Ares

=__What is this deity the patron of? __=
 * Greek name:** ARES
 * Roman name:** MARS
 * SYMBOLS: Dog;** Vulture;Wild boar;Bloodstained Spear; Spear; Helmet
 * Ares is mostly known as the "GOD OF WAR & BATTLE."**


 * He's a patron of:**
 * Warriors
 * Favor: Bravery; Fighting-strength, endurance
 * Curse: Cowardice; Death on the battlefield

=__Story __**: **=

Ares is known as the **GOD OF WAR** because of his very violent attitude toward almost everything. He loves the din and roar of battles, the slaughter of men, and the complete destruction of towns. People believed that the mass deaths from plagues and epidemics were caused by him. His own parents, along with other gods **hated** him in result of his evil aura.

The brief meaning of this god was to rid cowardliness, motivate soldiers, and be the victor of wars, otherwise face the wrath of doom.

=**__Craft/job/idea associated with Ares: __**=

__**ARES - THE GOD OF //WAR//**__ The Spartans were the mightiest of all warriors during the ancient Greek-en period. The soldiers began their training at an extremely early age, usually around four years old, training until they were about eighteen, then they were forced to join the military. **NO** other army could ever compete with the Spartans phalanxes(an organized wall of soldiers) during this time. They were equipped with a bronze shield, a bronze helmet, bronze breastplate, and a spear, or sword.They are most commonly known as the first people to introduce siege warfare, the ability to defeat armies even when dramatically out numbered, and the crafting of lightweight and cheap iron weaponry.

=**__Ares' creation story / parents / offspring: __**=

There are many stories about how Ares was born, however many people believe that his mother Hera, with the help of a magical herb got herself "pregnant" without the help of any man, this process is called parthenogenesis.


 * Ares' father is Zeus, "King of Gods" and his mother is Hera, "Queen of Gods." Ares has countless more mortal children, than compared to divine children. His divine children are:**
 * PHOBOS**: //God of Fear//
 * DEIMOS**//: God of Terror//
 * HARMONIA**: //Goddess of Harmony//
 * DRAKON OF THEBES** - A dragon which guarded Thebes. Armed soldiers sprang from its teeth.

Mother: Hera "Queen of Gods"**
 * Father: Zeus "King of Gods"

==

=__Historic ____al background of Ares __= = =

Mythology helped Greeks answer questions that they had no understanding of at the time. For example, if they lost a battle they would blame someone for angering Ares, therefore causing him to fight them along side with the enemy army. Basically mythology provided "escape goats" that people could either blame or honor in result of oblivion.

=__**Ares' connection with other cultures**__=

__**Aztec War God:** **Huitzilopochtli**__ __**Culture: Aztec**__

These cultures are connected because both Ares and Huitzilopochtli expressed cruelty in war. Like Ares, thousands of people were slaughtered, or sacrificed. However, most of these people were prisoners of war, others were either punished men, or offerings to the god. Similarly, both have their punishments, Ares threatens doom and Huitzilopochtli threatens death.



 =__Rituals involved with Ares__:=


 * Types of Rituals (Ares)**
 * 1) Temples were made in which honorable sacrifices were held.

//Cults and rituals associated with Ares were rare.// I believe that the sacrificial ritual was originated to please the god in return of his protection. Human sacrifices were the Greeks most precious offerings to gods, which symbolized absolute respect for Ares, as well as the belief in him.

=**__Connections between ancient Greece and the modern world. __**= There are many connections between ancient Greece and the modern world. You see aspects them in movies, such as 300, and you might even play a video game where the all powerful Spartan must defeat the villains. If you can't relate to either of those then think back to the last time you ate grapes, garlic, carrots, pears, plums, beans, or chicken. Their diets were basically the same as the average American diet is today.

=__Ares today:__=

Even to this very day Ares lives on in stories, whether it's orally, written, or even virtually.


 * Here is a list of where Ares appears in pop culture:**
 * 1) His name is immortalized in the month of March (Recall that his Roman name is Mars)
 * 2) His name is immortalized in the Ares car model
 * 3) His name was immortalized in NASA's transport ship replacing the space shuttle
 * 4) His name is immortalized in songs and albums. The English band "Bloc Party" recorded Ares. A Japanese pop artist named a song Ares, in his album named Mars.
 * 5) He even appears in video games such as, //[|Age of Mythology],// //[|God of War],// //[|God of War 2], and// //[|Spartan: Total Warrior]//.






 * SOURCES**

http://www.men-myths-minds.com/Ares-greek-god.html [] (AZTEC WAR GOD) [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []