GOD ARES: Who is he?, biography, characteristics and more

God Ares, known in Greek Mythology, for being one of the most influential gods on Olympus, who was in charge of all matters related to wars. In this post we will talk to you about all its relevant aspects. Don’t forget to read it. I’m sure you’ll love it.

Introduction

Greek mythology is full of stories, myths and legends, which are typical of the culture that was manifested by ancient Greece, especially in the years between 1,200 BC. C., and 146 BC. C. All of this being considered the source or origin of Western civilization, mainly reflected through literary works of great historical value.

These texts contained stories in their pages, many of which were presented through poems, as was the case with the works of Homer, such as the Iliad and the Odyssey. In them, as in many other literary specimens, the existence of gods who were on Olympus, from where they directed the lives of all mortals, has been reflected.

These literary works contain in an explanatory way, how the ancient Greeks observed their world, and with this they tried to respond to many of the manifestations that were experienced regarding the natural world, allowing them at the same time to carry out their religious cult, and With this they all form a cultural base.

All this was captured for later cultures, through sculptures, ceramics, works of art and in a very special way, such as literary works that have been considered classics, which are read throughout the world, and that in some countries , they are even part of educational programs. (We invite you to read our article on The Trojan War)

The contributions left by Greek mythology have initially been passed from generation to generation orally, but have also been reinforced by literary works and epic poems, which have been left in written form, capturing in them all the events that According to the authors, they gave life to the presence of beings endowed with fantastic qualities, considered by many to be gods or demigods.

It is considered that the gods lived in Olympus, which was considered a palace located on the highest mountain in Greece at an altitude of 2917 meters above sea level and which is also the second highest in the Balkans. This Mount Olympus was located in a region between Thessaly and Macedonia, which is currently a Greek nature reserve.

But also a territory that is considered heritage of the European Union, established since 1981, as a biosphere reserve. In this region was located, as we have indicated, the Palace of the gods, which was mainly inhabited by twelve of them, such as Zeus, Hephaestus, Athena, Apollo, Hera, Artemis, Ares, Hestia, Aphrodite, Hermes, Poseidon and Demeter. .

Each of which was endowed with a series of magical qualities, through which they controlled the elements, present in nature, such as air, earth, fire, water and in addition to many other manifestations that were present in the lives of all beings. humans, who were considered mortal.

On this occasion we are going to meet the God Ares, a deity under whose dominion wars were, and being considered children of two gods, such as Zeus and Hera. On the one hand, his father, Zeus, was the one who ruled all the gods of Olympus, and was considered the god of thunder, lightning and the entire sky.

On the other hand, Hera, the mother of the God Ares, was considered a deity who represented marriage, protecting everything related to it; and who also had other children such as Hephaestus, god of fire; Hebe, goddess of youth and Eleitia, goddess of childbirth.

With all this we will begin our journey through the life of the God Ares, a mythological character often considered violent and untamed, but who was not only present during wars; but he was also considered loved by many women and hated by some men.

We invite you to continue reading this article, through which we will learn about the entire biography, characteristics and a series of myths that make the God Ares, one of the main gods of Olympus, who is present in the stories of so many epic poems. , despite not having many devoted followers, which is why the number of sanctuaries seen as a tribute to other similar deities were not built for him.

Who was the God Ares?

The God Ares is one of the twelve gods who inhabited the palace of Olympus, who imposed his presence as the son of Zeus himself. He is a deity that represents war, and who was identified as being violent and even cruel.

Although some claim that at times he could be seen as cowardly. The truth is that the other gods generally did not like Ares’s conflictive character.

The epic poems of the Greek Homer, in their pages present us with the god Ares, with a series of attributes, not only bravery, but also tireless strength, and great masculine virility. Considering him as the protector of Olympus and all armies. (You may be interested in knowing in detail who the Goddess Aphrodite was)

In this way, the God Ares is presented as the leader of all the rebels, of those men who considered themselves righteous and also of the weak. A brutal man for war, but in the field of love, he had more than thirty lovers and about sixty children.

Considering that of all his lovers, the favorite was always the Goddess Aphrodite, who was the deity of love and beauty, his healer and on many occasions his ally on the battlefield. When she is compared to the Roman gods, we have the God Mars as her equivalent.

But the God Ares was not the only one in terms of war, since they also had in this field the Goddess Athena, who was the patron of strategies and wisdom in battles; Despite this god, he has always been considered the most outstanding and the one who achieved the most victories throughout mythological history.

Biography

The God Ares, representative of war and whose authority in this sense is unquestionable, due to his high hierarchy, being the son of the immortals Zeus and Hera. Considering that he is born within the second generation, since the first is that of the Titans, and was an example of a race that was known as the Bronze Age, where men were considered men of Ares.

This was remembered in literary works as men who lived and died because of their bronze weapons and the only inheritance that remained from them was the memory of the bitter conflict they faced. It was said at that time that the brightness of the world was brought by weapons, while the darkness was due to spilled blood.

The God Ares was the physical representation of the spirit of war, where all his actions were always directed towards that end. A God who had as his sister Hebe, goddess of youth, and Eleitia, the goddess of childbirth.

As we have mentioned, he had many lovers, as well as children; being his favorite woman, the Goddess Aphrodite; despite considering that both were two opposite poles, but perhaps that is why they attracted each other.

Furthermore, kinship relations between the gods were somewhat complicated, for example, it is said that Aphrodite is the daughter of Dione with Zeus; but Ares is Hera’s son with Zeus; Therefore, these two gods would be half-brothers, and yet they were a couple, although in the form of lovers, since Aphrodite was married to Hephaestus, who was also the son of Zeus.

From the union between Aphrodite and Ares, Harmonia is born, who represents concord, Deimus, the personification of terror, and Phobos, who was the representation of fear.

Legends say that during the Trojan War, he once fought for one side, but then went over to the other; which was considered an action, through which he sought to reward the courage of the two opposing groups, which at that time were the Greeks and the Trojans.

A god who, by having these qualities of savage and bloodthirsty violence, makes him detested, even by his own parents. Well, despite having the necessary physical courage to achieve victory in war, he had a strength that was dangerous, very overwhelming, being insatiable on the battlefield, very destructive and considered a murderer of men.

But this is a God, who is considered unrepresentative within the literary works that reflect Greek mythology; since he was not considered a main deity, despite reference to him, especially regarding his love affairs and his multiple descendants.

Some of the scholars of this matter state that when the God Ares appears in some myths, he is generally the object of humiliation. On the other hand, the relationship he had with the goddess Aphrodite is very famous, because she was an unsatisfied wife, since she did not want her husband Hephaestus, since he had been imposed by her father Zeus of her, to control her.

But Aphrodite, a goddess who needed true love, always looked for it in other men, and especially in Ares, with whom they had a frequent loving, sexual and lustful relationship. This being contemplated in many of the epic poems of history, and leaving as a legacy, the children born from this union.

Ares is a god who was not worshiped too much, however, some records have been found, where among the Romans, he was worshiped as Mars, but being identified with the name Ares, which is why both gods have been inseparable within the classical tradition of art, as well as in the manifestations of literature, especially of Western origin. In the image you can see how the God Mars was represented for the Romans.

Characteristics

We are going to consider a series of aspects that have identified the God Ares, within Greek mythological culture, in order to know him adequately, through each of these manifestations, evidenced by this deity.

Ares is a manifestation of violence and brutal force, put into practice during wars. He was the son of Zeus and Hera, and he also had Athena as his sister, who was the goddess of war, and who also defeated him many times. When Ares is born, it is said that this is due to a flower that Hera touched, which was offered to her by a nymph, called Chloris. In two confrontations, he was wounded by Heracles, who was a demigod. He liked to go to the battlefield accompanied by one of his sons Deimos and Phobos; but he also used to count on the help of Enius, who was the goddess of violence. His affairs were many, considering that he had more than thirty wives and up to sixty children. Aphrodite was his favorite love, with whom he had Phobos and Deimos, as the most prominent; This relationship being adulterous, since she was married to Hephaestus. He is a god who is considered of great importance in the founding of Thebes. He is also considered the father of an aquatic dragon, from whose teeth came warriors, who have been identified…