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Greek Mythology > Immortals >
Ares
Ares AIR eez
God of War
The son of Zeus and Hera, Ares embodied, not just the act, but also the spirit of War.
Disliked by most Olympians but loved by Aphrodite, Ares was a god of action and determination. When he was fighting on the side of the Trojans he was wounded by Pallas Athene (Athena). She donned the helm of Death and, after deflecting his spear, hurled a bolder, knocking Ares senseless. He had to be assisted from the field of battle by Aphrodite. When Ares retreated to Mount Olympos (Olympus) his father, Zeus, said (before commanding Paieon to heal his wounded son) To me you are most hateful of all gods who hold Olympos
, (Iliad, book 5, line 889).
Ares was sometimes accompanied into battle by his sister, Eris (Goddess of Discord) and Hades (Lord of the Dead). Ares was the father of Deimos (Fear) and Phobos (Terror), among others. His son Kyknos was killed by Herakles (Heracles) (Theogony, line 421) but Ares was unable to avenge the death because Zeus would not permit his least favorite son, Ares, to harm Herakles, his favorite son. Although hated and feared, Ares was honored by all great warriors, even Herakles.
Ares rode into battle on the side of the Trojans with his horses, Flame and Terror, pulling his war chariot. He swooped down to help Aphrodite defend her son Aineias (Aeneas) (Iliad, book 5, line 355) and saved him from sure death at the hands of the Achaians. While Ares protected Aineias with his shield, Aphrodite made her escape to Mount Olympos to tend her wounds.
He is most often confused with the Roman god, Mars.
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Ares in The Iliad (listed by book and line)
- 02.110 ...Agamemnon addresses the Argives and calls them ‘henchmen of Ares’
- 02.385 ...Agamemnon tells his solders that they should put their equipment in order so that they may fight in the division of hateful Ares
- 02.401 ...The Argives made individual prayers to various Immortals so that they might escape death and the grind of Ares
- 02.440 ...Nestor says that he and Agamemnon should go to the soldiers and stir the fierce War God
- 02.479 ...Agamemnon appeared to have the eyes and head of Zeus, the girth of Ares and the chest of Poseidon
- 02.512 ...Askalaphos (Ascalaphus) and Ialmenos (Ialmenus) are the children of Ares
- 02.515 ...Strong Ares secretly lays with the modest maiden, Astyokhe (Astyoche)
- 02.540 ...The commander of the soldiers from the island of Euboea, Elephenor, was a scion of Ares
- 02.627 ...The commander of the soldiers from Doulikhion (Dulichium) and the Ekhinai (Echinae) islands, Meges, was a man like Ares
- 02.651 ...The co-commander of the Kretans (Cretans), Meriones, was a match for the Lord of Battles
- 02.663 ...The aging Likymnios (Licymnius), scion of Ares, was killed by his nephew, Tlepolemos (Tlepolemus)
- 02.704 ...Podarkes (Podarces), scion of Ares, took command of the soldiers from Phylake (Phylace) and Pyrasos (Pyrasus) after Protesilaos (Protesilaus) was the first Akhaian (Achaean) killed at Troy
- 02.745 ...Leonteus, scion of Ares, helped Peirithoos (Peirithous) drive the beast-men from Mount Pelion
- 02.842 ...Hippothoos (Hippothous) and Pylaios (Pylaeus), scions of Ares, were commanders of the Pelasgians
- 03.128 ...Helen wove a tapestry that depicted the Trojans enduring the struggles of the War God at the hands of the Akhaians (Achaeans)
- 03.147 ...One of Priam’s advisors, Hiketaon (Hicetaon), was a scion of Ares
- 04.441 ...Eris (Discord) was the sister and companion of Ares
- 05.030 ...Athene (Athena) took Ares by the hand and addressed him as ‘man-slaughtering, blood stained Ares’
- 05.035 ...Athene (Athena) leads Ares out of the battle
- 05.289 ...Diomedes says he will glut Ares with the blood of the son of Lykaon (Lycaon)
- 05.355 ...Iris leads the wounded Aphrodite to Ares and his chariot
- 05.359 ...The wounded Aphrodite calls Ares her ‘beloved brother’ and begs for the use of his chariot
- 05.363 ...Ares gives the wounded Aphrodite his chariot
- 05.385 ...Dione comforts the wounded Aphrodite and tells her of how Ares was bound for three months by Ephialtes and Otos (Otus)
- 05.388 ...Dione tells the wounded Aphrodite how Hermes rescued Ares from Ephialtes and Otos (Otus)
- 05.390 ...Hermes frees Ares from Ephialtes and Otos (Otus)
- 05.430 ...Zeus tells the wounded Aphrodite to leave warfare to Athene (Athena) and Ares
- 05.454 ...Apollon speaks to Ares about Diomedes
- 05.455 ...Apollon calls Ares ‘man-slaughtering and blood stained’
- 05.461 ...Ares assumes the guise of Akamas (Acamas) and stirs the Trojans to battle
- 05.506 ...Ares enters in the battle on the side of the Trojans at the request of Apollon
- 05.518 ...Aineias (Aeneas) returned from the fighting unwounded because Apollon, Ares and Eris (Discord) were fighting with the Trojans
- 05.563 ...Menelaos (Menelaus) fought with the fury of Ares
- 05.576 ...Pylaimenes, equal of Ares, is killed in battle
- 05.592 ...Ares and Enyo lead the Trojans into battle
- 05.594 ...Ares proceeded Hektor (Hector) into battle with his gigantic spear
- 05.604 ...Ares assumes the guise of a mortal man and protects Hektor (Hector) in the fight
- 05.699 ...Ares and Hektor (Hector) drove the Akhaians (Achaeans) back
- 05.702 ...The Akhaians (Achaeans) retreated when they saw Ares leading the Trojans
- 05.704 ...Hektor (Hector) and Ares, the brazen, slaughter the Akhaians (Achaeans)
- 05.717 ...Hera berates Athene (Athena) for allowing the cursed Ares to drive back the Akhaians (Achaeans)
- 05.757 ...Hera asks Zeus if he is angry at Ares for the slaughter of so many Akhaians (Achaeans)
- 05.824 ...Diomedes addresses Athene (Athena) and says he has retreated and gathered his soldiers about him because lord Ares is leading the Trojans in battle
- 05.827 ...Athene (Athena) tells Diomedes not to fear Ares because she will stand beside him
- 05.829 ...Athene (Athena) tells Diomedes to steer his chariot towards Ares
- 05.830 ...Athene (Athena) tells Diomedes not to fear Ares
- 05.841 ...Athene (Athena) rides against Ares
- 05.842 ...Ares is taking the armor from the body of Periphas when Athene (Athena) attacks him
- 05.844 ...Athene (Athena) put on the Helm of Death so that blood stained Ares could not see her coming
- 05.846 ...Ares sees Diomedes and charges at him
- 05.859 ...When Athene (Athena) wounded Ares, he bellowed like nine thousand men
- 05.864 ...The Trojans and Akhaians (Achaeans) shivered in fear when they heard Ares bellow in pain
- 05.866 ...The wounded Ares darkened the sky as he left the battlefield and rose into the heavens
- 05.872 ...Ares speaks to Zeus and says that Athene (Athena) is unjust
- 05.892 ...Zeus explains that the anger of Hera is the cause of Ares’ suffering
- 05.904 ...Paieon quickly heals Ares’ wounds
- 05.905 ...Ares is washed by Hebe and given clean clothing
- 05.909 ...Hera and Athene (Athena) return to the house of Zeus satisfied that they had stopped the murderous Ares from slaughtering the Akhaians (Achaeans)
- 06.067 ...Nestor addresses the Danaans and calls them ‘henchmen of Ares’
- 06.203 ...Ares killed Isandros (Isander), the son of Bellerophontes (Bellerophon)
- 07.146 ...Lykourgos (Lycurgus) killed Areithoos (Areithous) and took the armor which Ares had given him
- 07.208 ...Aias strides like Ares, gigantic in his armor
- 07.330 ...Nestor calls for a pause in the fighting so that they might gather the fallen bodies that the fierce War God has scattered on the banks of the river Skamandros (Scamander)
- 08.079 ...Idomeneus, Agamemnon and the two Aiantes, henchmen of Ares, gave ground; (the Aiantes are Telamonian Aias and Lesser Aias)
- 08.349 ...Hektor (Hector) had the eyes of a Gorgon or murderous Ares as he maneuvered his chariot
- 08.531 ...The Trojans rest for the night because dawn will awaken the bitter War God
- 09.082 ...Askalaphos (Ascalaphus) and Ialmenos (Ialmenus), sons of Ares
- 10.228 ...The two Aiantes, henchmen of Ares, were willing to go with Diomedes into the Trojan camp as spies; (the Aiantes are Telamonian Aias and Lesser Aias)
- 11.295 ...Hektor (Hector) was a man like the murderous War God as he drove the Trojans into battle
- 11.603 ...Akhilleus (Achilles) emerged from his shelter like the War God
- 12.130 ...Leonteus is compared to the God of Battles
- 12.188 ...Leonteus, scion of Ares, killed Hippomakhos (Hippomachus)
- 13.127 ...The War God could find no fault with the battalions of the Akhaians (Achaeans)
- 13.295 ...Meriones, a match for the rapid War God, armed himself for battle
- 13.298 ...Meriones and Idomeneus are like Ares and Phobos (Terror)
- 13.328 ...Meriones, a match for the running War God led the way
- 13.444 ...Alkathoos (Alcinous) was beaten down by Poseidon, stabbed by Idomeneus and then Ares took his life away
- 13.500 ...Aineias (Aeneas) and Idomeneus are like the War God
- 13.517 ...Deiphobos killed Askalaphos, the son of Ares
- 13.521 ...Ares sat on Mount Olympos (Olympus) at the command of Zeus and did not know of the death of his son, Askalaphos (Ascalaphus)
- 14.149 ...Poseidon encourages Agamemnon and tells him that the gods are not angry with him; Poseidon then departs across the battlefield issuing a cry like nine or ten thousand warriors as they closed with the War God
- 15.110 ...Hera reminds Ares that his son, Askalaphos (Ascalaphus), has been killed and that Zeus sits apart from the other Immortals with no concern for their sorrow
- 15.112 ...Ares’ son, Askalaphos (Ascalaphus), is dead
- 15.113 ...Ares strikes his thighs in anger at the news of the death of his son, Askalaphos (Ascalaphus), and addresses the other Immortals
- 15.115 ...After being cautioned by Hera, Ares speaks to the gods and says that they must not blame him for going into the battle in defiance of Zeus’ orders
- 15.119 ...Ares orders Deimos (Fear) and Phobos (Terror) to harness his horses as he prepares to leave Mount Olympos (Olympus)
- 15.125 ...Athene (Athena) stops Ares and takes his shield and helmet
- 15.127 ...Athene (Athena) takes Ares’ spear and tries to reason with him
- 15.128 ...Athene (Athena) speaks to Ares and warns him that all the gods will be punished if he enters the battle at Troy in defiance of Zeus’ command
- 15.142 ...Athene (Athena) made violent Ares sit on a chair
- 15.605 ...Hektor (Hector) fought with the fury of Ares even though the god was not beside him
- 15.733 ...When the Trojans reached the ships, Aias encouraged the Danaans to be the henchmen of Ares and fight harder
- 16.245 ...Patroklos (Patroclus) prays to Zeus before he goes into the grind of the War God
- 16.543 ...Poulydamas (Polydamas) tells Hektor (Hector) and Aineias (Aeneas) that brazen Ares has killed Zeus’ son, Sarpedon
- 16.784 ...Patroklos (Patroclus) charged at the Trojans with the force of the running War God
- 17.072 ...Menelaos (Menelaus) was pushed back by Hektor (Hector) who was a match for the running War God
- 17.210 ...When Hektor (Hector) put on the armor of Akhilleus (Achilles), Ares entered his body and filled him with fighting strength
- 17.398 ...Ares nor Athene (Athena) could have scorned the terrible fight for the body of Patroklos (Patroclus) and the armor of Akhilleus (Achilles)
- 17.721 ...Aias says that he and Lesser Aias have stood fast in the face of the bitter War God and will protect Menelaos (Menelaus) as he retreats with the body of Patroklos (Patroclus)
- 18.134 ...Thetis tells her son, Akhilleus (Achilles), not to go into the grind of the War God until she returns
- 18.209 ...The light emitted by the shining helmet of Akhilleus (Achilles) was like a signal flare that is used to call men to help defend their neighbors homes in the hateful division of Ares with his new armor
- 18.264 ...The fighting at Troy has been the wrath of the War God
- 18.304 ...Hektor (Hector) tells his soldiers that, in the morning, they will awaken the bitter God of War and attack the Akhaians (Achaeans)
- 18.309 ...Hektor (Hector) encourages his soldiers by reminding them that the War God is impartial and has killed the killer
- 18.516 ...Ares and Athene (Athena) led the Trojans into battle
- 19.047 ...The wounded Odysseus and Diomedes, men of Ares, limped because of their wounds
- 19.078 ...Agamemnon addresses the Danaans and calls them ‘henchmen of Ares’
- 19.189 ...Agamemnon urges Akhilleus (Achilles) to wait before he undertakes the work of the War God
- 20.038 ...When the Immortals entered the battlefield, Ares and Apollon went to fight on the side of the Trojans
- 20.046 ...The Trojans trembled at the sight of Akhilleus (Achilles) because he looked like the War God
- 20.051 ...Ares took the guise of a storm-cloud and bellowed from the walls of Troy
- 20.078 ...Akhilleus (Achilles) was anxious to face Hektor (Hector) and spill his blood to Ares
- 20.138 ...Poseidon speaks to Hera and says that he will enter the battle if Ares or Apollon stands against Akhilleus (Achilles)
- 20.152 ...Ares and Apollon watch the battle
- 20.238 ...Hiketaon (Hicetaon) was a scion of Ares
- 20.358 ...Akhilleus (Achilles) urged the Akhaians (Achaeans) to help him fight the mass of Trojan soldiers because not even Ares or Athene (Athena) could fight their way through such a throng
- 21.391 ...Ares enters the battle against Athene (Athena)
- 21.394 ...Ares speaks to Athene (Athena) and calls her a ‘dog-fly’
- 21.402 ...Ares stabs at Athene (Athena)
- 21.405 ...Ares is hit on the neck by Athene (Athena) with a large stone
- 21.410 ...Athene (Athena) speaks to Ares after she has wounded him and says that the wound was his punishment for siding with the Trojans
- 21.416 ...Aphrodite led Ares from the battlefield after Athene (Athena) wounded him
- 21.421 ...Hera urges Athene (Athena) to go after Aphrodite for helping Ares
- 21.425 ...Athene (Athena) hits Aphrodite in the breast and knocks her and Ares to the ground and tells them that the same fate will befall any Immortal who sides with the Trojans
- 21.431 ...Athene (Athena) tells Ares and Aphrodite that they have faced her fury
- 22.267 ...Akhilleus (Achilles) tells Hektor (Hector) that one of them must give blood to Ares
- 23.841 ...Leonteus, scion of Ares, participated in the funeral games of Patroklos (Patroclos)
- 24.260 ...Priam laments that Ares has killed Hektor (Hector) and his other sons
- 24.474 ...Alkimos (Alcimus), scion of Ares, is present when Priam begs Akhilleus (Achilles) for the body of Hektor (Hector)
- 24.498 ...Priam laments that violent Ares has killed most of his fifty sons
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Ares in The Odyssey (listed by book and line)
- 08.116 ...Euryalos (Euryalus), the best of the Phaiakians (Phaeacians), was like murdering Ares when he faced Odysseus in the athletic games
- 08.267 ...Demodokos (Demodocus) sang of the love between Ares and Aphrodite
- 08.276 ...Hephaistos (Hephaestus) devised a treacherous snare to capture Ares and Aphrodite
- 08.285 ...Ares, of the gold reins, watched until Hephaistos (Hephaestus) left his home and then sought the love of Aphrodite
- 08.290 ...Ares entices Aphrodite into his arms
- 08.309 ...Hephaistos (Hephaestus) speaks to Zeus and says that his wife, Aphrodite, loves Ares because he is handsome
- 08.331 ...The lame Hephaistos (Hephaestus) has captured the swift Ares by craft and now Ares must pay adulterer’s damage
- 08.345 ...Poseidon speaks to Hephaistos (Hephaestus) and promises to pay the adulterer’s damage if Ares refuses
- 08.352 ...Hephaistos (Hephaestus) is afraid that Ares will not pay the adulterer’s debt
- 08.355 ...Poseidon again promises Hephaistos (Hephaestus) that he will pay the adulterer’s damage if Ares does not
- 08.361 ...Hephaistos (Hephaestus) frees Ares and Aphrodite from his snare; Ares goes to Thrake (Thrace) and Aphrodite goes to the island of Kypros (Cyprus)
- 08.518 ...Demodokos (Demodocus) sang about the Wooden Horse and how Menelaos (Menelaos) fought like Ares at the side of Odysseus
- 11.537 ...Odysseus speaks to the ghost of Akhilleus (Achilles) in the Underworld and says the War God rages at all and favors no man
- 14.216 ...The disguised Odysseus tells the swineherd, Eumaios (Eumaeus), that Ares and Athene (Athena) had once made him a good fighter
- 16.268 ...The winner of the fight between Odysseus and Penelope’s suitors will be the War God’s choice
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