Shrinking Banshee Presents:

Ares, God of War

Ares was the only son Zeus and Hera had together, which is fairly ironic since both were said to despise him. Ares is the brother of Eris (Discordia), Aphrodite, Arge, Eileithyia and Hebe and was one of the Twelve Olympians. Ares was deemed the God Of War, but unlike Athena, Goddess of War, Ares represented the more brute side of warfare, Ares was the warlike spirit deified. Because of this he was not widely liked by the other gods, or mortals. However, he did always have worshippers who were inspiring on the battle field. Ares was usually referred to as a God other people, such as the Amazons and Trojans, worshipped, not the Greeks.

Ares was not invincible, even to mortals, and was wounded in battle more than once. He is portrayed as both a coward and a brave warrior, or as boastful and impulsive. Ares was the central god of Thebes, and was honored there as the father of Harmonia, wife of Cadmus the founder of their city. Ares also had a temple in Athens. The Romans also associated him with there God Mars, but unlike Mars who was one of the most important Roman Gods, Ares was not considered to be a patron god.

Ares was a notorious lover, most notably his sister Aphrodite, with whom he fathered Anteros, Enyo, Deimos, Harmonia, Pallor, Phobos and possibly Eros. Ares was caught in bed with Aphrodite by her husband Hephaestus and then trapped in a net so the other gods could see their shame. This account is related in Homer's Odyssey, although it is evident Homer has a mortal dislike of Ares and portrays him in less than flattering light in the Illiad as well.

Some of Ares' other children were Aeropus by Aerope, Alcippe by Agraulos, Meleager by Althaea, Calydon by Astynome, Ascalaphus and Ialmenus by Astyoche, Parthenopaeus by Atalanta, Oenomaus by Asterope or Harpina, Phlegyas by Chryse or Dotis, Evenus, Molus, Oeneus, Pylus and Thestius by Demonice or Alcippe, Antiope (Melanippe), Hippolyte and Penthesileia by Otrera, Cycnus by Pelopia or Pyrene, Oxylus by Protogeneia, and Ampycus, Dryas, Lycus, Melanippus, Metus (by an attendant) and Tereus.

During the war of the Titans, Ares was imprisoned in a bronze jar by the giants, or Aloeidae, for 15 months, until Hermes discovered him and released him. During the Trojan War Ares supported the Trojans, but was wounded by the Greek Diomedes, with Athena's help. When he complained to Zeus, Zeus forbid any further interferance in the war by the Gods. Athena had to restrain Ares from getting involved and when Ares thrust his spear at her with no effect she knocked him down with a stone.

Ares was also the first person to ever be tried for murder, after he killed Halirrhothius, the son of Poseidon, for raping Aglaurus, the mother of Ares' daughter Alcippe. I have also found myth's that say it was Alcippe, his child, that was raped. The trial was held on the spot, near Athens, where the rape was commited, and is to this day called the Areopagus, or Ares Hill. Ares was aquitted of the charges, thanks in part to Alcippe's pleas to the other gods..

Some of the Epithets of Ares were Gradivus, leader of Armies, and Alloprosallos. The animals said to be sacred to Ares are the Vulture and the Dog. Ares also had four horses called Aithon (red fire), Conabos (tumult), Phlogios (flame) and Phobos (terror).

Ares and Aphrodite

The Aphrodite affair
One of Ares' most memorable myths is that involving Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love. Aphrodite was married to Hephaestus but had an affair with Ares. Hephaestus captured the two in a web so the other Gods would see their shame. Ares was then put on trial for his crime of adultery.

Ares Today
Ares has been played by the fabulous Kevin Smith on Xena, Hercules and Young Hercules and on Hercules by Mark Newnham, Reb Brown and a mediocre Robot. Guess you had to be there.

 

 

 

 

The Ares Episodes

Xena: Warrior Princess

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

Young Hercules

Mark Newnam's Filmography

Reb Brown's Filmography

Listed Since 2001 - Fansites.com Link Directory

Back to the Olympians Page

Home Guestbook E-mail Shop Links NMDP Banshee Sitemap


Free counters provided by Honesty.com.


Free counters provided by Honesty.com.

Visitors to www.shrinkingbanshee.com

1