Attributes DomainsĪres was the god of war and violence. In ancient Greek, “Ares” was very often used to mean simply “war.” The adjective form of Ares’ name- areios (masculine) or areia (feminine)-was sometimes used as an epithet for other gods either associated with war (like Athena) or with Ares himself (like Aphrodite). In addition to Enyalios, which functioned more like an alternative name for the god, Ares’ major epithets included Andreiphontēs (“man-slaying”), Chalceos (“brazen”), Ochys (“piercing”), Thoos (“swift”), Thouros (“furious”), and Thēritas (“beast-like”). 4 Pronunciationįrom the earliest period of Greek history, Ares was also called Enyalios, “the warlike one.” EpithetsĪres’ epithets generally stressed his warlike and brutal nature. Beekes, meanwhile, questioned all previous etymologies and instead proposed a pre-Greek, non-Indo-European origin.

Some, for example, have linked the name to Indo-European roots, such as yōris or yāris (a word connoting violence), as well as the Sanskrit word irasyā (meaning “malevolence”). Modern scholars have increasingly searched beyond Greek for the origins of Ares’ name. The most straightforward etymology derives it from the word arē or ara, which in ancient Greek means “bane,” “ruin,” “curse” and/or “imprecation.” But the name Ares may also come from another Greek word, aros, which means “profit” or “help.” 2 1500–1200 BCE), where it shows up in the syllabic Linear B script as a-re. The earliest reference to the name “Ares” dates back to the Mycenaean Period (ca. 1 Ares’ unpopularity suggests that the Greeks were all too accustomed to conflict and loath to celebrate its destructive tendencies. Though Ares was a god, the Greeks sometimes called him a Thracian in an attempt to disassociate him from Greek society and values (Thrace was a region north of Greece, home to a notoriously warlike people). His counterpart Athena, meanwhile, represented the strategic and tactical aspects of martial conflict.Īres’ impulsiveness, temper, and eagerness to cause wanton destruction made him perhaps the least popular of the Olympians-widely acknowledged but seldom admired. Though he was often portrayed as the all-encompassing god of war, Ares traditionally represented only the most brutal, impulsive, and unrestrained aspects of combat. The son of Zeus and Hera and one of the twelve Olympian deities, Ares was the god of rage, terror, and violence.

His sacred animals were the boar, the dog, and the vulture.

The most famous of them was Aphrodite, goddess of love.Īres was most associated with a soldier’s weapons: sword, spear, and shield. 21st, 2021Īres was one of the Greek gods of war, but he shared the honor with several other deities, including Athena, who was considered less violent and more strategic.Īres never married, but he did have many lovers. By Thomas Apel and Avi Kapach Last updated on Nov.

God of war greek