The Tale of Ares: The God of War and Unrelenting Fury

Ah, Ares, the god of war, bloodshed, and rage. Now, here’s a guy who lives for chaos. Not the clever kind of chaos, like me, mind you, but the kind that leaves scorched earth and broken weapons in its wake. I’ve got to give him credit though - Ares knows how to stir up a fight like no one else, and his reputation for being the embodiment of destruction precedes him. 

Let me take you through the tale of this brutal god who thrives on combat, war, and, of course, causing a scene.

Ares was the son of Zeus and Hera, two gods with temperaments that were, let’s say, a little on the volatile side. Now, you’d think a child of these two would be a master of subtlety, but no - Ares didn’t inherit much in the way of diplomacy. No, he was born to fight, and fight he did. From the moment Ares emerged, he was armed for battle with his spear and shield, ready to create chaos on a scale that even his parents could hardly control.

Unlike his sister Athena, the goddess of wisdom and strategy, Ares was the god of the brute force side of warfare. He reveled in bloodshed and the brutality of battle. While Athena carefully planned her victories with tactics, Ares would charge into combat without a second thought, driven by rage and the thrill of conflict. In the end, it was more about the violence for him, not so much about the outcome. Victory? Oh, sure, that’s nice, but it was the fight that he loved most.

It wasn’t long before Ares became a frequent player in the wars of mortals, stirring up conflict wherever he went. He sided with the Trojans during the Trojan War, egging on the combatants with his fiery spirit. However, he was hardly a favorite among the other gods. Athena, who’d rather win wars through skill and precision, frequently found herself at odds with Ares. They often fought over which methods of war were superior - strategy versus chaos. And let’s be honest, neither of them was likely to back down.

But, you know, Ares had his moments of weakness. As fierce as he was in battle, he was never quite able to command the same respect as some of the other gods. Even his own father, Zeus, didn’t always take him seriously. There’s even a well-known story where Ares, after being captured by the giant Otus and Ephialtes, was locked in a bronze jar for over a year. His imprisonment was a testament to just how out of control he could get when left unchecked. And it wasn’t even Athena who captured him - it was the giants, of all things. How embarrassing for a god of war.

In the realm of romance, Ares had a bit of an interesting affair with Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Naturally, the pairing of war and love wasn’t exactly a peaceful one. Aphrodite, already married to Hephaestus, the god of blacksmithing, wasn’t exactly the most faithful of wives. She and Ares carried on a passionate, secretive affair that, of course, ended in scandal. Hephaestus, not too thrilled with his wife’s infidelity, trapped them both in a net and exposed them to the other gods. Ares, always the warrior, took his humiliation with his usual fiery temper.

➡ The Takeaway 

Ares teaches us that there’s a thin line between being a warrior and being a brute. He shows us the consequences of living for the fight without thinking about the long-term effects. While Athena’s methods of war were calculated and thoughtful, Ares reminds us that sometimes, the thrill of battle and the heat of anger can cloud judgment.

He’s the god you don’t want to mess with if you’re looking for a peaceful life, but his story also serves as a warning: unchecked rage and blind aggression rarely lead to victory, no matter how much strength you have.

So, if you ever find yourself facing Ares, be sure to have a backup plan - because charging in without thinking is a one-way ticket to destruction.

Until next time, remember: it’s not always about how hard you fight, but how smart you fight. You don’t have to be like Ares to win the war.