Also called Enyalios, Mars (Roman).
Their story
Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera and the least loved of the Olympians in Homer, where Zeus calls him the most hateful of the gods. He is wounded by Diomedes with Athena's help and roars like ten thousand men. His love affair with Aphrodite was exposed when Hephaestus caught them in a net of unbreakable chains. His companions are Phobos and Deimos, Fear and Terror, and the war goddess Enyo.
Their day
Tuesday. The planetary day of Mars, Ares's Roman counterpart.
Best times to give to them
- Before a confrontation or hard trial you cannot avoid
- Tuesdays, in modern practice
- When anger needs to be named and set down
What they like being given
- A glass of red wine, or dark grape juice
- A lit red candle
- Bread and salt
- An honest account of what you are fighting for
How to honour them
- Ask for courage rather than cruelty, and for the fight to end well.
- Use physical exercise as a devotion, spending anger in the body rather than on people.
- Keep a small token of protection, such as a spearhead charm, by the door.
How they can help you
- Courage under pressure
- Protecting what you love
- Honest work with anger
Symbols
- spear
- helmet
- shield
- vulture
- dog
Ares had few temples in Greece compared with the other Olympians; his cult was stronger in Sparta and Thrace.
Sources
- Hesiod, Theogony 921-923
- Homer, Iliad 5.855-909
- Homer, Odyssey 8.266-366
- Homeric Hymn 8, to Ares
More Greek gods
- Zeus King of the gods and keeper of oaths
- Apollo Lord of light, music and prophecy
- Hermes Swift messenger and guide of travellers
- Hades Lord of the underworld and giver of wealth
- Dionysus Twice-born god of wine, theatre and ecstasy
- Poseidon Earth-shaker and lord of the sea
- Helios The all-seeing sun who crosses the sky
- Pan Goat-footed god of shepherds and wild places