Blessing: The world can be a hard and cruel place: Ares helps us to get through it. His blessings are strength, courage, fortitude, cunning, and the passion to fight for the things that we think are important. He helps us to shed what is not efficient, to become hard in order to meet life’s adversity. He is a tough master, but when things start falling apart around you, that’s precisely the person you want on your side.
Epithets: Areopagite (of the Aeropagus), Aphneius (Bountiful), Enualios (Companion of Enyo), Gynaikothoinas (One Whom the Women Feast), Theritas
Equated with: Mars, Montu, the Elder Horus, Mithras.
Associations: spear, sword, shield, helmet, wolf, horse, boar, frankincense, opoponax, pepper, oak, nettle, cactus, absinthe, rue, ruby, dogs
Festivals:
Kunègia (6 Xanthikos)
Ways to honor: Practice martial arts. Respect veterans, and what they’ve gone through. Stand up for the principles you believe in. Find constructive ways of handling adversity. Study military history.
Ancient Texts:
Excerpt from Papyrus Oxyrhynchus
Excerpts from Hieroglyphika by Horapollo
Excerpts from The Histories by Herodotus
Homeric Hymn VIII (To Ares)
Orphic Hymn LXV (To Ares)
Modern Texts:
Ares by Lykeia
Ares’ Abode by Melia Suez
Epithalamia for Mars and Bellona by P Sufenas Virius Lupus
Lone, Weary Warrior by Reverend Allyson Szabo
Prayer to Ares by Melia Suez
The Gift by Melia Suez
Who Are You, Ares? by Amanda Aremisia Forrester
Rituals and Festivals:
A Prayer for Memorial Day by Amanda Aremisia Forrester
Articles:
Ares and the Modern Era by Brontosproximo
Links:
Ares in the works of Homer
Encylopedia Mythica article on Mars/Ares
Mars, god of war by Carolyn Joyce
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