The stories and legendary features of the Olympian gods are remarkable for many of us. In fact, many branches of art are nourished by these stories and legendary features. Mythological legends are transferred from language to language and continue to this day. In addition, the statues of Greek gods and their reflections in paintings are proof that Greek mythology has been transferred to art.
Although Zeus is the most curious of the Olympian gods and the one whose name we hear most, Ares, the God of War, is no less popular than him. In our article, we told the story of Ares, the God of War, the child of Zeus and Hera, who was not loved by the other gods, and who was the subject of movies, TV series and books!
Who is Ares, the God of War in Greek mythology who feeds on chaos?:
Everyone knows that Ares, the god of war in Greek mythology, is a very angry god. It is a known fact that Ares, the first god that comes to mind when chaos, war and aggression is mentioned, is not very popular among the gods. In fact, in the legend, it is stated that he was not even loved by Zeus because he started wars between people and enjoyed destruction.
It is known that Ares, who went down in history as one of the Twelve Olympians, was depicted as an armed young man. There are symbols that are fierce and suggestive of war, such as helmet, shield, spear, dog and vulture. In fact, it is said that Ares symbolizes masculine courage. This feature is also compatible with the physical portrayal of Ares, who is known to be quite violent.
Ares, who is the subject of the epics of Hesiod and Homer, is known as the “Shield Piercer and City Raider” in these epics. The bloody and terrifying wars that Athena advocates, on the contrary, show what a lover of chaos she is. It is also known that Ares, who is weak in wisdom and war strategy, is fast and agile.
The passionate love of Aphrodite and Ares:
Speaking of Ares’ interest in destruction and wars, it is impossible not to mention their passionate love. The events he experienced with Aphrodite, known as his most famous love, do not go as he wanted for Ares. It is known that Aphrodite was married to Hephoistas, who was a blacksmith and known as the ugliest god. However, things change when Ares falls in love with Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty.
Although it took a while for Aphrodite to reciprocate Ares’ love, the forbidden love of the two lovers finally began. Knowing that Hephoistas works until dawn, Ares and Aphrodite spend time constantly in that period. However, Ares keeps a guard at the door because he is worried that everyone will find out about this situation.
The guard has a duty to inform Ares when Helios appears on the horizon. But one day, the guard falls asleep and Helios finds out everything. He reports the love of Aphrodite and Ares to Hephoistas. Later, Hephaestus does not accept this betrayal and lets everyone know. Ares, the God of War, is temporarily exiled from Mount Olympus. It is known that Harmonia and Eros emerged from the passionate love of Aphrodite and Ares.
He had full faith that he would defeat Hercules:
The end of his famous battle with Hercules, which is also mentioned in Marvel’s comics and comes to mind when Ares is mentioned, is not very encouraging for Ares. According to the stories in the legends, the story, which begins with Kyknos, the son of Ares, blocking the path of a few people in Delphi, gets complicated when Apollo sends Hercules to that region to solve the situation.
When Hercules killed the son of the great God of War, Ares became very angry and fought a great war with Hercules. We can say that Ares, who was fighting with Hercules, was surprised at what happened when Athena appeared before him. Hercules, who escaped injury thanks to the shield given by Athena, condemns Ares to defeat.
In general, it is possible to say that in the legends, Ares, the God of War, found himself in defeat and shame. We can say that he did his best to become a god that many gods and goddesses did not like. In addition to all this, legends say that his father’s attitude towards him pushed him into chaos, war and destruction.
With the help of Hermes, he gets rid of two giants:
When Otis and Ephialtes, two giants who were not accepted by the Olympian gods, declared war on the gods, Zeus, who appointed Ares, was unaware of what would happen. During the war, which starts with Ares attacking the giants, everything turns upside down when Ares lowers his shield. Ares, who was injured by the giants, is neutralized and locked in a bronze jar.
After a long struggle, Hermes finds Ares and frees him. The two giants are already starting to serve their punishment by going to the land of the dead.
The God of War’s role in the battle for beauty:
The causes and consequences of the Trojan War are known to many of us. It is impossible for Ares not to exist in this war. The god who supports wars is on the side of Troy in this war. It is known that Ares, who faced Athena, stood out with his aggression in battle. It is said that Athena stood on the side of the Greeks with her wisdom and strategic decisions.
It is also mentioned in the legends that Ares, who is known to have been defeated by Athena in the war, suffered great damage. Ares, who was wounded with a spear by Diomidis with the help of Athena, asks for help from the gods and goddesses, but only Paieon responds to his call. Paieon heals Ares with his medicinal plants, but Ares’s defeats continue.
Ares in Roman mythology:
Ares is known as the Prime God of Sparta and an important god in the Thrace region. It is said to be known as Mars in Roman mythology. In some legends, Mars is said to have less humane characteristics. It is also mentioned in the legends that he was the father of Romulus, the founder of Rome. That’s why Mars is accepted as the ancestor of the Romans. Although Ares, who is even mentioned in the God of War game, is seen as chaos-loving and cruel in Greek mythology in many works, Mars is remembered as a romantic, brave and brave man in Roman mythology.
In addition to Rome, there are temples dedicated to Ares in the Thrace region. There are also many places of worship dedicated to him in places such as Crete, Athens, Argoz and Megalopolis.
We all see that Ares, the God of War, is famous for many legendary events. The war-filled stories of the god, who plays the leading role in different legends, and his struggles with the gods are becoming increasingly famous. His struggle with Athena, his love with Aphrodite and the wars he entered complete the story of Ares.
We talked about many legends about Ares, who is the most disliked god among the Greek gods and is involved in events that can be considered the lord of chaos. To learn more legends from Greek mythology:
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