Ares

God of war in ancient Greek religion

This article is about the ancient Greek god. For other uses, see Ares (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Aries (disambiguation).

Ares

God of war and courage

Member of the Twelve Olympians

Cast of a Roman statue from Hadrian's Villa, copied from a Greek original. Traditionally identified as Ares or Hermes.

Abode| Mount Olympus, temples in mainland Greece, Crete and Asia minor
Planet| Mars
Symbols| Sword, spear, shield, helmet
Day| Tuesday (hēméra Áreōs)
Genealogy
Parents| Zeus and Hera
Siblings| Hephaestus, Eileithyia, Hebe and several paternal half-siblings
Consort| Aphrodite
Children| the Erotes (Eros and Anteros), Phobos, Deimos, Phlegyas, Harmonia, Enyalius, Thrax, Oenomaus, Cycnus, and the Amazons
Equivalents
Roman| Mars

This article contains special characters. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols.

Part of a series on

Ancient Greek religion

Origins

* Ancient Greek religion
* Mycenaean Greece, Mycenaean religion and Mycenaean deities
* Minoan Civilization, Minoan religion
* Classical Greece
* Hellenistic Greece, Hellenistic religion

Sacred places

Sacred islands

* Delos
* Ithaca
* Naxos
* Kythira
* Samothrace
* Crete
* Lemnos

Sacred mountains

* Mount Lykaion
* Mount Ida (Turkey)
* Mount Ida (Crete)
* Mount Olympus
* Mount Kyllini
* Mount Othrys

Sanctuaries

* Aornum
* Delphi
* Didyma
* Dion
* Dodona
* Eleusis
* Olympia

Other

* Cave of Zeus
* Troy

Deities

|  Olympians

* Aphrodite
* Apollo
* Ares
* Artemis
* Athena
* Demeter
* Dionysus
* Hephaestus
* Hera
* Hermes
* Hestia
* Poseidon
* Zeus

Chthonic deities

* Hades
* Persephone
* Erinyes
* Gaia
* Hecate
* Iacchus
* Melinoë
* Triptolemus
* Trophonius

Lesser deities

* Alpheus
* Amphitrite
* Asclepius
* Boreas
* Circe
* Cybele
* Deimos
* Eileithyia
* Enyo
* Eos
* Eris
* Eros
* Harmonia
* Hebe
* Hecate
* Helios
* Heracles
* Iris
* Leto
* Maia
* Metis
* Nemesis
* Nereus
* Nike
* Nyx
* Pan
* Persephone
* Phobos
* Priapus
* Proteus
* Rhea
* Scamander
* Selene
* Thanatos
* Themis
* Thetis
* Triton
* Zephyrus

Concepts

Worldview

* Greek mythology
* Orphic Egg
* Underworld and afterlife
* Miasma
* Daimon
* Ages of Man, Golden Age, Heroic Age

Divine and reality

* Apeiron
* Monism
* Polytheism
* Pantheism
* Form of the Good
* Theory of forms

Mind

* Anamnesis
* Ataraxia
* Apatheia
* Episteme
* Epoche
* Eudaimonia
* Katalepsis
* Logos
* Nous
* Phronesis

Soul

* Anima mundi
* Metempsychosis
* Henosis
* Plato's theory of soul

Ethics

* Agape
* Arete
* Asebeia
* Eusebeia
* Hubris
* Xenia
* Ethic of Reciprocity
* Delphic maxims
* Adiaphora
* Kathekon
* Oikeiosis

Mysteries

* Eleusinian Mysteries
* Orphism
* Dionysian Mysteries

Practices

Worship

* Agalma
* Dithyramb
* Paean
* Orgion
* Hiera Orgas
* Hero Cult
* Oracle and Pythia

Sacrifices and offerings

* Holokaustos
* Libation
* Votive offering
* Animal Sacrifice

Temples and holy sites

* Temple
* Temenos

Priesthood and religious service

* Hiereia

Meditation and charity

* Eusebeia
* Meditation
* Euergetism

Rites of passage

* Amphidromia
* Marriage
* Funeral Rites

Festivals

* Thesmophoria
* Dionysia
* Daphnephoria
* Anthesteria
* Arrephoria
* Kronia
* Genesia
* Elaphebolia
* Pyanopsia
* Khalkeia
* Haloa
* Halieia
* Thargelia

Monthly festivals

* Noumenia

Religious games

* Panathenaia
* Herakleia
* Panhellenic Games
* Olympic Games
* Nemean Games
* Pythian Games
* Isthmian Games

Philosophy

* Pythagoreanism
* Neopythagoreanism
* Platonism
* Middle Platonism
* Neoplatonism

Philosophers

Ancient

* Hesiod
* Homer
* Pherecydes of Syros
* Pythagoras
* Xenophanes
* Parmenides
* Empedocles
* Socrates
* Plato
* Aratus
* Plutarch
* Plotinus

* Iamblichus
* Julian (emperor)

Texts

* Argonautica
* Bibliotheca
* Corpus Hermeticum
* Delphic maxims
* Derveni papyrus
* Dionysiaca
* Epic Cycle
* Homeric Hymns
* Iliad
* Odyssey
* Orphic Hymns
* Theogony
* Works and Days

Other topics

* Pilgrimage sites
* Calendar
* Decline of Greco-Roman polytheism
* Julian restoration
* Modern Restoration

* Religion portal
Ancient Greece portal

* v
* t
* e

Ares (/ˈɛəriːz/; Ancient Greek: Ἄρης, Árēs [árɛːs]) is the Greek god of war and courage. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. The Greeks were ambivalent towards him. He embodies the physical valor necessary for success in war but can also personify sheer brutality and bloodlust, in contrast to his sister Athena, whose martial functions include military strategy and generalship. An association with Ares endows places, objects, and other deities with a savage, dangerous, or militarized quality.

Although Ares' name shows his origins as Mycenaean, his reputation for savagery was thought by some to reflect his likely origins as a Thracian deity. Some cities in Greece and several in Asia Minor held annual festivals to bind and detain him as their protector. In parts of Asia Minor, he was an oracular deity. Still further away from Greece, the Scythians were said to ritually kill one in a hundred prisoners of war as an offering to their equivalent of Ares. The later belief that ancient Spartans had offered human sacrifice to Ares may owe more to mythical prehistory, misunderstandings, and reputation than to reality.

Although there are many literary allusions to Ares' love affairs and children, he has a limited role in Greek mythology. When he does appear, he is often humiliated. In the Trojan War, Aphrodite, protector of Troy, persuades Ares to take the Trojans' side. The Trojans lose, while Ares' sister Athena helps the Greeks to victory. Most famously, when the craftsman-god Hephaestus discovers his wife Aphrodite is having an affair with Ares, he traps the lovers in a net and exposes them to the ridicule of the other gods.

Ares' nearest counterpart in Roman religion is Mars, who was given a more important and dignified place in ancient Roman religion as ancestral protector of the Roman people and state. During the Hellenization of Latin literature, the myths of Ares were reinterpreted by Roman writers under the name of Mars, and in later Western art and literature, the mythology of the two figures became virtually indistinguishable.

## Names

[edit]

The etymology of the name Ares is traditionally connected with the Greek word ἀρή (arē), the Ionic form of the Doric ἀρά (ara), "bane, ruin, curse, imprecation".[1] Walter Burkert notes that "Ares is apparently an ancient abstract noun meaning throng of battle, war."[2] R. S. P. Beekes has suggested a Pre-Greek origin of the name.[3] The earliest attested form of the name is the Mycenaean Greek 𐀀𐀩, a-re, written in the Linear B syllabic script.[4][5][6]

The adjectival epithet, Areios ("warlike") was frequently appended to the names of other gods when they took on a warrior aspect or became involved in warfare: Zeus Areios, Athena Areia, even Aphrodite Areia ("Aphrodite within Ares" or "feminine Ares"), who was warlike, fully armoured and armed, partnered with Athena in Sparta, and represented at Kythira's temple to Aphrodite Urania.[7] In the Iliad, the word ares is used as a common noun synonymous with "battle".[2]

In the Classical period, Ares is given the epithet Enyalios, which seems to appear on the Mycenaean KN V 52 tablet as 𐀁𐀝𐀷𐀪𐀍, e-nu-wa-ri-jo.[8][9] Enyalios was sometimes identified with Ares and sometimes differentiated from him as another war god with separate cult, even in the same town; Burkert describes them as "doubles almost".[10][11]

## Epithets

[edit]

Source:[12]

* aatos or atos polemoio, insatiate at war.[13]
* alloprosallos, leaning first to one side, then to the other.
* andreifontēs, man-slaying.
* apotimos, dishonoured by Sophocles.
* brotoloigos, plague of man.
* enyalios, warlike.[14]
* Thēritas, at Sparta. Laconic form of Thersites, audacious.[15]
* mainomenos, malignant.
* miaifonos, blood-stained
* tykton kakon, complete evil.[16]

## Cult

[edit]

Ares, 2nd–3rd century AD, after a Greek bronze original by Alkamenes dated 420 BC,[citation needed] excavated in 1925 in Rome's Largo di Torre Argentina

In mainland Greece and the Peloponnese, only a few places are known to have had a formal temple and cult of Ares.[17][n 1] Pausanias (2nd century AD) notes an altar to Ares at Olympia,[18] and the moving of a Temple of Ares to the Athenian agora during the reign of Augustus, essentially rededicating it (2 AD) as a Roman temple to the Augustan Mars Ultor.[17] The Areopagus ("mount of Ares"), a natural rock outcrop in Athens, some distance from the Acropolis, was supposedly where Ares was tried and acquitted by the gods for his revenge-killing of Poseidon's son, Halirrhothius, who had raped Ares' daughter Alcippe. Its name was used for the court that met there, mostly to investigate and try potential cases of treason.[19]

Numismatist M. Jessop Price states that Ares "typified the traditional Spartan character", but had no important cult in Sparta;[20] and he never occurs on Spartan coins.[21] Pausanias gives two examples of his cult, both of them conjointly with or "within" a warlike Aphrodite, on the Spartan acropolis.[22] Gonzalez observes, in his 2005 survey of Ares' cults in Asia Minor, that cults to Ares on the Greek mainland may have been more common than some sources assert.[23] Wars between Greek states were endemic; war and warriors provided Ares's tribute, and fed his insatiable appetite for battle.[24]

Ares' attributes are instruments of war: a helmet, shield, and sword or spear.[25] Libanius "makes the apple sacred to Ares", but "offers no further comment", nor connections to any aetiological myth. Apples are one of Aphrodites' sacred or symbolic fruits. Littlewood follows Artemidorus claim that to dream of sour apples presages conflict, and lists Ares alongside Eris and the mythological "Apples of Discord".[26]

### Chained statues

[edit]

Gods were immortal but could be bound and restrained, both in mythic narrative and in cult practice. There was an archaic Spartan statue of Ares in chains in the temple of Enyalios (sometimes regarded as the son of Ares, sometimes as Ares himself), which Pausanias claimed meant that the spirit of war and victory was to be kept in the city.[n 2] The Spartans are known to have ritually bound the images of other deities, including Aphrodite and Artemis (cf Ares and Aphrodite bound by Hephaestus), and in other places there were chained statues of Artemis and Dionysos.[28][29]

Statues of Ares in chains are described in the instructions given by an oracle of the late Hellenistic era to various cities of Pamphylia (in Anatolia) including Syedra, Lycia and Cilicia, places almost perpetually under threat from pirates. Each was told to set up a statue of "bloody, man-slaying Ares" and provide it with an annual festival in which it was ritually bound with iron fetters ("by Dike and Hermes") as if a supplicant for justice, put on trial and offered sacrifice. The oracle promises that "thus will he become a peaceful deity for you, once he has driven the enemy horde far from your country, and he will give rise to prosperity much prayed for". This Ares karpodotes ("giver of Fruits") is well attested in Lycia and Pisidia.[30]

### Sacrifices

[edit]

Ares (right) with Demeter, Dionysus and Hermes on the frieze of the Parthenon, ca. 447–433 BC, British Museum.

Like most Greek deities, Ares was given animal sacrifice; in Sparta, after battle, he was given an ox for a victory by stratagem, or a rooster for victory through onslaught.[31][n 3] The usual recipient of sacrifice before battle was Athena. Reports of historic human sacrifice to Ares in an obscure rite known as the Hekatomphonia represent a very long-standing error, repeated through several centuries and well into the modern era.[n 4] The hekatomphonia was an animal sacrifice to Zeus; it could be offered by any warrior who had personally slain one hundred of the enemy.[n 5][32][33] Pausanias reports that in Sparta, each company of youths sacrificed a puppy to Enyalios before engaging in a hand-to-hand "fight without rules" at the Phoebaeum.[n 6][35] The chthonic night-time sacrifice of a dog to Enyalios became assimilated to the cult of Ares.[36] Porphyry claims, without detail, that Apollodorus of Athens (circa second century BC) says the Spartans made human sacrifices to Ares, but this may be a reference to mythic pre-history.[37]

### Thrace and Scythia

[edit]

A Thracian god identified by Herodotus (c. 484 – c. 425 BC) as Ares, through interpretatio Graeca, was one of three otherwise unnamed deities that Thracian commoners were said to worship. Herodotus recognises and names the other two as "Dionysus" and "Artemis", and claims that the Thracian aristocracy exclusively worshiped "Hermes".[38][39] In Herodotus' Histories, the Scythians worship an indigenous form of Greek Ares, who is otherwise unnamed, but ranked beneath Tabiti (whom Herodotus claims as a form of Hestia), Api and Papaios in Scythia's divine hierarchy. His cult object was an iron sword. The "Scythian Ares" was offered blood-sacrifices (or ritual killings) of cattle, horses and "one in every hundred human war-captives", whose blood was used to douse the sword. Statues, and complex platform-altars made of heaped brushwood were devoted to him. This sword-cult, or one very similar, is said to have persisted among the Alans.[40] Some have posited that the "Sword of Mars" in later European history alludes to the Huns having adopted Ares.[41]

### Asia Minor

[edit]

In some parts of Asia Minor, Ares was a prominent oracular deity, something not found in any Hellennic cult to Ares or Roman cult to Mars. Ares was linked in some regions or polities with a local god or cultic hero, and recognised as a higher, more prestigious deity than in mainland Greece. His cults in southern Asia Minor are attested from the 5th century BC and well into the later Roman Imperial era, at 29 different sites, and on over 70 local coin issues.[42] He is sometimes represented on coinage of the region by the "Helmet of Ares" or carrying a spear and a shield, or as a fully armed warrior, sometimes accompanied by a female deity. In what is now western Turkey, the Hellenistic city of Metropolis built a monumental temple to Ares as the city's protector, not before the 3rd century BC. It is now lost, but the names of some of its priests and priestesses survive, along with the temple's likely depictions on coins of the province.[43]

### Crete

[edit]

A sanctuary of Aphrodite was established at Sta Lenika, on Crete, between the cities of Lato and Olus, possibly during the Geometric period. It was rebuilt in the late 2nd century BC as a double-sanctuary to Ares and Aphrodite.[44] Inscriptions record disputes over the ownership of the sanctuary. The names of Ares and Aphrodite appear as witness to sworn oaths, and there is a Victory thanks-offering to Aphrodite, whom Millington believes had capacity as a "warrior-protector acting in the realm of Ares". There were cultic links between the Sta Lenika sanctuary, Knossos and other Cretan states, and perhaps with Argos on the mainland.[45] While the Greek literary and artistic record from both the Archaic and Classical eras connects Ares and Aphrodite as complementary companions and ideal though adulterous lovers, their cult pairing and Aphrodite as warrior-protector is localised to Crete.[46][47]

### Aksum

[edit]

In Africa, Maḥrem, the principal god of the kings of Aksum prior to the 4th century AD, was invoked as Ares in Greek inscriptions. The anonymous king who commissioned the Monumentum Adulitanum in the late 2nd or early 3rd century refers to "my greatest god, Ares, who also begat me, through whom I brought under my sway [various peoples]". The monumental throne celebrating the king's conquests was itself dedicated to Ares.[48] In the early 4th century, the last pagan king of Aksum, Ezana, referred to "the one who brought me forth, the invincible Ares".[49]

## Characterisation

[edit]

The Ares Borghese

Ares was one of the Twelve Olympians in the archaic tradition represented by the Iliad and Odyssey. In Greek literature, Ares often represents the physical or violent and untamed aspect of war and is the personification of sheer brutality and bloodlust ("overwhelming, insatiable in battle, destructive, and man-slaughtering", as Burkert puts it), in contrast to his sister, the armored Athena, whose functions as a goddess of intelligence include military strategy and generalship.[50] An association with Ares endows places and objects with a savage, dangerous, or militarized quality;[51] but when Ares does appear in myths, he typically faces humiliation.[52]

In the Iliad, Zeus expresses a recurring Greek revulsion toward the god when Ares returns wounded and complaining from the battlefield at Troy:

> Then looking at him darkly Zeus who gathers the clouds spoke to him:
>  "Do not sit beside me and whine, you double-faced liar.
>  To me you are the most hateful of all gods who hold Olympus.
>  Forever quarrelling is dear to your heart, wars and battles.
>  ...
>  And yet I will not long endure to see you in pain, since
>  you are my child, and it was to me that your mother bore you.
>  But were you born of some other god and proved so ruinous
>  long since you would have been dropped beneath the gods of the bright sky."[53]

This ambivalence is expressed also in the Greeks' association of Ares with the Thracians, whom they regarded as a barbarous and warlike people.[54] Thrace was considered to be Ares's birthplace and his refuge after the affair with Aphrodite was exposed to the general mockery of the other gods.[n 7]

A late 6th-century BC funerary inscription from Attica emphasizes the consequences of coming under Ares's sway:

> Stay and mourn at the tomb of dead Kroisos
>  Whom raging Ares destroyed one day, fighting in the foremost ranks.[55]

## Mythology

[edit]

The Ludovisi Ares, Roman version of a Greek original c. 320 BC, with 17th-century restorations by Bernini

### Birth

[edit]

He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera.[56]

### Argonautica

[edit]

In the Argonautica, the Golden Fleece hangs in a grove sacred to Ares, until its theft by Jason. The Birds of Ares (Ornithes Areioi) drop feather darts in defense of the Amazons' shrine to Ares, as father of their queen, on a coastal island in the Black Sea.[57]

### Founding of Thebes

[edit]

Ares plays a central role in the founding myth of Thebes, as the progenitor of the water-dragon slain by Cadmus. The dragon's teeth were sown into the ground as if a crop and sprang up as the fully armored autochthonic Spartoi. Cadmus placed himself in the god's service for eight years to atone for killing the dragon.[25] To further propitiate Ares, Cadmus married Harmonia, a daughter of Ares's union with Aphrodite. In this way, Cadmus harmonized all strife and founded the city of Thebes.[2] In reality, Thebes came to dominate Boeotia's great and fertile plain, which in both history and myth was a battleground for competing polities.[58] According to Plutarch, the plain was anciently described as "The dancing-floor of Ares".[59]

### Aphrodite

[edit]

In Homer's Odyssey, in the tale sung by the bard in the hall of Alcinous,[60] the Sun-god Helios once spied Ares and Aphrodite having sex secretly in the hall of Hephaestus, her husband.[61] Helios reported the incident to Hephaestus. Contriving to catch the illicit couple in the act, Hephaestus fashioned a finely-knitted and nearly invisible net with which to snare them. At the appropriate time, this net was sprung, and trapped Ares and Aphrodite locked in very private embrace.[n 8]

But Hephaestus was not satisfied with his revenge, so he invited the Olympian gods and goddesses to view the unfortunate pair. For the sake of modesty, the goddesses demurred, but the male gods went to witness the sight. Some commented on the beauty of Aphrodite, others remarked that they would eagerly trade places with Ares, but all who were present mocked the two. Once the couple was released, the embarrassed Ares returned to his homeland, Thrace, and Aphrodite went to Paphos.[n 8][52]

In a much later interpolated detail, Ares put the young soldier Alectryon, who was Ares companion in drinking and even love-making, by his door to warn them of Helios's arrival as Helios would tell Hephaestus of Aphrodite's infidelity if the two were discovered, but Alectryon fell asleep on guard duty.[62] Helios discovered the two and alerted Hephaestus. The furious Ares turned the sleepy Alectryon into a rooster which now always announces the arrival of the sun in the morning, as a way of apologizing to Ares.[63]

The Chorus of Aeschylus' Suppliants (written 463 BC) refers to Ares as Aphrodite's "mortal-destroying bedfellow". In the Illiad, Ares helps the Trojans because of his affection for their divine protector, Aphrodite; she thus redirects his innate destructive savagery to her own purposes.[46][47]

### Giants

[edit]

In one archaic myth, related only in the Iliad by the goddess Dione to her daughter Aphrodite, two chthonic giants, the Aloadae, named Otus and Ephialtes, bound Ares in chains and imprisoned him in a bronze urn, where he remained for thirteen months, a lunar year. "And that would have been the end of Ares and his appetite for war, if the beautiful Eriboea, the young giants' stepmother, had not told Hermes what they had done," she related.[64] In this, [Burkert] suspects "a festival of licence which is unleashed in the thirteenth month".[65][66] Ares was held screaming and howling in the urn until Hermes rescued him, and Artemis tricked the Aloadae into slaying each other.

In Nonnus's Dionysiaca, in the war between Cronus and Zeus, Ares killed an unnamed giant son of Echidna who was allied with Cronus, and described as spitting "horrible poison" and having "snaky" feet.[67]

In some versions of the Gigantomachy, Ares was the god who killed the giant Mimas.[68]

In the 2nd century AD Metamorphoses of Antoninus Liberalis, when the monstrous Typhon attacked Olympus the gods transformed into animals and fled to Egypt; Ares changed into a fish, the Lepidotus (sacred to the Egyptian war-god Anhur). Liberalis's koine Greek text is a "completely inartistic" epitome of Nicander's now lost Heteroeumena (2nd century BC).[69][70]

### Iliad

[edit]

In Homer's Iliad, Ares has no fixed allegiance. He promises Athena and Hera that he will fight for the Achaeans but Aphrodite persuades him to side with the Trojans. During the war, Diomedes fights Hector and sees Ares fighting on the Trojans' side. Diomedes calls for his soldiers to withdraw.[71] Zeus grants Athena permission to drive Ares from the battlefield. Encouraged by Hera and Athena, Diomedes thrusts with his spear at Ares. Athena drives the spear home, and all sides tremble at Ares's cries. Ares flees to Mount Olympus, forcing the Trojans to fall back.[72] Ares overhears that his son Ascalaphus has been killed and wants to change sides again, rejoining the Achaeans for vengeance, disregarding Zeus's order that no Olympian should join the battle. Athena stops him. Later, when Zeus allows the gods to fight in the war again, Ares attacks Athena to avenge his previous injury. Athena overpowers him by striking him with a boulder.[73]

### Attendants

[edit]

Deimos ("Terror" or "Dread") and Phobos ("Fear") are Ares' companions in war,[74] and according to Hesiod, are also his children by Aphrodite.[75] Eris, the goddess of discord, or Enyo, the goddess of war, bloodshed, and violence, was considered the sister and companion of the violent Ares.[76] In at least one tradition, Enyalius, rather than another name for Ares, was his son by Enyo.[77]

Ares may also be accompanied by Kydoimos, the daemon of the din of battle; the Makhai ("Battles"); the "Hysminai" ("Acts of manslaughter"); Polemos, a minor spirit of war, or only an epithet of Ares, since it has no specific dominion; and Polemos's daughter, Alala, the goddess or personification of the Greek war-cry, whose name Ares uses as his own war-cry. Ares's sister Hebe ("Youth") also draws baths for him.

According to Pausanias, local inhabitants of Therapne, Sparta, recognized Thero, "feral, savage", as a nurse of Ares.[78]

### Offspring and affairs

[edit]

This section relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this section by adding secondary or tertiary sources.
Find sources: "Ares" offspring mythology – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

The Areopagus as viewed from the Acropolis.

Though Ares plays a relatively limited role in Greek mythology as represented in literary narratives, his numerous love affairs and abundant offspring are often alluded to.[79] The union of Ares and Aphrodite created the gods Eros, Anteros, Phobos, Deimos, and Harmonia. Other versions include Alcippe as one of their daughters.

Ares had a romantic liaison with Eos, the goddess of the dawn. Aphrodite discovered them, and in anger she cursed Eos with insatiable lust for men.[80]

Cycnus (Κύκνος) of Macedonia was a mortal son of Ares who tried to build a temple to his father with the skulls and bones of guests and travellers. Heracles fought him and, in one account, killed him. In another account, Ares fought his son's killer but Zeus parted the combatants with a thunderbolt.[81]

By a woman named Teirene he had a daughter named Thrassa, who in turn had a daughter named Polyphonte. Polyphonte was cursed by Aphrodite to love and mate with a bear, producing two sons, Agrius and Oreius, who were hubristic toward the gods and had a habit of eating their guests. Zeus sent Hermes to punish them, and he chose to chop off their hands and feet. Since Polyphonte was descended from him, Ares stopped Hermes, and the two brothers came into an agreement to turn Polyphonte's family into birds instead. Oreius became an eagle owl, Agrius a vulture, and Polyphonte a strix, possibly a small owl, certainly a portent of war; Polyphonte's servant prayed not to become a bird of evil omen and Ares and Hermes fulfilled her wish by choosing the woodpecker for her, a good omen for hunters.[82][83]

#### List of offspring and their mothers

[edit]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

This section relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this section by adding secondary or tertiary sources.
Find sources: "Ares" mythology consorts – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Sometimes poets and dramatists recounted ancient traditions, which varied, and sometimes they invented new details; later scholiasts might draw on either or simply guess.[84][85] Thus while Phobos and Deimos were regularly described as offspring of Ares, others listed here such as Meleager, Sinope and Solymus were sometimes said to be children of Ares and sometimes given other fathers.

The following is a list of Ares' offspring, by various mothers. Beside each offspring, the earliest source to record the parentage is given, along with the century to which the source dates.

Offspring  | Mother  | Source  | Date  |

|
|
|
|

Phobos | Aphrodite | Hes. Theog. | 8th cent. BC  | [86]
Deimos | Hes. Theog. | 8th cent. BC  | [86]
Harmonia | Hes. Theog. | 8th cent. BC  | [87]
Eros | Simonides |  | [88]
Anteros | Cic. DND | 1st cent. BC  | [89]
Odomantus | Calliope |  |  |
Mygdon |  |  |
Edonus |  |  |
Biston | Terpsichore | Etym. Mag. | 12th cent. AD  | [90]
Callirrhoe | Steph. Byz. | 6th cent. AD  | [91]
Enyalius | Enyo |  |  | [92]
Dragon of Thebes | Erinys of Telphusa |  |  |
Nike | No mother mentioned | HH 8  |  | [93]
Sinope (possibly)  | Aegina | Schol. Ap. Rhod. |  | [94]
Edonus  | Callirrhoe | Steph. Byz. | 6th cent. AD  | [91]
Odomantus  | Steph. Byz. | 6th cent. AD  | [91]
Cycnus  | Cleobula |  |  | [95]
Pelopia | Apollod. | 1st/2nd cent. AD  | [96]
Pyrene | Apollod. | 1st/2nd cent. AD  | [97]
Diomedes of Thrace | Cyrene  | Apollod. | 1st/2nd cent. AD  | [98]
Crestone  | Tzetzes | 12th cent. AD  | [99]
The Amazons | Harmonia |  |  |
Oenomaus | Sterope | Hyg. Fab. | 1st cent. AD  | [100]
Harpina | Diod. Sic. | 1st cent. BC  | [101]
Eurythoe the Danaid | Tzetzes | 12th cent. AD  | [102]
Evenus | Sterope | Ps.-Plutarch |  | [103]
Demonice | Apollod. | 1st/2nd cent. AD  | [104]
Thrassa | Tereine | Ant. Lib. | 2nd/3rd cent. AD  | [82]
Melanippus | Triteia | Paus. | 2nd cent. AD  | [105]
Aeropus | Aerope | Paus. | 2nd cent. AD  | [106]
Alcippe | Aglauros | Apollod. | 1st/2nd cent. AD  | [107]
Meleager | Althaea | Apollod. | 1st/2nd cent. AD  | [108]
Calydon | Astynome |  |  | [109]
Ascalaphus | Astyoche | Paus. | 2nd cent. AD  | [110]
Ialmenus | Paus. | 2nd cent. AD  | [111]
Parthenopaeus | Atalanta | Apollod. | 1st/2nd cent. AD  | [112]
Solymus | Caldene | Etym. Mag. | 12th cent. AD  | [113]
Phlegyas | Chryse | Paus. | 2nd cent. AD  | [114]
Dotis | Apollod. | 1st/2nd cent. AD  | [115]
Pangaeus | Critobule | Ps.-Plutarch |  | [116]
Molus, Pylus | Demonice | Apollod. | 1st/2nd cent. AD  | [117]
Thestius | Pisidice | Ps.-Plutarch |  | [118]
Demonice | Apollod. | 1st/2nd cent. AD  | [119]
Stymphelus | Dormothea | Ps.-Plutarch |  | [120]
Antiope | Otrera | Hyg. Fab. | 1st cent. AD  | [121]
Hippolyta | Hyg. Fab. | 1st cent. AD  | [122]
Melanippe |  |  |
Penthesilea | Apollod. | 1st/2nd cent. AD  | [123]
Sinope | Parnassa | Eumelus |  | [124]
Lycaon | Pyrene |  |  | [125]
Lycastus | Phylonome | Ps.-Plutarch |  | [126]
Parrhasius | Ps.-Plutarch |  | [126]
Oxylus | Protogeneia | Apollod. | 1st/2nd cent. AD  | [127]
Bithys | Sete |  |  | [128]
Tmolus | Theogone | Ps.-Plutarch |  | [129]
Ismarus | Thracia  |  |  | [95]
Alcon of Thrace | No mother mentioned | Hyg. Fab. | 1st cent. AD  | [130]
Chalyps |  |  | [131]
Cheimarrhoos | Schol. Hes., WD |  | [132]
Dryas | Apollod. | 1st/2nd cent. AD  | [133]
Hyperbius |  |  | [134]
Lycus of Libya |  |  | [135]
Nisos | Hyg. Fab. | 1st cent. AD  | [136]
Oeagrus | Nonnus | 5th cent. AD  | [137]
Paeon | Etym. Mag. | 12th cent. AD  | [90]
Portheus (Porthaon)  | Ant. Lib. | 2nd/3rd cent. AD  | [138]
Tereus | Apollod. | 1st/2nd cent. AD  | [139]

## Mars

[edit]

Wall-painting in Pompeii, c. 20 BC – 50s AD, showing Mars and Venus. The Roman god of war is depicted as youthful and beardless, reflecting the influence of the Greek Ares.

The nearest counterpart of Ares among the Roman gods is Mars, a son of Jupiter and Juno, pre-eminent among the Roman army's military gods but originally an agricultural deity.[140] As a father of Romulus, Rome's legendary founder, Mars was given an important and dignified place in ancient Roman religion, as a guardian deity of the entire Roman state and its people. Under the influence of Greek culture, Mars was identified with Ares,[141] but the character and dignity of the two deities differed fundamentally.[142][143] Mars was represented as a means to secure peace, and he was a father (pater) of the Roman people.[144] In one tradition, he fathered Romulus and Remus through his rape of Rhea Silvia. In another, his lover, the goddess Venus, gave birth to Aeneas, the Trojan prince and refugee who "founded" Rome several generations before Romulus.

In the Hellenization of Latin literature, the myths of Ares were reinterpreted by Roman writers under the name of Mars. Greek writers under Roman rule also recorded cult practices and beliefs pertaining to Mars under the name of Ares. Thus in the classical tradition of later Western art and literature, the mythology of the two figures later became virtually indistinguishable.[145]

## Renaissance and later depictions

[edit]

In Renaissance and Neoclassical works of art, Ares's symbols are a spear and helmet, his animal is a dog, and his bird is the vulture. In literary works of these eras, Ares is replaced by the Roman Mars, a romantic emblem of manly valor rather than the cruel and blood-thirsty god of Greek mythology.

## In popular culture

[edit]

Main article: Ares in popular culture

## Genealogy

[edit]

Ares's family tree[146]

| | | | | | | | Gaia| |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| | | | | | | | | | | | | |

| | | | | | | Uranus| | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Uranus' genitals| | Coeus| | Phoebe| | Cronus| | Rhea
| | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Leto| | Zeus| | | | | | Hera| | Poseidon| | Hades| | Demeter| | Hestia
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Apollo| | Artemis| | | | | | |     a[147]| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |      b[148]
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | ARES| | Hephaestus
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Metis
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Athena[149]
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Maia
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Hermes
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Semele
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Dionysus
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Dione
| | | | | | | | |
a[150]| | | | | | | | | | | |      b[151]
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Aphrodite

## See also

[edit]

* Family tree of the Greek gods

## Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ Burkert lists temples at or near Troizen, Geronthrai and Halicarnassus. The Oxford Classical Dictionary adds Argos, Megalopolis, Therapne and Tegea in the Peloponnese, Athens and Erythrae, and Cretan sites Cnossus, Lato, Biannos and perhaps Olus.[10]
2. ^ "Opposite this temple [the temple of Hipposthenes] is an old image of Enyalius in fetters. The idea the Lacedaemonians express by this image is the same as the Athenians express by their Wingless Victory; the former think that Enyalius will never run away from them, being bound in the fetters, while the Athenians think that Victory, having no wings, will always remain where she is".[27]
3. ^ Hughes is citing Plutarch, Instituta Laconica (trans. Babbit) Loeb, 1931, 25, 238F; "Whenever they overcome their enemies by out-generaling them, they sacrifice a bull to Ares, but when the victory is gained in open conflict, they offer a cock, thus trying to make their leaders habitually not merely fighters but tacticians as well". In The Life of Agesilaus, 33.4: Plutarch claims that the Spartans thought victory was such ordinary work for them, they only sacrificed a rooster in recognition.
4. ^ Among others, it has been repeated by ancient sources including Apollonius of Athens, Pausanias, Porphyry, Plutarch, Clement of Alexandria and by many modern historians; see Hughes, "Human Sacrifice", 1991, pp.119-122 & notes 145, 146.
5. ^ In the Protrepticus, Clement of Alexandria writes: "Indeed, Aristomenes the Messenian sacrificed 300 men to Zeus of Ithome...[including] Theopompus the Lacedaemonian (Spartan) king, a noble victim." The rite was supposedly performed three times by Aristomenes: Plutarch did not find it credible that one man could have slaughtered three hundred. The Spartans claimed that Theopompus had only been wounded
6. ^ "Here each company of youths sacrifices a puppy to Enyalius, holding that the most valiant of tame animals is an acceptable victim to the most valiant of the gods. I know of no other Greeks who are accustomed to sacrifice puppies except the people of Colophon; these too sacrifice a puppy, a black bitch, to the Wayside Goddess (Hecate)".[34]
7. ^ Homer Odyssey viii. 361; for Ares/Mars and Thrace, see Ovid, Ars Amatoria, book ii.part xi.585, which tells the same tale: "Their captive bodies are, with difficulty, freed, at your plea, Neptune: Venus runs to Paphos: Mars heads for Thrace."; for Ares/Mars and Thrace, see also Statius, Thebaid vii. 42
8. ^ a b "Odyssey, 8.295". "[In Robert Fagles's translation]: ... and the two lovers, free of the bonds that overwhelmed them so, sprang up and away at once, and the Wargod sped Thrace, while Love with her telltale laughter sped to Paphos ..."

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ ἀρή, Georg Autenrieth, A Homeric Dictionary. ἀρή. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project.
2. ^ a b c Burkert, p. 169.
3. ^ R. S. P. Beekes, Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Brill, 2009, pp. 129–130.
4. ^ Gulizio, Joannn. "A-re in the Linear B Tablets and the Continuity of the Cult of Ares in the Historical Period" (PDF). Journal of Prehistoric Religion. 15: 32–38\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09.
5. ^ Raymoure, K.A. (2012). "a-re". Minoan Linear A & Mycenaean Linear B. Deaditerranean. Archived from the original on 2016-03-18. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
6. ^ "The Linear B word a-re". Palaeolexicon, Word study tool of ancient languages.
7. ^ Budin, Stephanie L. (2010). "Aphrodite Enoplion", In Smith, Amy C.; Pickup, Sadie (eds.). Brill's Companion to Aphrodite. Brill's Companions in Classical Studies. Boston, MA: Brill Publishers. pp. 79–116. ISBN 9789047444503.
8. ^ Chadwick, John (1976). The Mycenaean World. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 88. ISBN 0-521-29037-6. At Google Books.
9. ^ Raymoure, K.A. "e-nu-wa-ri-jo". Minoan Linear A & Mycenaean Linear B. Deaditerranean. Archived from the original on 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2014-03-19. "KN 52 V + 52 bis + 8285 (unknown)". DĀMOS: Database of Mycenaean at Oslo. University of Oslo. Archived from the original on 2014-03-19.
10. ^ a b Graf, Fritz (1996). "Ares". In Hornblower & Spawforth (ed.). The Oxford Classical Dictionary (Third ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 152\. ISBN 019866172X.
11. ^ Burkert, p. 44
12. ^ Nilsson Vol I, p. 517–519
13. ^ Liddel Scott
14. ^ Liddel Scott
15. ^ Liddel Scott
16. ^ Liddell Scott
17. ^ a b Burkert, p. 170.
18. ^ Pausanias, 5.15.6.
19. ^ Berens, E.M.: Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome, page 113. Project Gutenberg, 2007.
20. ^ Cf. Pausanias, 3.19.7.
21. ^ Price, M. Jessop. "Greek Imperial Coins: Some Recent Acquisitions by the British Museum." The Numismatic Chronicle, vol. 11, 1971, p. 131. JSTOR 42664547. Accessed 4 Aug. 2021.
22. ^ Budin, 2010. "Aphrodite Enoplion", pp. 86-116.
23. ^ Gonzales, Matthew, "The Oracle and Cult of Ares in Asia Minor", Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies, 45, 2005, p. 282; "...Ares was not so neglected by the cities of mainland Greece as many would have us believe"
24. ^ Millington, Alexander T., War and the Warrior: Functions of Ares in Literature and Cult, University College, London, 2013, pp. 41-44, 230 ff [1]
25. ^ a b Roman, L., & Roman, M. (2010). Encyclopedia of Greek and Roman mythology., p. 80, at Google Books
26. ^ Libanius, Progymnasmata, Model Exercises in Greek Prose Composition and Rhetoric, Translated and with an Introduction and Notes by Craig A. Gibson, 2008, [2] p. 263, particularly note 270: and Littlewood, A. R. "The Symbolism of the Apple in Greek and Roman Literature." Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 72 (1968): pp. 161-162. https://doi.org/10.2307/311078.
27. ^ Pausanias, 3.15.7.
28. ^ Gonzales, 2005, p. 282
29. ^ Burkert, p. 92.
30. ^ Gonzalez, 2005, p. 282
31. ^ Hughes, Dennis D., Human Sacrifice in Ancient Greece, Routledge, 1991, Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2003, p. 128, ISBN 0-203-03283-7
32. ^ Hughes, "Human Sacrifice", 1991, pp.119-122 & notes 145, 146 for a clear account of the error, and how and why it might have been perpetuated
33. ^ Faraone, Christopher A. "Binding and Burying the Forces of Evil: The Defensive Use of 'Voodoo Dolls' in Ancient Greece." Classical Antiquity, vol. 10, no. 2, 1991, pp. 165–220. JSTOR 25010949. Accessed 18 Aug. 2021
34. ^ Pausanias, 3.14.10.
35. ^ Graf, F. "Women, War, and Warlike Divinities." Zeitschrift Für Papyrologie Und Epigraphik, vol. 55, 1984, p. 252. JSTOR 20184039. Accessed 13 Aug. 2021.
36. ^ "Ares". academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/9344. Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
37. ^ Hughes, Dennis D., Human Sacrifice in Ancient Greece, Routledge, 1991, Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2003, p. 128, ISBN 0-203-03283-7. Hughes is citing Apollodorus of Athens, Die Fragmente der griechischen Historike, 244 F 125. English translation of Porphyry is in Porphyry. On Abstinence from Killing Animals. p. II.55.
38. ^ "Herodotus, The Histories, Book 5, chapter 7, section 1". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
39. ^ Oppermann, Manfred, Dimittrova, Nora M., religion, Thracian, "Oxford Classical Dictionary, https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.013.5553 ..."Ares suggests the existence of a war-god, Dionysus probably stood for a deity of orgiastic character linked with fertility and vegetation, while Artemis was an embodiment of the major female deity, frequently interpreted as the Great Goddess"...
40. ^ Sulimirski, T. (1985). "The Scyths" in: Fisher, W. B. (Ed.) The Cambridge History of Iran, Vol. 2: The Median and Achaemenian Periods. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-20091-1. pp. 158–159. Sulimirski is citing Herodotus, Book IV, 71-73, for the account of sacrifice to Ares.
41. ^ Geary, Patrick J. (1994). "Chapter 3. Germanic Tradition and Royal Ideology in the Ninth Century: The Visio Karoli Magni". Living with the Dead in the Middle Ages. Cornell University Press. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-8014-8098-0.
42. ^ Gonzales, 2005, pp.263, 271, 280-283.
43. ^ Millington, A.T. (2013) "Iyarri at the Interface: The Origins of Ares" in A. Mouton, I. Rutherford, & I. Yakubovich (eds.) Luwian Identities: Culture, Language and Religion Between Anatolia and the Aegean (Leiden) pp.555-557
44. ^ Martha W. Baldwin Bowsky. "Portrait of a Polis: Lato Pros Kamara (Crete) in the Late Second Century B. C." Hesperia: The Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, vol. 58, no. 3, The American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1989, pp. 331–47, https://doi.org/10.2307/148222
45. ^ This refers to a double-temple to Aphrodite and Ares reported by Pausanias. Its cult practises are unknown. See Fusco, U. (2017). The Sanctuary of Aphrodite and Ares (Paus. 2.25.1) in the Periurban Area of Argos and Temples with a Double Cella in Greece. Tekmeria, 13, 97-124. doi:https://doi.org/10.12681/tekmeria.1073.
46. ^ a b Millington, Alexander T., "Iyarri at the Interface: The Origins of Ares" in A. Mouton, I. Rutherford, & I. Yakubovich (eds.) Luwian Identities: Culture, Language and Religion Between Anatolia and the Aegean (Leiden) 2013, pp.555-557
47. ^ a b Millington, Alexander T., War and the Warrior: Functions of Ares in Literature and Cult, University College, London, 2013, pp. 101-105 [3]
48. ^ Glen Bowersock, The Throne of Adulis: Red Sea Wars on the Eve of Islam (Oxford University Press, 2013), pp. 45, 47–48.
49. ^ Bowersock, Throne of Adulis, p. 69.
50. ^ Walter Burkert, Greek Religion (Blackwell, 1985, 2004 reprint, originally published 1977 in German), pp. 141; William Hansen, Classical Mythology: A Guide to the Mythical World of the Greeks and Romans (Oxford University Press, 2005), p. 113.
51. ^ Hansen, Classical Mythology, pp. 114–115.
52. ^ a b Hansen, Classical Mythology, pp. 113–114.
53. ^ Iliad, Book 5, lines 798–891, 895–898 in the translation of Richmond Lattimore.
54. ^ Iliad 13.301; Ovid, Ars Amatoria, II.10.
55. ^ Athens, NM 3851 quoted in Andrew Stewart, One Hundred Greek Sculptors: Their Careers and Extant Works, Introduction: I. "The Sources"
56. ^ Hesiod, Theogony 921 (Loeb Classical Library numbering); Iliad, 5.890–896. By contrast, Ares's Roman counterpart Mars was born from Juno alone, according to Ovid (Fasti 5.229–260).
57. ^ Argonautica (ii.382ff and 1031ff; Hyginus, Fabulae 30.
58. ^ Marchand, Fabienne, and Beck, Hans,The Dancing Floor of Ares: Local Conflict and Regional Violence in Central Greece, Ancient History Bulletin, Supplemental Volume 1 (2020) ISSN 0835-3638
59. ^ Plutarch, Marcellus, 21.2
60. ^ Odyssey 8.300
61. ^ In the Iliad, the wife of Hephaestus is Charis, "Grace," as noted by Burkert, p. 168.
62. ^ Gallagher, David (2009-01-01). Avian and Serpentine. Brill Rodopi. ISBN 978-90-420-2709-1.
63. ^ Lucian, Gallus 3, see also scholiast on Aristophanes, Birds 835; Eustathius, Ad Odysseam 1.300; Ausonius, 26.2.27; Libanius, Progymnasmata 2.26.
64. ^ Iliad 5.385–391.
65. ^ Burkert, p. 169
66. ^ Faraone, "Binding and Burying", 1991, pp. 166–220
67. ^ Nonnus, Dionysiaca 18.274–288 (II pp. 82, 83).
68. ^ Apollonius of Rhodes, Argonautica 3.1225–7 (pp. 276–277); Claudian, Gigantomachia 85–91 (pp. 286–287).
69. ^ Myers, Sarah, University of Michigan, reviewing Celoria's translation in Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 1994 (on-line text).
70. ^ Francis Celoria points out that in Ovid's Metamorphoses, Venus [Aphrodite's Roman equivalent], hides herself as a fish. See Celoria, Francis, Antoninus Liberalis, The Metamorphoses of Antoninus Liberalis, A Translation with a Commentary, 1992, pp. 87, 186, eBook Published 24 October 2018, London, Routledge, [4] DOI https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315812755
71. ^ Iliad 5.830–834, 5.590–605, 21.410–414.
72. ^ Iliad 5.711–769, 5.780–834, 5.855–864.
73. ^ Iliad 15.110–128, 20.20–29, 21.391–408.
74. ^ Iliad 4.436f, and 13.299f Hesiod's Shield of Heracles 191, 460; Quintus Smyrnaeus, 10.51, etc.
75. ^ Hesiod, Theogony 934f.
76. ^ Wolfe, Jessica (2005). "Spenser, Homer, and the mythography of strife". Renaissance Quarterly. 58 (4): 1220–1288\. doi:10.1353/ren.2008.0987. ISSN 0034-4338. S2CID 161655379 – via Gale General Reference Center.
77. ^ Eustathius on Homer, 944
78. ^ Pausanias, 3.19.7–8.
79. ^ Hansen, Classical Mythology, pp. 113–114; Burkert, p. 169.
80. ^ Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1.4.4
81. ^ Apollodorus, 2.5.11, 2.7.7.
82. ^ a b Antoninus Liberalis, 21.
83. ^ Liberalis credits the Greek writer Boios' Ornithogonia (now lost) as his source; Oliphant, Samuel Grant (1913). "The Story of the Strix: Ancient". Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association. 44. The Johns Hopkins University Press: 133–149\. doi:10.2307/282549. JSTOR 28254.
84. ^ Bremmer, Jan N. (1996). "mythology". In Hornblower & Spawforth (ed.). The Oxford Classical Dictionary (Third ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 1018–1020\. ISBN 019866172X.
85. ^ Reeve, Michael D. (1996). "scholia". In Hornblower & Spawforth (ed.). The Oxford Classical Dictionary (Third ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 1368\. ISBN 019866172X.
86. ^ a b Hesiod, Theogony 934; Hard, p. 169.
87. ^ Hesiod, Theogony 934–7; Hard, p. 169; Grimal, s.v. Ares, pp. 52–53; Scholia on Homer, Iliad 2.494, [= Hellanicus fr. 51a Fowler, pp. 179–181]; Gantz, p. 468.
88. ^ Simonides, fr. 24 Diehls [= fr. PMG 575]; Gantz, p. 3; Hard, p. 196; Brill's New Pauly, s.v. Eros; Oxford Classical Dictionary, s.v. Ares, pp. 103–104.
89. ^ Cicero, De Natura Deorum 3.59; Brill's New Pauly, s.v. Anteros.
90. ^ a b Etymologicum Magnum, 179.59 (p. 179).
91. ^ a b c Stephanus of Byzantium, s.v. Bistonia (pp. 352, 353).
92. ^ Brill's New Pauly, s.v. Enyalius.
93. ^ Homeric Hymn to Ares (8), 4.
94. ^ Scholia on Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 2.946
95. ^ a b Murray, John (1833). A Classical Manual, being a Mythological, Historical and Geographical Commentary on Pope's Homer, and Dryden's Aeneid of Virgil with a Copious Index. Albemarle Street, London. pp. 70.
96. ^ Apollodorus, 2.7.7.
97. ^ Apollodorus, 2.5.11.
98. ^ Apollodorus, 2.5.8.
99. ^ Tzetzes on Lycophron, Alexandra 499: Thrace was said to have been called Crestone after her.
100. ^ Hyginus, Fabulae 84; Hyginus, De Astronomica, 2.21.5; Brill's New Pauly, s.v. Oenomaus.
101. ^ Pausanias, 5.22.6; Diodorus Siculus, 4.73.1; Gantz, p. 232.
102. ^ Tzetzes on Lycophron, Alexandra 157.
103. ^ Pseudo-Plutarch, Parallela minora 40.
104. ^ Apollodorus, 1.7.7.
105. ^ Pausanias, 7.22.8; Smith, s.v. Melanippus (4).
106. ^ Pausanias, 8.44.8; Tripp, s.v. Ares; Smith, s.v. Aphneius.
107. ^ Apollodorus, 3.14.2; Peck, s.v. Ares.
108. ^ Gantz, p. 328; Apollodorus, 1.8.2; Hyginus, Fabulae 14.3.
109. ^ Brill's New Pauly, s.v. Calydon (2).
110. ^ Brill's New Pauly, s.vv. Ascalaphus (2), Pausanias, 9.37.7.
111. ^ Brill's New Pauly, Ialmenus; Grimal, s.v. Ialmenus, p. 224; Pausanias, 9.37.7.
112. ^ Gantz, p. 336; Apollodorus, 3.9.2.
113. ^ Etymologicum Magnum, 721.43–44 (p. 654); Grimal, s.v. Solymus, p. 424.
114. ^ Pausanias, 9.36.1; Hard, p. 560; Grimal, s.v. Phlegyas, pp. 367–368.
115. ^ Apollodorus, 3.5.5; Hard, p. 560; Grimal, s.v. Phlegyas, pp. 367–368.
116. ^ Pseudo-Plutarch, On Rivers, 3.2.
117. ^ Apollodorus, 1.7.7; Brill's New Pauly, s.v. Thestius.
118. ^ Pseudo-Plutarch, On Rivers, 22.1.
119. ^ Apollodorus, 1.7.7; Hard, p. 413; Grimal, s.v. Thestius, p. 452; Brill's New Pauly, s.v. Thestius.
120. ^ Pseudo-Plutarch, On Rivers 19.1.
121. ^ Brill's New Pauly, s.v. Antiope (2); Hyginus, Fabulae 30.
122. ^ Hyginus, Fabulae 30.
123. ^ Apollodorus, E.5.1; Hyginus, Fabulae 112.
124. ^ Scholia on Apollonius of Rhodes, 2.946–54c [= Eumelus, fr. 29 West, pp. 246, 247].
125. ^ Grimal, s.v. Lycaon (3), p. 263.
126. ^ a b Pseudo-Plutarch, Parallela minora 36; Grimal, s.vv. Lycastus (2), Parrhasius.
127. ^ Apollodorus, 1.7.7; Grimal, s.v. Oxylus (1); Brill's New Pauly, s.v. Oxylus (1).
128. ^ eponym of the Thracian tribe of Bithyae in Stephanus of Byzantium, Ethnica s.v. Bithyai
129. ^ Pseudo-Plutarch, On Rivers, 7.5.
130. ^ Hyginus, Fabulae 173.
131. ^ eponym of the Chalybes in Scholia on Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica, 2. 373.
132. ^ Scholia on Hesiod, Works and Days 1, p. 28.
133. ^ Apollodorus, 1.8.2; Grimal, s.v. Dryas, p. 142.
134. ^ Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia 7.57.
135. ^ Pseudo-Plutarch, Greek and Roman Parallel Stories, 23.
136. ^ Hyginus, Fabulae 198, 242; Tripp, s.v. Nisus.
137. ^ Nonnus, Dionysiaca XIII.428.
138. ^ Antoninus Liberalis, 2.
139. ^ Apollodorus, 3.14.8; Hard, p. 169.
140. ^ Beard, Mary, North, John A., Price, Simon R. F., Religions of Rome: A History (Cambridge University Press, 1998), pp. 47–48
141. ^ Larousse Desk Reference Encyclopedia, The Book People, Haydock, 1995, p. 215.
142. ^ Kurt A. Raaflaub, War and Peace in the Ancient World (Blackwell, 2007), p. 15.
143. ^ Paul Rehak and John G. Younger, Imperium and Cosmos: Augustus and the Northern Campus Martius (University of Wisconsin Press, 2006), pp. 11–12.
144. ^ Isidore of Seville calls Mars Romanae gentis auctorem, the originator or founder of the Roman people as a gens (Etymologiae 5.33.5).
145. ^ The scene in which Ares and Aphrodite are entrapped by Hephaestus' net (Homer, Odyssey VIII: 166-365 is also in Ovid's Latin language Metamorphoses IV: 171-189 [5]
146. ^ This chart is based upon Hesiod's Theogony, unless otherwise noted.
147. ^ According to Homer, Iliad 1.570–579, 14.338, Odyssey 8.312, Hephaestus was apparently the son of Hera and Zeus, see Gantz, p. 74.
148. ^ According to Hesiod, Theogony 927–929, Hephaestus was produced by Hera alone, with no father, see Gantz, p. 74.
149. ^ According to Hesiod's Theogony 886–890, of Zeus' children by his seven wives, Athena was the first to be conceived, but the last to be born; Zeus impregnated Metis then swallowed her, later Zeus himself gave birth to Athena "from his head", see Gantz, pp. 51–52, 83–84.
150. ^ According to Hesiod, Theogony 183–200, Aphrodite was born from Uranus' severed genitals, see Gantz, pp. 99–100.
151. ^ According to Homer, Aphrodite was the daughter of Zeus (Iliad 3.374, 20.105; Odyssey 8.308, 320) and Dione (Iliad 5.370–71), see Gantz, pp. 99–100.

## References

[edit]

* Antoninus Liberalis, The Metamorphoses of Antoninus Liberalis: A Translation with a Commentary, edited and translated by Francis Celoria, Routledge, 1992. ISBN 978-0-415-06896-3. Online version at ToposText.
* Apollodorus, Apollodorus: The Library, with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1921. ISBN 0-674-99135-4. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
* Burkert, Walter, Greek Religion, Harvard University Press, 1985. ISBN 0-674-36281-0. Internet Archive.
* Etymologicum Magnum, Friderici Sylburgii (ed.), Leipzig: J.A.G. Weigel, 1816. Internet Archive.
* Gantz, Timothy, Early Greek Myth: A Guide to Literary and Artistic Sources, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, Two volumes: ISBN 978-0-8018-5360-9 (Vol. 1), ISBN 978-0-8018-5362-3 (Vol. 2).
* Grimal, Pierre, The Dictionary of Classical Mythology, Wiley-Blackwell, 1996. ISBN 978-0-631-20102-1. Internet Archive.
* Hansen, William, Handbook of Classical Mythology, ABC-CLIO, 2004. ISBN 978-1-57607-226-4. Internet Archive.
* Hard, Robin, The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology: Based on H.J. Rose's "Handbook of Greek Mythology", Psychology Press, 2004. ISBN 9780415186360. Google Books.
* Hesiod, Theogony, in The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Internet Archive.
* Homer, The Iliad with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
* Homer, The Odyssey with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1919. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
* Homeric Hymn 8 to Ares, in The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1914. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
* Hyginus, Gaius Julius, De Astronomica, in The Myths of Hyginus, edited and translated by Mary A. Grant, Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 1960. Online version at ToposText.
* Hyginus, Gaius Julius, Fabulae, in The Myths of Hyginus, edited and translated by Mary A. Grant, Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 1960. Online version at ToposText.
* Libanius (2008). Libanius's Progymnasmata: Model Exercises in Greek Prose Composition and Rhetoric. Translated by Craig A. Gibson. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature. ISBN 978-1-58983-360-9.
* Nonnus, Dionysiaca, Volume II: Books 16–35, translated by W. H. D. Rouse, Loeb Classical Library No. 345, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press, 1940. Online version at Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-99391-4. Internet Archive (1940).
* Oxford Classical Dictionary, revised third edition, Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth (editors), Oxford University Press, 2003. ISBN 0-19-860641-9. Internet Archive.
* Pausanias, Pausanias Description of Greece with an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., and H.A. Ormerod, M.A., in 4 Volumes. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1918. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
* Peck, Harry Thurston, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York, Harper and Brothers, 1898. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
* Pseudo-Plutarch, De fluviis, in Plutarch's morals, Volume V, edited and translated by William Watson Goodwin, Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1874. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
* Smith, William, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, London (1873). Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.
* Stephanus of Byzantium, Stephani Byzantii Ethnica: Volumen I Alpha - Gamma, edited by Margarethe Billerbeck, in collaboration with Jan Felix Gaertner, Beatrice Wyss and Christian Zubler, De Gruyter, 2006. ISBN 978-3-110-17449-6. Online version at De Gruyter. Google Books.
* Tripp, Edward, Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology, Thomas Y. Crowell Co; First edition (June 1970). ISBN 0-690-22608-X. Internet Archive.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ares.

* v
* t
* e

Greek deities series

* Primordial deities
* Titan deities
* Water deities
* Chthonic deities

Twelve Olympians

* Aphrodite
* Apollo
* Ares
* Artemis
* Athena
* Demeter
* Dionysus
* Hephaestus
* Hera
* Hermes
* Hestia
* Poseidon
* Zeus

* Category
* Ancient Greece portal

* v
* t
* e

Ancient Greek religion and mythology

Religion and religious practice

Main beliefs|

* Ages of Man
* Golden Age
* Heroic Age
* Ancient accounts of Homer
* Apotheosis
* Arete
* Daemon
* Destiny
* Eudaimonia
* Euhemerism
* Eunoia
* Eusebeia
* Golden mean
* Golden Rule
* Greek words for love
* Hemitheos
* Hero cult
* Hubris
* Interpretatio graeca
* Katabasis
* Kleos
* Know thyself
* Metamorphosis
* Metempsychosis
* Nympholepsy
* Paradoxography
* Patron gods
* Pederasty
* Phronesis
* Polytheism
* Sophrosyne
* Soter
* Theia mania
* Xenia

Texts / odes /
epic poems|

| Epic Cycle|

* Aethiopis
* Cypria
* Iliad
* Iliupersis
* Little Iliad
* Nostoi
* Odyssey
* Telegony

|

Theban Cycle|

* Oedipodea
* Thebaid
* Epigoni
* Alcmeonis

Others|

* Aesop's Fables
* Aretalogy
* Argonautica
* Bibliotheca
* Catalogue of Women
* Cyranides
* Delphic maxims
* Derveni papyrus
* Dionysiaca
* Golden Verses of Pythagoras
* Greek Magical Papyri
* Homerica
* Homeric Hymns
* Interpretation of Dreams
* Oneirocritica
* Orphic Hymns
* Papyrus Graecus Holmiensis
* Sibylline Books
* Sortes Astrampsychi
* Stories from Plato
* Atlantis
* Myth of Er
* Ring of Gyges
* Theogony
* Works and Days

Religions|

| Antecedents|

*   * Minoan religion
* Mycenaean religion
* List of Mycenaean deities
* Paleo-Balkan mythology
* Proto-Indo-European mythology
* Religions of the ancient Near East

|

Expressions|

* Atheism
* Henotheism
* Monotheism
* Polytheism

Hellenistic religions|

* Early Christianity
* Christianization
* Relationship with Greek philosophy
* Esoteric systems
* Early alchemy
* Gnosticism
* Hermeticism
* Neoplatonism
* Hellenistic Judaism
* God-fearers
* Syncretic religions
* Alexander
* Ptolemaic cult
* Etruscan religion
* Greco-Buddhism
* Roman religion
* Imperial cult
* Religious views of emperor Julian

Mystery religions
and sacred mysteries|

* Arcadian Mysteries
* Delos Mysteries
* Dionysian Mysteries
* Eleusinian Mysteries
* Imbrian Mysteries
* Mithraism
* Mysteries of Isis
* Orphism
* Samothracian Mysteries

New religious movements|

* Discordianism
* Feraferia
* Gaianism
* Hellenism

Religious practice|

| Worship
/ rituals|

* Amphidromia
* Arotoi Hieroi
* Astragalomancy
* Baptes
* Cult of Artemis at Brauron
* Daduchos
* Divination
* Funeral and burial practices
* Funeral oration
* Greco-Roman mysteries
* Hero cult
* Heroön
* Hierophany
* Hieros gamos
* Hymns
* Incubation
* Komos
* Nekyia
* Omophagia
* Orgia
* Panegyris
* Prayer
* Sacrifice
* Animal sacrifice
* Hecatomb
* Holocaust
* Libation
* Pharmakos
* Votive offering
* Theatre

|

Religious
offices|

* Amphictyonic league
* Archon basileus
* Basilinna
* Gerarai
* Hiereia
* Hierophant
* Hierophylakes
* Iatromantis
* Kanephoros
* Mystagogue
* Oracle
* Sibyl
* Thiasus

Religious
objects|

* Baetyl
* Cult image
* Chryselephantine sculpture
* Xoanon
* Greek terracotta figurines
* Kernos
* Kykeon
* Loutrophoros
* Omphalos
* Panathenaic amphora
* Rhyton
* Sacrificial tripod
* Sceptre
* Thymiaterion

Magic|

* Apotropaic magic
* Curse tablet
* Divination
* Greek Magical Papyri
* Hermeticism
* Hermetica
* Necromancy
* Philia

Events|

| Festivals
/ feasts|

* Actia
* Adonia
* Agrionia
* Amphidromia
* Anthesteria
* Apellai
* Apaturia
* Aphrodisia
* Arrhephoria
* Ascolia
* Bendidia
* Boedromia
* Brauronia
* Buphonia
* Chalceia
* Diasia
* Delia
* Delphinia
* Dionysia
* Ecdysia
* Elaphebolia
* Gamelia
* Halieia
* Haloa
* Heracleia
* Hermaea
* Hieromenia
* Iolaia
* Kronia
* Lenaia
* Leucophryna
* Lykaia
* Metageitnia
* Munichia
* Oschophoria
* Pamboeotia
* Pandia
* Plynteria
* Ptolemaieia
* Pyanopsia
* Skira
* Synoikia
* Soteria
* Tauropolia
* Thargelia
* Theseia
* Thesmophoria

|

Games|

* Agon
* Panathenaic Games
* Rhieia

Panhellenic Games|

* Olympic Games
* Heraean Games
* Pythian Games
* Nemean Games
* Isthmian Games
* Actia

Sacred places|

| Temples /
sanctuaries|

* Asclepieion
* Delphinion
* Mithraeum
* Necromanteion of Acheron
* Nymphaeum
* Panionium
* Parthenon
* Ploutonion
* Telesterion
* Temenos
* Temple of Artemis, Ephesus
* Temple of Zeus, Olympia

|

Oracles|

* Amphiareion of Oropos
* Aornum
* Claros
* Delphi
* Didyma
* Dodona
* Oracle of Apollo Thyrxeus at Cyaneae
* Oracle of Apollo at Ptoion
* Oracle of Artemis at Ikaros
* Oracle of Menestheus
* Sanctuary of the Great Gods
* Tegyra

Mountains|

* Cretea
* Mount Ida (Crete)
* Mount Ida (Turkey)
* Mount Lykaion
* Olympus

Caves|

* Cave of Zeus, Aydın
* Caves of Pan
* Psychro Cave
* Vari Cave

Islands|

* Island of Achilles
* Delos
* Islands of Diomedes

Springs|

* Castalian Spring
* Hippocrene
* Pierian Spring

Others|

* Athenian sacred ships
* Paralus
* Salaminia
* Eleusis
* Hiera Orgas
* Kanathos
* Olympia
* Sacred Way
* Theatre of Dionysus

Myths and mythology

Deities
(Family tree)|

| Primordial deities|

* Aether
* Ananke
* Chaos
* Chronos
* Erebus
* Eros
* Gaia
* Hemera
* Nyx
* Phanes
* Pontus
* Thalassa
* Tartarus
* Uranus

|

Titans|

| First generation|

* Coeus
* Crius
* Cronus
* Hyperion
* Iapetus
* Mnemosyne
* Oceanus
* Phoebe
* Rhea
* Tethys
* Theia
* Themis

|

Second generation|

* Asteria
* Astraeus
* Atlas
* Eos
* Epimetheus
* Helios
* Leto
* Menoetius
* Metis
* Pallas
* Perses
* Prometheus
* Selene

Third generation|

* Hecate
* Hesperus
* Phosphorus

Twelve Olympians|

* Aphrodite
* Apollo
* Ares
* Artemis
* Athena
* Demeter
* Dionysus
* Hephaestus
* Hera
* Hermes
* Hestia
* Poseidon
* Zeus

Water deities|

* Amphitrite
* Alpheus
* Ceto
* Glaucus
* Naiads
* Nereids
* Nereus
* Oceanids
* Phorcys
* Poseidon
* Proteus
* River gods
* Scamander
* Thaumas
* Thetis
* Triton

Love deities|

| Erotes|

* Anteros
* Eros
* Hedylogos
* Hermaphroditus
* Himeros
* Hymen/Hymenaeus
* Pothos

|

* Aphrodite
* Aphroditus
* Philotes
* Peitho

War deities|

* Adrestia
* Alala
* Alke
* Amphillogiai
* Androktasiai
* Ares
* Athena
* Bia
* Deimos
* Enyalius
* Enyo
* Eris
* Gynaecothoenas
* Homados
* Hysminai
* Ioke
* Keres
* Kratos
* Kydoimos
* Ma
* Machai
* Nike
* Palioxis
* Pallas
* Perses
* Phobos
* Phonoi
* Polemos
* Proioxis

Chthonic deities|

| Psychopomps|

* Charon
* Hermes
* Hermanubis
* Thanatos

|

* Angelos
* Cabeiri
* The Erinyes (Furies)
* Hades / Pluto
* Hecate
* Hypnos
* Keres
* Lampad
* Melinoë
* Persephone
* Zagreus

Health deities|

* Aceso
* Aegle
* Artemis
* Apollo
* Asclepius
* Chiron
* Darrhon
* Eileithyia
* Epione
* Hebe
* Hygieia
* Iaso
* Paean
* Panacea
* Telesphorus

Sleep deities|

* Empusa
* Epiales
* Hypnos
* Pasithea
* Oneiroi

Messenger deities|

* Angelia
* Arke
* Hermes
* Iris

Trickster deities|

* Apate
* Hermes
* Momus

Magic deities|

* Circe
* Hecate
* Hermes Trismegistus
* Pasiphaë

Art and beauty deities|

* Aphrodite
* Apollo
* The Charites (Graces)
* Aglaea
* Euphrosyne
* Thalia
* Dionysus
* The Muses
* Calliope
* Clio
* Polyhymnia
* Euterpe
* Terpsichore
* Erato
* Melpomene
* Thalia
* Urania

Other major deities|

* The Anemoi (Winds)
* Boreas
* Eurus
* Notus
* Zephyrus
* Azone
* Chrysaor
* Cybele
* Eileithyia
* Glycon
* Harmonia
* Nemesis
* Pan
* Pegasus
* Zelus

Heroes /
heroines|

| Individuals|

* Abderus
* Achilles
* Actaeon
* Adonis
* Aeneas
* Ajax the Great
* Ajax the Lesser
* Akademos
* Amphiaraus
* Amphitryon
* Antilochus
* Atalanta
* Autolycus
* Bellerophon
* Bouzyges
* Cadmus
* Chrysippus
* Cyamites
* Daedalus
* Diomedes
* Dioscuri (Castor and Polydeuces)
* Echetlus
* Eleusis
* Erechtheus
* Eunostus
* Ganymede
* Hector
* Heracles
* Icarus
* Iolaus
* Jason
* Meleager
* Menelaus
* Narcissus
* Nestor
* Odysseus
* Oedipus
* Orpheus
* Otrera
* Pandion
* Peleus
* Pelops
* Penthesilea
* Perseus
* Theseus
* Triptolemus

|

Groups|

* Argonauts
* Calydonian hunters
* Epigoni
* Seven against Thebes

Oracles
/ seers|

* Aesacus
* Aleuas
* Amphiaraus
* Amphilochus
* Ampyx
* Anius
* Asbolus
* Bakis
* Branchus
* Calchas
* Carnus
* Carya
* Cassandra
* Elatus
* Ennomus
* Epimenides
* Halitherses
* Helenus
* Iamus
* Idmon
* Manto
* Melampus
* Mopsus
* Munichus
* Phineus
* Polyeidos
* Polypheides
* Pythia
* Sibyls
* Cimmerian
* Cumaean
* Delphic
* Erythraean
* Hellespontine
* Libyan
* Persian
* Phrygian
* Samian
* Telemus
* Theiodamas
* Theoclymenus
* Tiresias

Other
mortals|

* Aegeus
* Aegisthus
* Agamemnon
* Andromache
* Andromeda
* Antigone
* Augeas
* Briseis
* Cassiopeia
* Creon of Thebes
* Chryseis
* Chrysothemis
* Clytemnestra
* Damocles
* Deidamia
* Deucalion
* Electra
* Eteocles
* Europa
* Gordias
* Hecuba
* Helen of Troy
* Hellen
* The Heracleidae
* Hermione
* Hippolyta
* Io
* Iphigenia
* Ismene
* Jocasta
* Laius
* Lycian peasants
* Lycaon
* The Maenads
* Memnon
* Messapian shepherds
* Midas
* Minos
* Myrrha
* Neoptolemus
* Niobe
* Orestes
* Paris
* Patroclus
* Penelope
* Philomela
* Phoenix
* Polybus of Corinth
* Polynices
* Priam
* Procne
* Pylades
* Pyrrha
* Telemachus
* Troilus

Underworld|

| Entrances to
the underworld|

| Rivers|

* Acheron
* Cocytus
* Eridanos
* Lethe
* Phlegethon
* Styx

|

Lakes/swamps|

* Acherusia
* Avernus Lake
* Lerna Lake

Caves|

* Cave at Cape Matapan
* Cave at Lake Avernus
* Cave at Heraclea Pontica

Charoniums|

* Charonium at Aornum
* Charonium at Acharaca

Ploutonion|

* Ploutonion at Acharaca
* Ploutonion at Eleusis
* Ploutonion at Hierapolis

Necromanteion (necromancy temple)|

* Necromanteion of Acheron

Places|

* Elysium
* Erebus
* Fields of Asphodel
* Isles of the Blessed
* Mourning Fields
* Tartarus

Judges|

* Aeacus
* Minos
* Rhadamanthus

Guards|

* Campe
* Cerberus

Residents|

* Anticlea
* Danaïdes
* Eurydice
* Ixion
* Ocnus
* Salmoneus
* The Shades
* Sisyphus
* Tantalus
* Tiresias
* Titans
* Tityos

Visitors|

* Dionysus
* Heracles
* Hermes
* Odysseus
* Orpheus
* Pirithous
* Psyche
* Theseus

Symbols/objects|

* Bident
* Cap of invisibility
* Charon's obol

Animals, daemons,
and spirits|

* Ascalaphus
* Ceuthonymus
* Eurynomos
* Menoetius

Mythical|

| Beings|

| Lists|

* Deities
* Mythological creatures
* Mortals
* Minor figures
* Trojan War characters

|

Minor spirits|

* Daemon
* Agathodaemon
* Cacodaemon
* Eudaemon
* Nymph
* Satyr

Beasts /
creatures|

* Centaur
* Centaurides
* Ichthyocentaur
* Cyclops
* Dragon
* Drakaina
* Echidna
* Giant
* Gorgon
* Harpy
* Hecatonchires
* Hippocampus
* Horses of Helios
* Lamia
* Phoenix
* Python
* Siren
* Scylla and Charybdis
* Sphinx
* Typhon

Captured
/ slain by
heroes|

* Calydonian boar
* Cerberus
* Cerynian Hind
* Chimera
* Cretan Bull
* Crommyonian Sow
* Erymanthian boar
* Khalkotauroi
* Lernaean Hydra
* Mares of Diomedes
* Medusa
* Minotaur
* Nemean lion
* Orthrus
* Polyphemus
* Stymphalian birds
* Talos
* Teumessian fox

Tribes|

* Achaeans
* Amazons
* Anthropophagi
* Bebryces
* Cicones
* Curetes
* Dactyls
* Gargareans
* Halizones
* Korybantes
* Laestrygonians
* Lapiths
* Lotus-eaters
* Myrmidons
* Pygmies
* Spartoi
* Telchines

Places
/ Realms|

* Aethiopia
* Ara
* Colchis
* Erytheia
* Hyperborea
* Ismarus
* Ithaca
* Libya
* Nysa
* Ogygia
* Panchaia
* Phlegra
* Scheria
* Scythia
* Symplegades
* Tartessos
* Themiscyra
* Thrinacia
* Troy

Events|

* Apollo and Daphne
* Calydonian boar hunt
* Eros and Psyche
* Judgment of Paris
* Labours of Heracles
* Orpheus and Eurydice
* Returns from Troy
* Odyssey

Wars|

* Amazonomachy
* Attic War
* Centauromachy
* Gigantomachy
* Indian War
* Theomachy
* Titanomachy
* Trojan War

Objects|

* Adamant
* Aegis
* Ambrosia
* Apple of Discord
* Argo
* Dragon's teeth
* Diipetes
* Eidolon
* Galatea
* Girdle of Aphrodite
* Golden apple
* Golden Fleece
* Gordian knot
* Harpe
* Ichor
* Labyrinth
* Lotus tree
* Milk of Hera
* Moly
* Necklace of Harmonia
* Orichalcum
* Palladium
* Panacea
* Pandora's box
* Petasos (Winged helmet)
* Phaeacian ships
* Philosopher's stone
* Shield of Achilles
* Shirt of Nessus
* Sword of Damocles
* Talaria
* Thunderbolt
* Thyrsus
* Trident of Poseidon
* Trojan Horse
* Winnowing Oar
* Wheel of fire

Symbols|

* Bowl of Hygieia
* Caduceus
* Cornucopia
* Gorgoneion
* Kantharos
* Labrys
* Orphic egg
* Ouroboros
* Owl of Athena
* Phallus
* Rod of Asclepius
* Swan song
* Wind
* East
* West
* North
* South

Modern
treatments|

* Classical mythology in western art and literature
* Classicism
* Classics
* Greek mythology in popular culture
* Modern understanding of Greek mythology

* v
* t
* e

Ancient Greek deities

Primal
elements|

* Aether
* Chaos
* Erebus
* Eros
* Gaia
* Hemera
* Nyx
* The Ourea
* Pontus
* Tartarus
* Uranus

Titans|

| Twelve Titans|

* Coeus
* Crius
* Cronus
* Dione
* Hyperion
* Iapetus
* Mnemosyne
* Oceanus
* Phoebe
* Rhea
* Tethys
* Theia
* Themis

|

Descendants of the Titans|

* Asteria
* Astraeus
* Atlas
* Eos
* Epimetheus
* Helios
* Leto
* Menoetius
* Pallas
* Perses
* Prometheus
* Selene

Olympian
deities|

| Twelve Olympians|

* Aphrodite
* Apollo
* Ares
* Artemis
* Athena
* Demeter
* Dionysus
* Hephaestus
* Hera
* Hermes
* Hestia
* Poseidon
* Zeus

|

Olympian Gods|

* Asclepius
* Eileithyia
* Enyo
* Eris
* Iris
* Harmonia
* Hebe
* Heracles
* Paean
* Pan

Muses|

* Daughters of Zeus
* Calliope
* Clio
* Euterpe
* Erato
* Melpomene
* Polyhymnia
* Terpsichore
* Thalia
* Urania
* Daughters of Apollo
* Apollonis
* Borysthenis
* Cephisso
* Boeotian Muses
* Aoide
* Melete
* Mneme
* Muses of the Lyre
* Hypate
* Mese
* Nete
* Muses at Sicyon
* Polymatheia

Charites (Graces)|

* Aglaia
* Euphrosyne
* Hegemone
* Pasithea
* Thalia

Horae (Hours)|

* Dike
* Eirene
* Eunomia

Children of Styx|

* Bia
* Kratos
* Nike
* Zelus

Water
deities|

| Sea deities|

* Amphitrite
* Benthesikyme
* Brizo
* Calliste
* Calypso
* Ceto
* Eurybia
* Glaucus
* Leucothea
* Melicertes
* Nereus
* Nerites
* Oceanus
* Phorcys
* Pontus
* Poseidon
* Proteus
* Rhodos
* Tethys
* Thalassa
* Thaumas
* Thetis
* Triton

|

Oceanids|

* Acaste
* Admete
* Asia
* Callirhoe
* Ceto
* Clymene (consort of Helios)
* Clymene (wife of Iapetus)
* Clytie
* Dione
* Dodone
* Doris
* Electra
* Eurynome
* Idyia
* Melia (consort of Apollo)
* Melia (consort of Inachus)
* Metis
* Perse
* Philyra
* Pleione
* Plouto
* Styx
* Telesto
* Theia
* Zeuxo

Nereids|

* Amatheia
* Amphithoe
* Amphitrite
* Arethusa
* Cymatolege
* Cymo
* Dynamene
* Galatea
* Galene
* Protomedeia
* Psamathe
* Sao
* Spio
* Thalia
* Thetis

River gods|

* Achelous
* Alpheus
* Anapus
* Asopus
* Asterion
* Axius
* Caanthus
* Cebren
* Cephissus
* Enipeus
* Kladeos
* Meander
* Nilus
* Numicus
* Phyllis
* Peneus
* Sangarius
* Scamander
* Selemnus
* Simoeis
* Strymon

Naiads|

* Aegina
* Achiroe
* Aganippe
* The Anigrides
* Argyra
* Bistonis
* Bolbe
* Caliadne
* Cassotis
* Castalia
* Cleocharia
* Creusa
* Daphne
* Drosera
* Harpina
* The Ionides
* Ismenis
* Larunda
* Lilaea
* Liriope
* Melite
* Metope
* Minthe
* Moria
* Nana
* Nicaea
* Orseis
* Pallas
* Pirene
* Salmacis
* Stilbe
* The Thriae
* Corycia
* Cleodora
* Melaina
* Tiasa

Personifications|

| Children of Eris|

* Algos
* Amphillogiai
* The Androktasiai
* Atë
* Dysnomia
* Horkos
* Hysminai
* Lethe
* Logoi
* Limos
* Machai
* Neikea
* Phonoi
* Ponos
* Pseudea

|

Children of Nyx|

* Apate
* Eris
* Geras
* Hesperides
* Hypnos
* The Keres
* The Moirai
* Atropos
* Clotho
* Lachesis
* Momus
* Moros
* Nemesis
* Oizys
* The Oneiroi
* Philotes
* Thanatos

Others|

* Achlys
* Adephagia
* Aergia
* Aidos
* Aion
* Alala
* Alastor
* Aletheia
* Alke
* Amechania
* Anaideia
* Ananke
* Angelia
* Anteros
* Apheleia
* Arete
* The Arae
* Astraea
* Caerus
* Chronos
* Chrysus
* Corus
* Deimos
* Dikaiosyne
* Dyssebeia
* Eiresione
* Ekecheiria
* Eulabeia
* Eupraxia
* Eusebeia
* Ersa
* Eros
* Erotes
* Gelos
* Hedone
* Hedylogos
* Heimarmene
* Hermaphroditus
* Homados
* Homonoia
* Horme
* Hymen
* Iacchus
* Ioke
* Kakia
* Koalemos
* Kydoimos
* The Litae
* Lyssa
* The Maniae
* Methe
* Nomos
* Palioxis
* Peitharchia
* Peitho
* Penia
* Penthus
* Pepromene
* Pheme
* Phobos
* Phrike
* Phthonus
* Poine
* Polemos
* Poros
* Praxidice
* Proioxis
* Prophasis
* Soter
* Soteria
* Thrasos
* Tyche

Other deities|

| Sky|

* The Anemoi
* Boreas
* Eurus
* Notus
* Zephyrus
* Hesperus
* Phosphorus
* Phaethon
* Astrape and Bronte
* Aura
* The Hesperides
* The Hyades
* Nephele
* The Pleiades
* Alcyone
* Sterope
* Celaeno
* Electra
* Maia
* Merope
* Taygete
* Sirius
* Tritopatores

|

Agriculture|

* Aphaia
* Demeter
* Despoina
* Eunostus
* Opora
* Philomelus
* Plutus

Health|

* Asclepius
* Aceso
* Epione
* Iaso
* Hygieia
* Paean
* Panacea
* Telesphorus

Rustic
deities|

* Aetna
* Agdistis
* The Alseids
* Amphictyonis
* Aristaeus
* Attis
* Britomartis
* The Cabeiri
* Comus
* The Dryades
* Erato
* The Hamadryades
* Chrysopeleia
* The Epimelides
* Hecaterus
* Leuce
* The Maenades
* The Meliae
* Hyperborean maidens
* The Oreads
* Echo
* Priapus
* Rhapso
* Silenus
* Telete

Others|

* Aphroditus
* Arke
* Auxesia
* Enodia
* Circe
* Enyalius
* Hecate
* Palaestra
* Pasiphaë
* Phanes
* Sosipolis

Portals:

* Ancient Greece
* Myths

Ares at Wikipedia's sister projects:

* Definitions from Wiktionary
* Media from Commons
* Quotations from Wikiquote

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Czech Republic
* Korea
* Poland
* Israel
* Catalonia

People|

* DDB

Other|

* IdRef
* Yale LUX

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[c.]: circa