Ares; Hellenic God of War

[Quintus Aurelius Orcus]

Salvete
Here is part 1 of the Areography on Ares, or otherwise known as the study of Ares.

Areography:

Ares was the Greek god of war, though not in the tradition of war-gods such as Tyr and Teutates. The Romans, who were to assimilate most of the myths and characteristics to their own gods, kept Mars' reputation and most of his myths quite distinct from Ares'. Because our source on Ares comes to us through the more civilized areas of Greece, this bad perception on Ares is normal. Which civilized society would be fond over war. They weren't fond over it, but they fought allot of wars. This was because Ares was the deification of the warlike spirit. He reveled in the gore and carnage of the battlefield. He delighted in the cacophony and slaughter of battle. In the Iliad, Homeros wrote, "…brazen Ares bellowed loud as nine thousand warriors." Conflict and mindless killing were his favorite preoccupations. Homeros and other Greeks had several unflattering epithets for him: "man-slaughtering, blood-stained stormer of walls", "slayer of men", "sacker of towns", "Ares of the darksome spear", "the shield piercer", "lord of wail", etc.
Ares' is apparently an ancient abstract noun meaning throng of battle, war. The adjective derived from it, areios, occurs with remarkable frequency: there is a Zeus Areios, an Athena Areia, an Aphrodite Areia, and in Mycenean there is apparently a Hermaas Areias as well. In Homeros Ares is more used for battle. Formulaic expressions are found like 'to stand fast against sharp Ares', 'to stir up sharp Ares', 'to measure one's strength in Ares', and 'to kill through Ares'
As such, he was quite unpopular in Greece except in the north and west in Thessaly and Aetolia. Some suppose this points to a Thracian origin. However, other than the fact that we find him in the Iliad on the side of the Trojans, there is little else to suspect that this is true. Besides, most of his myths are centered around Thebes (which, although, may have been settled by Thracian elements), where in he had a sacred hill and a sacred spring, 'the Areia'. I suspect Ares simply appealed more to the rougher breed of Greeks in these areas whose culture paled compared to the more civilized states of the south. In Greek mythology, even the other Olympians hated him, as with Zeus.
Zeus addressed Ares with the words: To me you are the most hateful of all gods who hold Olympus (Iliad, 5:890).
Indeed, the southern Greeks revered Athena as their protector in war. She was the goddess of chivalrous warfare. Her powers were superior to those of Ares, who delighted in gross slaughters on massive scales. Athena was invincible in battle, and her side always won.
Ares usually had no favorites in battle - he just preferred one side to be routed with great slaughter. Indeed, Homeros called him 'alloprosallos', 'fickle', because of his capricious nature (Iliad). Ares was often wounded or even taken prisoner. In one myth, Athena totally defeated him in battle, and he fell with his body covering seven acres. Also, during the Trojan War, Ares sided with the Trojans, taking under his protection the hero Hector. The Achaean Diomedes wounded him, and he again fell to the ground with a thundering crash. The Giants Otos and Ephialtes also once captured Ares, and imprisoned in a huge brass vase for thirteen months, where he weakened and almost died (Iliad).
Ares' accouterments and totemic animals also do not suggest strong links to the war-gods. We would expect that, at a minimum, he had a sword and mounted on a horse. Instead, we find that his sacred animals were the dog and vulture, with the former sacrificed to him. His main sigils were his spear and torch.
However, Ares was also always found with a sword, and Herodotos wrote that an upright sword symbolized him. He also did not have one horse, but two: Phobos (fear) and Deimos (terror), who pulled his war chariot. Moreover, a wolf, the totemic animal of Mars, was also said to have been sacrificed to him. He was also identified with the 'fiery sphere', the planet Mars.
It is uncertain whether Ares' name appears on Linear B tablets, but the name has good Greek construction. However, at Sparta he is commonly called Enyalios, a name that is also found on a tablet at Knossos. It may have been, however, that Enyalios was later assimilated with Ares, who would have been brought to Greece in the Dorian invasion. The etymology of his name is uncertain, though female Greek personal names such as Areia ('warlike') and Arene complement it ('like a male warrior'). Some take it to mean 'avenger' or 'destroyer'. We have already speculated on his northern or Thracian origin. Much of Ares' (unsubstantial) myth points in this direction. For instance, he was reputed to have been the father of Diomedes, the warrior-king of Thrace, and of the Amazon queen Hippolyta.
valete optime
Romulus

[Quintus Aurelius Orcus]

Salvete
Here is part 2 of the Areography
Any comment on Ares and/or Aphrodite is appreciated
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Ares also appears to have cognates in other pantheons. The Armenians had a war-god called Aray. This god seems to have been a survival of the old Hittite god of the same name, though the latter seems to have been associated with the dying and resurrecting god. These are not mutually exclusive concepts, of course, for even the great Roman war god Mars also had an earlier function as the protector of crops and fields. an identity which lingered in the Italian countryside throughout the rise of Rome. The Keltic god Arus may also have been etymologically related to Ares and Aray. The Romans seem to have equated Arus with their own Hercules, though a war or protector function was probably more accurate. On the other hand, the ancient Babylonians had a god called Erra, who presided over war, death, and other disasters. Thus, his name similarity and unsavory character to Ares suggest that this god originated at a very early time and continued through a wide area of Europe into history.
But as with the Roman Mars in Italy, he may still be traceable in Greece. Ares does not approach the figure of a major deity let alone exhibit many of the characteristics or accoutrements of the other war gods or a sky god. One interesting exception, however, is his symbol, which is very similar to that of Mars. The arrow is completely drawn through the circle, however, and has been interpreted as a spear across a shield. His name and role suggest phonetic and conceptual similarities traceable through the lexicons. These include words that suggest Ares was once thought of as both a 'noble' and a 'warrior'. In Greece the name 'the warrior spirit' was connected in personal names such as Areia and Arene, while Arion ('lofty one') suggested the 'noble' association. Ares could also be connected to aristo 'the best', from which the Greeks derived the word aristocracy 'rule by the best (i.e. noble) classes'. However, given the probable northern connections for both Apollo and Artemis, he could have arrived later perhaps with the Bryges or Boeotians. The Keres also accompanied Ares. With them Ares was recognized as a bringer of disease. Keres were malignant spirits that wrought pollution, caused blindness and other diseases, old age and death, spiritual blindness (Grk 'hate'), and misfortune. Mostly they were death-bringers.
A fever-demon wastes the town and decimates with fire, stalking hated through the emptied house where Cadmus lived ... And the agent of the pestilence is identified: muffle the wildfire Ares, warring with copper-hot fever ... For o, what night has spared us he does at break of (Sophocles, Oedipus Rex).
Difficult to identify in Greek art, their literary descriptions suggest to some that they were birds of prey similar to Harpies. They may have, in fact, been Ares' vultures. In Greek mythology, these were also related to the Stymphalian birds that were sacred to Ares. Heracles had to rid the country of these pests, whose swarm was so immense that if effectively blocked the light of the sun, the excrement of the birds producing a great plague.
In addition to Phobos and Deimos, the goddess Eris also usually accompanied Ares. As the goddess of Strife, Eris was no charmer, either. It was she who instigated the Trojan War by provoking the wrath of Hera and Athena against Paris for having not chosen them in a beauty contest.
Ares' offspring were also known for their rage and violence. His son Kyknos the brigand was a ferocious killer until slain by Heracles. Zeus prevented him from taking revenge on his mortal son. So was Ascalaphus, at whose death Ares raged and Diomedes the Thracian. Phlegyas was another miscreant, whose name became synonymous with raiders and ferocious fighters.
Ares was also associated with the Erinyes. The Greeks linked them to a pack of savage hounds. The Erinyes are generally recognized as malevolent goddess of rage and vengeance. Generally seen as chthonic deities, they nevertheless seem related to Eris, the Keres, and the Harpies. In Thebes he had the Erinys Tilphossa as consort, upon whom he fathered the dragon slain by Cadmos.
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valete optime
Romulus

[Quintus Aurelius Orcus]

Salvete
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Religion

Despite his unsavory nature in classical times, there are hints that Ares' character once related him to more recognizable aspects of the war god. Like Mars, Ares was also associated with agriculture, and the month of March was sacred to him. March was very important since it was the messenger of the rebirth of plant life and the season of wars and campaigns.
The Spartans had a scapegoat-like festival associated with Ares featuring a ritual combat in which the defeated was cast into the water. This seems related to various spring purification rites. Ares' name is also very similar to Aras, a farmer-divinity known as the 'Plow-man', sowing the earth from which he sprang. Like Apollo, Ares was fond of the laurel tree.
Ares is the almighty God of War, Warriors and warfare. As he goes to battle, Bellona, Metus, Phobos and Deimos accompany him. He is also the God of Aggressive emotions. He is a bloodthirsty warrior who inspire fear upon the greatest warriors on the battlefield Isxios has put on his site and I quote" Its through aggression that made us hunters and made sure that we fought our we up on the ladder of evolution to be spared of extinction. It was through his gifts that we still exist". The violence of nature and the survival of the fittest comes from the God himself. He is neither good nor evil. The gods have a dualistic nature that can't be seen among humans but it is through his gifts of competition that we can compete in sports as in the business world. But his gift has a dark side to it. The aggression is everywhere in the universe. Like i said before, we use the aggression in sports as in business but its dark side is when we use it to fight among ourselves and fight wars over stupid reasons. Ares has been our protector and savior but through these wars, he became something malevolent. Aggression in love can be a double-edged sword because it can be passionate but also dangerous. The better side of aggression is channeled in sports, culture, art... Aggression is also channeled when you are in danger or when somebody else is in danger and you stand up for him or her. The Romans call Ares Mars after the Hellenisation, who became more important to us than we are willing to admit. The Hellenes didn't like him that much because he is a bloodthirsty War-god not like Athena.
Because Ares and the others Gods play such a significant part in our evolution and environment, it's hard to think of them not present while we see them all around us. Ares now maybe disliked by many of us but if our population is gonna double in the next 50 years than we are gonna welcome him back in our lives. Because we are gonna need hem the most and love they neighbor is worth nothing anymore if we gonna fight for food. But for the animals it going be a dark age which they gonna face extinction through us when our food supplies are low we will kill the animals and than kill our own kind for food.
Ares has many children including Harmonia, Deimos and Phobos with Aphrodite and others with many other mortals who give birth to his children like Kyknos and Tereus. Ares has more than 110 children and 40 mistresses. The days which are sacred to Ares(Mars) is 15th of October. He is on that day honored as a Fertility God before he became associated with war. But I have my doubts if this was the case. Ares is a powerful God. He doesn't enjoy good status especially among the Athenians and their allies. In the Iliad, He got his ass kicked by Athena. Hephaestus trapped him with Aphrodite in bed to humiliate them both.
Ares wasn't really worshipped as much as Athena was, but he was important even though the Greeks won't admit it.
Epithets:

His epithets are the following:
Areopagite (of the Aeropagus)
Aphneius (Bountiful)
Gynaikothoinas (One Whom the Women Feast)
Thêritas (Beastly-Brute)
Hippios (Of Horses)
Aphneios (Abundant)
Androphonios (Slayer-of-Men)
Teikhesiplêtês (Stormer-of-Cities).

Other names:
Enualios (Companion of Enyo)
Mars/ Mavors
His name can also be written as Ares or Ar os.
His symbols are the spear, sword, shield, and helmet. His sacred animals are wolf, horse, and boar. He receives frankincense, opoponax, pepper, oak, nettle, cactus, absinthe, rue, ruby, dogs, and humans. But the last one can be dropped from the list, as it is illegal to sacrifice a human to any deity. If you want to honor him practice martial arts. Respect veterans, and what they've gone through. Stand up for the principles you believe in. Find constructive ways of handling adversity. Study military history. He blesses us with the strength to get through it, get through in life, which can be cruel and hard, like the world. He blesses us with strength, courage, fortitude, cunning and the passion to fight for the things that we think are important. He helps us to shed what is not efficient, to become hard in order to compete life's adversity. He is a tough master, but when things start falling apart around you, he's precisely the person you want on your side. His cult centers were in Sparta, Thrace and Tegea.
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valete optime
Romulus

[Quintus Aurelius Orcus]

Salvete
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Genealogy and mythology

Ares' parentage has two myths. One is that Hera conceived him after visiting the garden of Flora. She lightly touched Hera with a magical herb. Hera sought Flora's help in conceiving a child in order to upset her husband Zeus, who had produced Athena from his head without Hera's aid.
The other version is that Ares was the son of Zeus and Hera and thus a legitimate son to the Greek All-Father. One theory is that he was originally considered a god of the storm and the tempest, and more particularly the hurricane. There is no doubt that he was the most terrible and fierce of all the gods, finally finding his job as the god of war.
In addition to his offspring mentioned above, Ares had other sons. In particular was Meleager, who slew the great Caledonian Boar, and Parthenopaeos, one of the 'Seven against Thebes', and Oenomaeos, among others.
Ares had no wife, although one archaic piece shows him and Aphrodite riding in their wedding chariot. In Classical times he could only love Aphrodite through an illicit affair (tramps always go for the bad boys!). She was married to Hephaestus. Knowing that the two were having an affair, Hephaestus trapped them in a special net as they lay together. He then dragged them before Zeus to judge and for all the Olympians to see. Ares and Aphrodite's daughter Harmonia married Cadmus of Thebes. Ares' love of Aphrodite also, in one version of Adonis' myth, caused Ares to turn himself into a boar and kill Aphrodite's other lover.
Ares himself was also given to wandering affections. Aphrodite found him lying with the dawn goddess Eos (who some believe was synonymous with Aphrodite). He also raped Aglauros, daughter of the legendary king Cecrops of Athens. Aglauros was a surname of Athena and so Ares may have in fact raped the war-goddess (Of course, the Greeks could not allow such a scandal to surround their great goddess in their mythology).
Ares has some links to the other war-gods. These include is sword, his horses, his sacrificial wolf. His name also has a good construction. He also may have, like Mars and other war-gods, early been associated with agriculture or at least a defender of the fields and territories of peoples/nations.
However, we have seen above that the Greeks had an extreme dislike for him. Ares degeneration into a malevolent god may have prompted them to divorce him from an original marriage to Aphrodite as is suggested above. In any event, in Classical times Ares had no moral functions or redeeming qualities. This may have developed after Athena inherited the more noble virtues of the war-god, including the functions of protection and chivalrous valor. This would have left Ares with attenuated and unsavory war-god functions.
Ares disagreeable character may have begun after the Trojan War and the calamity that overthrew the Mycenaean civilization at the end of the 13th century BC. It may have been at this time that, as Athena expropriated the favorable aspects of the war-god, Ares adopted unpopular aspects as not only the god of war, but of a more malevolent god of death. Many of his myths and other accouterments associate him, I think, with the Norse's Loki. One link is his torch. Loki is, after all, recognized as a fire-god. Fire, like Loki, is amoral or 'fickle', as the Greeks described Ares: it could be beneficial or destructive.
More importantly, it is Ares' associations with malevolent creatures who are not war-divinities that suggest he is also related to Loki, who was likewise fond of instigating trouble and violence. This Norse personification of evil was, or became, extremely unpopular amongst the Norse gods and goddesses. In Scandinavian mythology, Loki is destined to lead the forces of death and destruction against the Aesir gods at the end of time.
More striking is the fact that both Loki and Ares fathered a serpent-monster by hideous creatures also associated with serpents. Cadmos, the slayer of Ares' progeny, is basically a mortal representative of the Greek thunder-god. In Greek myth he is depicted killing the serpent with stones (i.e. 'thunderbolts').

Sources:

Karl Kereny: Gods of the Greeks
Walter Burkert: Greek Religion
Drew Campbell's Old Stones, New Temples
Enter the Mist: http://www.geocities.com/cas111jd/
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valete optime
Romulus

[Gnaeus Dionysius Draco]

Ares wasn't really worshipped as much as Athena was, but he was important even though the Greeks won't admit it.

Perhaps they just didn't worship him as much? Why would they not admit to worship him? Perhaps you feel a bit miffed because he is more important to you than to the ancient Hellenes, but there's nothing you can do to change it, I'm afraid .

Vale,
Draco

[Quintus Aurelius Orcus]

Salve Draco
You made a good point. When at war, the Greeks called upon Ares and Athena to help them achieve victory, but for the rest, they- well how should i put it- kind of ignored him. That statement, was of a personal kind. All gods were important, even the Greeks knew this, it is just my opinion that Homeros and later poets favored Athena over Ares in warfare, even though war and warfare is his dominion. As this was a subjective statement, so where they subjective when they sang about Ares and his relations with the other gods.
This is probably common for people favoring one god over another. Anyway i know i can't change it. Even not by going back in time
valete optime
Romulus