Greek God Ares

Friends + Enemies + Why?

Ares had enemies amongst the other Gods like Zeus, Helios, Hephaestus, Aphrodites Olympian consort, Otus and Ephialtes the chthonic giants.  However Ares wasn’t completely without companions he had Deimos and Phobos his children born by Aphrodite.  Sister Eris the Goddess of discord or Enyo the Goddess of war, bloodshed and violence; the minor war God Enyalius his son by Enyo, Nike the deathless spirit of victory; Kydoims, the demon of the din of battle; Makhai, Hysminai, Polemus and his daughter Alala the Goddess of the Greek war-cry; Ares sister Hebe who drew his baths for him.  These are the main people who despised him, and the main people who actually loved him.

Purpose

Ares was the Greek God of War. His purpose was to preside over male passion, to provide the weapons and preparation for a war, defense and protection of the cities, to be rebellious and to give civil orders, and lastly have personal courage.  Ares had a simple motive and he would always do his job properly and efficiently.  Just because he did it efficiently and properly doesn’t mean every war he sided on won, it just means he was knowledgeable and knew great tactics.  The purpose of Ares was to provide all that, but he never had a set purpose to always help the good side or bad side, he chose by his own will and then he would help whom ever he liked more.

Connections/Significance to Greek culture/society

Ares had a great significance and important reflection to the Greek culture in terms of an interesting deity in the Greek pantheon.  His courage and will is very inspiring and admired by the Greek warriors.  To fight with courage and honor is the way Greeks feel everything should be done by, and Ares is exactly like that which is why he plays a significant role to them.

Places Associated With?

Ares is associated and came from the Greek Mythologies.  He is the God of War and he originated from other Greek Gods, so he has been associated with Greeks.

Stories/Legends

The legend has it that Ares intentions were to always be the most powerful God among the rest of the Gods.  Ares sustains his power by creating wars and then supporting one side helping them win, this way slowly but surely he gains more power.  Ares went from having affairs, being kidnapped, to having battles and wars.  Ares wasn’t born naturally the best fighter, at first he lost many battles, those losses gave him more experience and gave him more situational awareness.  He became very tactical and used all his powers to his advantage and it was successful.  The motivation for Ares came from all the hate people and Zeus had on him.  Everyone looked at Ares as some kind of vengeful God who is just trying to be vicious, but Ares was actually instinctual, primitive, and passionate.  His motive was not to be recognized as a hero, but because of all the hate he receives.  Ares went through a time when he was kidnapped and held imprisoned behind bronze bars by two chthonic giants named Otus and Ephialtes.  Luckily Hermes eventually rescued him and the tactics of Ares pursuing combat began.

Objects/Items/Rituals Associated

Ares was rarely included with the Greek rituals.  The rituals were mostly directed towards Enyalios, where youths sacrificed young puppies before engaging battle at the Phoebaeum.