreed to turn Polyphonte's family into birds.

List of Offspring

Here are some of Ares's children and their mothers, according to different ancient stories:

Ares's Roman Counterpart: Mars

Ares's closest match among the Roman gods is Mars. Mars was the son of Jupiter and Juno. He was very important to the Roman army's military gods. But he was also originally a god of farming.

Mars was seen as the father of Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome. Because of this, Mars held a very important and respected place in ancient Roman religion. He was a guardian god of the entire Roman state and its people.

When Greek culture influenced Rome, Mars was connected with Ares. However, the two gods were very different. Mars was seen as a way to bring peace. He was also a "father" of the Roman people.

As Roman writers learned about Greek myths, they retold Ares's stories using the name Mars. Greek writers under Roman rule also wrote about Mars's worship using the name Ares. So, in later Western art and literature, the stories of Ares and Mars became almost impossible to tell apart.

Ares in Later Art

In art from the Renaissance and Neoclassical periods, Ares is shown with a spear and helmet. His animal is a dog, and his bird is the vulture. In books from these times, Ares is often replaced by the Roman god Mars. Mars was seen as a romantic symbol of manly bravery, not the cruel and bloodthirsty god of Greek myths.

Images for kids

• 

  The Areopagus as viewed from the Acropolis.

See also

In Spanish: Ares para niños