Ares

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A statue of Ares in a cave on Samos.

Ares is a Greek god of war. He is the son of Zeus and Hera, and is also regarded as one of the Twelve Gods, the major deities of the Greek pantheon. His Roman equivalent is Mars.

Mythology

Ares, jealous that his beloved Aphrodite fell in love with the human Adonis, killed him in a fit of rage. As punishment, he was imprisoned in a large bronze jar for thirteen long months by the Aloadai, the giant twin sons of the god Poseidon and Iphimedeia.

Ares was also said to have killed one of Poseidon's sons, and for this he was judged in Athens in the place that ever after was known as Ares' Rock.

At some point in his life, Ares fathered Hippolyta, later queen of the Amazons and gifted her a belt which aroused the desire for battle for each strike she delivered.

Personality and traits

It was said of Ares that he loved "war and its horror for their own sake." In artwork, Ares was always depicted helmeted and armed, ready for war.

Legacy and influence

The Stymphalian birds were regarded as Ares' sacred animals. The Followers of Ares worshiped the god, and devoted multiple locations to him, including a cave on the island of Keos.

During the Peloponnesian War, an armor set inspired by and dedicated to Ares was also worn, and eventually ended up in the possession of the Spartan misthios Kassandra. In a letter given to the Follow of Ares Harpalos, Ares is referred to the epithets 'the Bloodstained', 'the Destroyer', 'the Stormer of Cities', and 'He Who Rallies Men'. These are all present in Homer's Iliad.

In 2012, he was included in a mnemonic set in Abstergo Industries' Project Legacy.

Behind the scenes

In Greek mythology, Ares is regarded as the father of Eros, Anteros, Phobos, Deimos, Adrestia and Harmonia.

The mural depicting Ares in a chariot in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey is based on a painting on an amphora from Late Classical period, depicting the Battle of the Giants and Gods. Notably, Aphrodite and their son Eros have been omitted, and Ares is shown riding the chariot of Dionysos instead of his own.

In Assassin's Creed II, the statuette in Monteriggioni, Italy, is said to be Mars. The statue is based in fact on a statue of Ares found in Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli, Italy.

Gallery

Banner of the Followers of Ares, depicting the stylized head of the god

Statue of Ares within the Sanctuary of Olympia

Ares depicted in a mural in 5th century BCE Greece, with Poseidon on his right

Ares (bottom left) amongst the Greek pantheon

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed II (first appearance) (sculpture only)
• Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy (mnemonic set only)
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (mentioned only)
  • The Fate of Atlantis: Torment of Hades (mentioned only)