Ares

Ares (Ancient Greek: Ἄρης [árɛːs], Μodern Greek: Άρης [ˈaris]) is the Greek god of war. "Ares is apparently an ancient abstract noun meaning throng of battle, war."^[1] He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera.^[2] As the Olympian god of warfare, righteous indignation,^{[citation needed]} and courage; lover of Aphrodite and "Leader of Righteous Men," Ares presides over male passion, the weapons and preparations for war, the defense and protection of cities, rebellion and civil order, policing of banditry, masculinity, integrity,^{[citation needed]} and personal courage.Ares has a quadriga – a chariot drawn by four gold-bridled(Iliad v.352) fire-emitting immortal stallions. Among the gods, Ares is recognized by his bronze armor; he brandishes a spear in battle. His sacred birds are thewoodpecker,^{[citation needed]} the eagle owl and, especially in the south, the vulture. According to Argonautica (ii.382ff and 1031ff; Hyginus, Fabulae 30) the birds of Ares (Ornithes Areioi) were a flock of feather-dart-dropping birds that guarded the Amazons' shrine of the god on a coastal island in the Black Sea. In Sparta, the chthonic night-time sacrifice of a dog to Enyalios became assimilated to the cult of Ares. Sacrifice might be made to Ares on the eve of battle to enlist his support.

In the Iliad (v.890ff) Ares rode into battle and when he was wounded he went back to Olympus where Zeus healed him, but with angry words. Then Ares went straight back to battle with a shield in hand. Though involved in the founding myth of Thebes, he only appeared in a few short chapters within the myths.^[10]