God of crafts Hephaestus

Hephaestus and his lameness. Hephaestus, the son of Zeus and Hera, was born on the bright Olympus. The child was ugly: with thin crooked legs, a frail little body and an exorbitantly large head. Hera got angry because her child was so ugly, and threw him down from Olympus. Hephaestus fell to the ground and broke his leg. So, in addition to natural unsightliness, he also received a limp. On earth, he was sheltered by Eurynome, the daughter of the gray-haired elder Ocean, and Thetis, the daughter of the prophetic sea elder Nereus.

In the azure grotto at the bottom of the Ocean, they raised Hephaestus, and he became a skilled craftsman. He made many beautiful vessels, combs, brooches of gold and silver for his rescuers. Even the Olympic gods, having heard about his skill, turned to him with requests, and Hephaestus helped everyone, fulfilled all orders.

Golden Throne of Hera. Hera alone he never did anything. But one day it seemed to the gods that Hephaestus changed his anger to mercy - he sent Hera a beautiful golden throne. The delighted goddess immediately sat down on him - and then shackles appeared from somewhere, which tightly chained her to the throne. All the efforts of the other gods were in vain, and it was not possible to free Hera.

Then they turned to Hephaestus. But he accepted the gods with a proud air and answered their requests with an unconditional refusal - his mother treated him in childhood so that now he has no desire to help her. The great Olympians were depressed, not knowing what to do now, and then Dionysus suggested: “Now let me try to persuade him!” Taking with him several skins of wine, he went to Hephaestus and offered him a drink to his acquaintance. He agreed. The first bowl was followed by the second, followed by the third, fourth ... when Hephaestus was already completely drunk and because of this more accommodating, Dionysus told him how Hera, chained to the throne, was suffering.

Hephaestus leaves for Olympus. By this time, Hephaestus had become kinder and fed up with his revenge, so he agreed to go to Olympus and free his mother. But it is one thing to agree, and quite another to get to Olympus. Hephaestus was already so drunk that he could not only walk, but also stand on his feet. Then Dionysus called his retinue and ordered to put him on a donkey. And so Hephaestus was put on horseback, a wreath of vine leaves was put on his head, and so that he would not fall off, the satyrs began to support him from the sides. So, in a noisy Dionysian fiass, bawling drunken songs, a new member of the family of the Olympian gods entered Olympus. Drinking wine did not deprive Hephaestus of his skills, so he easily freed Hera and completely reconciled with her.

The main forge of Hephaestus. Moreover, he not only reconciled, but once suffered greatly for his mother. It happened at a time when Zeus severely punished Hera, and none of the gods dared to argue with him. Only Hephaestus tried to stand up for his mother, and then the Father of immortals and mortals threw him off Olympus a second time. Hephaestus fell on the island of Lemnos and broke his other leg; therefore he was sometimes called "Lame with two legs". Since the inhabitants of Lemnos treated him well, he fell in love with the island. Here, in his honor, the city of Hephaestius was named, and here, under the fire-breathing mountain, was his main forge, in which he worked together with the Cyclopes who helped him.

Hephaestus brings the gods a good mood. On Olympus, Hephaestus built majestic palaces for all the gods and for himself, and in his own he arranged another forge. Covered in sweat, all black from dust and soot, he works in it all his free time. Wonderful things are made in his workshop: invincible weapons, jewelry made of gold and silver, bowls and goblets. Having finished work and having washed himself, Hephaestus, limping a little, goes to the feast of the gods, to his father, Zeus the Thunderer. Friendly and good-natured Hephaestus, and he often manages to stop the quarrel between his parents. When he begins to hobble around the table, pouring nectar into golden goblets, the gods cannot see this without laughing. Fun begins at a feast, all grievances and misunderstandings are forgotten.

Aphrodite is the wife of Hephaestus. The wife of the most ugly of the gods was the most beautiful goddess - Aphrodite. Hephaestus, who had a complaisant character, loved his wife very much and did not attach importance to the fact that she was not always faithful to him. He himself spent more time in his forges than with his wife. Of course, his lameness prevented him from working, but he built himself out of gold servants who could move and carry out all his orders. [Hephaestus was inseparable from his craft, so he was always depicted as a blacksmith - in a pointed leather hat, with a hammer and tongs in his hands. However, not only blacksmiths, but all artisans considered him their god.]

Hephaestus and human affairs. Hephaestus was so busy and passionate about his work that he does not interfere in earthly affairs at all. He happened to make different things for people (for example, for the king of Colchis, Eet, he made copper bulls, for Achilles - his weapons and armor, for Hercules - a golden shell, greaves and a helmet), but in general they are not interested in their wars, and even in He intervened in the Trojan War only once, when with his fire he tamed the raging Scamander River, which threatened to drown Achilles.

God of War Ares

Birth of Ares. As far as Hephaestus is alien to wars, his brother, the violent Ares, the god of war, loves them just as much. It is said that he was born in an unusual way. When Hera was angry with Zeus because he gave birth to Athena himself, without her participation, she went to the far shores of the Ocean, where she touched herself with a magical flower that was able to cope with any infertility. From this touch, Ares was born, who inherited the obstinate nature of his mother.

Ares on the battlefield. Only fierce battles can please this god. He loves it when one by one the slain heroes fall to the ground. In sparkling weapons, Ares frantically rushes among the combatants, followed by his two sons, Phobos and Deimos - "Fear" and "Horror", the goddess of discord - Eris, the bloodthirsty Enyo, who inspires confusion in the fighting warriors. Boils, battle rumbles; exults blood-splattered Ares. He cuts indiscriminately left and right, heaps piles of wounded bodies around him. He utters a triumphant cry when he slays a warrior with his terrible sword and hot blood rushes to the ground. No one can cope with the ferocious and formidable Ares, but if he really disperses in battle, if too many heroes lose their lives because of him, Zeus allows Pallas Athena to oppose him, and then the formidable god of war is subdued. Athena defeats him with wisdom and calm strength and forces him to leave the battlefield.

Ares, Aphrodite and Hephaestus. Outwardly, Ares is very attractive: he is strong, athletic, tall. Therefore, Aphrodite could not resist his beauty: she began to secretly meet with Ares, thus disgracing her husband, Hephaestus, in front of all the gods. The benevolent master did not suspect anything for a very long time, but one day the bright Helios, who sees and knows everything, told him about his wife's betrayal. Hephaestus planned to take revenge. And then one day, when he, as always, went to his forge, Ares appeared on a date with Aphrodite. However, this time everything ended for them in failure and shame: they were entangled in a thin golden net, in which they floundered like fish caught in a net, and all the gods invited by Hephaestus laughed at them. When they finally managed to get out, they fled and did not dare to appear on Olympus for a long time, fearing ridicule. But then Hephaestus forgave his wife, and everything went on as before.

Ares. Roman
copy from Greek
original

Ares is captured. Despite the fact that Ares has this appearance, he is rather cowardly and does not tolerate pain. When, in the battles near Troy, the hero Diomedes, with the help of Athena, wounded him with a spear, the cry of Ares was as strong as the cry of ten thousand people. And once he was even taken prisoner. It happened like this. There once lived the brothers of Aload, Ot and Ephialtes, the sons of Poseidon. They were so strong that they threatened, having piled on top of each other Pelion and Ossa, the mountains adjacent to Olympus, to overthrow the gods from heaven to earth. So they captured Ares. The mighty god of war was planted in a huge copper barrel and closed in it. Only after the death of the strongmen, the gods were able to release Ares from captivity.

Ares children. His children, born of mortal women, were as violent and cruel as Ares: the king of Thrace, Diomedes, fed his mares with the meat of travelers who had wandered into his possessions, the king of Elis, Oinomai, killed the grooms of his daughter Hippodamia, the king of one of the Greek tribes, Phlegius, set fire to the temple of Apollo in Delphi. Fortunately for people, most of them were finished off by the heroes who cleansed the earth of monsters and villains.

Ares in the eyes of the Greeks.

It is quite natural that no one liked Ares - neither the gods (with the exception of Aphrodite, Phobos and his other satellites), nor people. Even Zeus himself said that Ares was most hated by him of all the immortals. Therefore, there were few temples of Ares, and few images of him have come down to us. Yes, and how it was to relate with love to God, whose very nicknames spoke of his character - "Bloody", "Destroyer of people", "Destroyer of cities", "Furious", "Furious", "Raging"! The symbols of Ares were also formidable - a spear, a helmet, a lit torch; his horses bore the names "Shine", "Flame", "Noise", "Horror", and everywhere the chariot of Ares was accompanied by packs of dogs on the ground, and packs of kites in the sky.

Ares (Άρης), in Greek mythology, the god of war, insidious, treacherous, war for the sake of war, in contrast to Pallas Athena, the goddess of fair and just war. Initially, A. was simply identified with war and deadly weapons (traces of this ... ... Encyclopedia of mythology

Ares I X Ares I X flight test of NASA's new Ares I launch vehicle. The rocket launch took place on October 28, 2009 at 15:30 ... Wikipedia

It will be a structural test flight for the Ares I booster development program. The test flight load will be similar to that planned for Ares I. Launch is scheduled for September 2013. A five-segment will participate in the test flight ... ... Wikipedia

Ares- >.n. Ares Borghese). Roman copy after a Greek original attributed to Alcamenes. OK. 430 BC Marble. Louvre. /> Ares (.n. Ares Borghese). Roman copy after a Greek original attributed to Alcamenes. OK. 430 BC Marble. Louvre. Ares (.n.… … Encyclopedic Dictionary "World History"

Ares- (the so-called Ares Borghese). Roman copy after a Greek original attributed to Alcamenes. OK. 430 BC Marble. Louvre. ARES (Arey), in Greek mythology, the god of insidious, treacherous war, the son of Zeus and Hera. Ares corresponds to the Roman Mars. … Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Greek Ares). Same as Mars. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. ARES Greek. Ares. Same as Mars. Explanation of 25,000 foreign words that have come into use in the Russian language, with the meaning of their roots. ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

Ares

Ares- (Feodosia, Crimea) Hotel category: Address: Chernyshevsky street 13, 98107 Feodosia, Crimea ... Hotel catalog

- (Arey), in Greek mythology, the god of an insidious, perfidious war, the son of Zeus and Hera. Ares corresponds to the Roman Mars... Modern Encyclopedia

- (AREUS) see Mars. Literary encyclopedia. In 11 tons; M .: publishing house of the Communist Academy, Soviet Encyclopedia, Fiction. Edited by V. M. Friche, A. V. Lunacharsky. 1929 1939 ... Literary Encyclopedia

Ares, Mars, god of war (for the sake of war) Dictionary of Russian synonyms. ares n., number of synonyms: 5 god (375) gods of war ... Synonym dictionary

Books

• Ares
• Ares, Daniil Aksenov. Cunning people are often unlucky. That is why they become cunning people. The hero of this book was unlucky globally - he ended up in a place where only origin and combat skills play a role. ...

From the school curriculum, many remember the heroes of ancient Greek mythology, one of which is the god of war Ares. He lived on Olympus along with all the gods and with the supreme deity - Zeus. His life is full of various events, in most cases related to military operations and weapons, but at the same time his image is useful for comparison with peaceful images that carry justice, honesty and kindness.

Who is Ares?

One of the gods of ancient Greek mythology, personifying weapons, war, cunning and insidious deeds - such is Ares, the son of Zeus. According to myths, he could often be found surrounded by the goddess Enyo, who had the ability to infuriate opponents and bring confusion during the battle, and the goddess Eris, personifying discord.

The Greek god Ares lived on Mount Olympus. According to some sources, he was not born in Greece, but is of Thracian origin. The state of Thrace was located on the territory of modern Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey. Information about the origin of this god varies. According to some myths, he is the son of Hera, who gave birth to him after touching a magical flower, according to others, he is the son of Zeus (the supreme god of Olympus). The second option is found in the literature much more often. The main attributes of Ares, with which the deity can be seen in illustrations and images:

• a spear;
• lit torch;
• dogs;
• kite.

What patronized Ares?

According to the myths of ancient Greece, Ares is the god of cunning war, accompanied by dishonest, unjust actions, the use of deadly weapons and bloodshed. Ares patronized insidious military maneuvers and was distinguished by treachery. Often he is depicted with a spear, which also indicates participation in hostilities.

Ares - powers and abilities

Ares is the god of ancient Greece and the patron saint of military operations. He was distinguished by violent strength, ferocity, severity, and caused fear among the Greek population. There is evidence that he had a cunning and cruel character, for which he was not held in high esteem by the inhabitants of Olympus. According to some reports, regardless of his strength, ferocity and stern look, he was afraid of someone who is stronger than him and from whom Ares could receive a harsh rebuff.

Myths about Ares

Of considerable importance in the legends about the ancient Greek gods are the myths about Ares. His image of an evil, warlike, cunning god is an example of unacceptable behavior that can cause trouble, strife or death. The bloodthirsty Ares was not held in high esteem not only by all the Greeks and the inhabitants of Olympus, but also, according to some legends, by his father Zeus. In addition to hostilities, Ares participated in the peaceful life of the Olympic hill, which is also reflected in mythology.

Ares and Aphrodite

Despite the passion for military operations, the ancient Greek god Ares did not forget about earthly pleasures and was a secret admirer of the beautiful Aphrodite, who was married to Hephaestus. Having learned about the secret connection of his wife with Ares, Hephaestus arranged a trap for the lovers. He made the thinnest net of bronze, fastened it over his wife's bed, and, under a fictitious pretext, left the house. Seizing the moment, Aphrodite invited her friend Ares to her place. Waking up in the morning, naked lovers found themselves entangled in a web from the net of Hephaestus.

The dishonored husband called the gods to look at the traitor wife and declared that he would not unravel the network until Zeus returned the wedding gifts of Hephaestus. Exhibiting Aphrodite's infidelity seemed foolish, and he refused to give back the gifts. Poseidon came to the rescue, promising to help Ares collect part of the wedding gifts from Zeus. Otherwise, he himself could have been in the place of the god of war, but in the end, Hephaestus, having freed the captives, was left without gifts, because he was madly in love with his wife and did not want to lose her.

Ares and Athena

Athena, in contrast to Ares, was the goddess of fair war. She stood for justice, wisdom, organization and strategy of military operations. The war between Ares and Athena was irreconcilable. Strenuously proving their case, both heroes tried with all their might to defend their right to be on Olympus and loyalty to their principles.

The inhabitants of Olympus and ordinary mortal citizens patronized Athena more, her wise thoughts and the absence of malicious intent in military events were her advantage. In this dispute, the victory was on the side of Pallas Athena. During the Trojan War, Ares was on the side of the Trojans, against Athena, a supporter of the Greeks, when he was wounded at her direction by Diomedes.

Artemis and Ares

Artemis is the young goddess of family happiness, fertility, chastity, she helps women in childbirth. It is often called the symbol of the hunt. Ares is the god of cruel, bloody war, the personification of weapons. What can connect them? According to some reports, Artemis is bloodthirsty, she used arrows as a tool for punishment, and she was often depicted with them.

In anger, the goddess could be dangerous, sent misfortunes, calm on the earth, punished people. According to legend, more than 20 people became its victims. Ares was also often depicted with a weapon, with a spear. Perhaps these signs can be used to determine the similarity of these gods, but compared to the insatiable cruelty of Ares, Artemis could only show it in anger.

Who killed Ares?

Often in battles, Ares was accompanied by death. Participating in bloody military battles, he was often on the verge of life and death. Ares was wounded in the Trojan War by Diomedes, who was aided by the all-powerful goddess Pallas Athena. Twice he was wounded by Hercules - during the battles for Pylos and at the time of the murder of Ares' son - Kykna. The father wanted to avenge his son, but there was no equal weapon of Hercules. It is possible that Ares met his death on the battlefield, but it could also happen in civilian life. Nothing is known for certain about this.

Although the god of war Ares is not a positive character in ancient Greek myths, his image is an integral part of the legends. He, as opposed to kind, honest, devoted heroes who stand for peace and justice, is not an honorary inhabitant of Olympus. He is sometimes feared, shunned, which makes the reader understand what principles should not be supported.

ARES, GOD OF WAR: warrior, dancer, lover

Ares as the embodiment of aggression has always been one of the most significant forces in the history of mankind. Olympian "man of action", god of war and dispute, tireless and tempestuous lover, he thrives in conflict and revels in the joy of battle. In Ares, we see our own aggression, raw and bloody, as it was before it was tamed and suppressed by civilization.

Arianna Stasinopoulos, "Gods of Greece"

In literature and art, Ares is known to us in two roles: a warrior and a lover (this is how Homer described him). His Latin name Mars is, in fact, a synonym for the word "war" "this name is also used for a person who enjoys the ardor of a bloody battle.

Philip Myerson,
"Classical Mythology in Literature, Art and Music"

Ares as a god, archetype and man embodies the image of male strength, assertiveness and readiness for action. His heart and instincts drive him to act and react physically, without thinking about the consequences. His father, Zeus, did not like this son and never took his side in disputes - similarly, the qualities of Ares do not meet with a positive assessment in a patriarchal society.

Ares as a god

Ares (the Romans called him Mars) was the god of war. Of the twelve Olympian gods, he enjoyed the least respect among the Greeks - they were disgusted by his recklessness and tendency to lose his head from rage in battle. Ares embodied an irrepressible passion for fighting and bloodshed. The Romans, on the contrary, highly revered Mars - in their pantheon, he was the second most important god after Jupiter (Zeus). For them, he was the protector of the people and the father of the founders of Rome, the twins Remus and Romulus.

He is depicted as a strong, energetic man, sometimes with a beard, sometimes without, usually with a helmet and with a shield, sword and spear, sometimes with a metal breastplate, and occasionally in full armor.

Genealogy and mythology

Ares is the only son of Hera and Zeus. However, according to one Roman version of the myth of his origin (Ovid), Ares, like Hera's other son, the Olympian Hephaestus, was conceived parthenogenetically from touching a magical flower that endowed even completely sterile creatures with fertility. We do not know the details of his birth.

As a child, Ares was nearly killed by the twin giants of Aloada* (obviously, they were still children then, too). The Aloads put him in chains and put him in a bronze vessel. Ares was imprisoned for thirteen months and would certainly have died (despite the fact that he is a god, and therefore immortal - a rather strange contradiction) if the stepmother of the giants had not told Hermes about his fate. When Hermes freed Ares, he was already barely alive from the torment he had endured.

* Aloads - two brothers, Ot and Ephialtes, sons or grandsons of Poseidon. They threatened the gods to pile up Mount Ossa on Olympus, and Mount Pelion on Ossa, and so reach the sky; They wanted to take Artemis and Hera as wives by force. They were killed by the arrows of Apollo. (See: Encyclopedia "Myths of the peoples of the world.) - Approx. ed.

Hera gave Ares as an apprentice to Priapus, the deformed phallic deity. Priapus first taught the pupil the art of dance and only then - military affairs.

On the battlefield

The prevailing attitude towards Ares in society is described in the Iliad. Homer depicts Ares, who took the side of the Trojans in the war between the Greeks and the Trojans, as a despicable bloodthirsty braggart and whiner, who was constantly defeated, insulted and humiliated by his half-sister Athena. One day, Ares saw that his son was killed in battle and, defying the prohibition of Zeus, rushed into the thick of the battle. For this, Athena called her brother "stupid" and "crazy", in every possible way reviling him for recklessness and incontinence (lack of virtues inherent in Athena herself and highly valued by the Greeks). They wrote that this god "does not know justice", and was also reproached for spinelessness, since he "is constantly rushing from side to side." Ares reacted to the events of the outside world very emotionally. Following the attraction of feelings, he without hesitation entered the battle on the side of men with whom he felt a personal connection - including blood. A sense of loyalty and a desire for revenge guided him, eclipsing all other considerations. For other Olympians, the Trojan War was something of a sporting spectacle - someone rooted for the Greeks, someone for the Trojans. The Olympians themselves also sometimes intervened in the course of events - but only in strict accordance with the rules established by Zeus. Ares obviously did not perceive this war as a "game".

During one battle, where people and gods participated, Athena directed the hand of Diomedes (one of the heroes who enjoyed her special patronage), and he wounded Ares with a spear. Ares howled wildly in pain and complained about his sister to Zeus. Zeus took the side of Athena, and Ares rejected and even more humiliated with these words: “Do not dare to come to me with complaints and whining. After all, for you there is nothing sweeter than squabbles and fights - for this you are hated by me, like none of the Olympic gods ".

However, Homer admitted that Ares greatly encouraged the Trojans when he came to their aid, accompanied by his sons, Fear and Horror.

Beloved of Aphrodite

Ares and the goddess of love Aphrodite are a very wonderful love couple. Aphrodite had several children from Ares: the sons Deimos (fear) and Phobos (horror), who accompanied their father on the battlefield; daughter Harmony, whose name indicates the harmonious relationship between the two great passions - War and Love; and possibly the god of love, Eros. Myths give two options for the origin of Eros: either he is the son of Ares and Aphrodite, or the primordial generative force that has existed since the beginning of time.

Ares and Aphrodite shared the strongest bonds of devotion of all the Olympians. There is such a moment in the Iliad: when Athena knocked Ares down with a stone, Aphrodite tried to take him out of the battlefield, for which Athena hit her with her fist.

Despite their bonding feelings, both had many other lovers. When Aphrodite was seduced by Adonis, Ares turned into a furious boar and killed the beautiful young man.

When Aphrodite's husband, the god of the forge Hephaestus, was told about his wife's relationship with Ares, he came up with a way to catch lovers in the hot. Hephaestus created an invisible and inextricable net and fixed it over the bed. Then he pretended to go to his forge - this was a signal for the god of war to enter the house of Hephaestus and lie down with Aphrodite on a bed. Hephaestus caught the lovers in a net and summoned the gods to witness the treachery of Aphrodite and Ares. However, instead of being indignant and standing up for Hephaestus, all the gods only rolled with laughter at the sight of such a funny sight.

Father of many children

Ares was the father of at least three children of Aphrodite (and the Roman Mars also conceived Romulus and Remus). In addition to these famous children, he was involved in the birth of another two dozen descendants from many women, some of whom bore him more than one child. No less than three of his sons were among the Argonauts, and one of his daughters, Penthesileia, was queen of the Amazons.

Ares is very attached to his children and is always ready to stand up for them. When one of the sons of Poseidon raped the daughter of Ares Alkipa, the god of war killed the rapist on the spot. Poseidon addressed the assembly of the gods, accusing Ares of the murder. The trial took place at the very spot where the murder took place, and Ares was acquitted. Subsequently, the place in Athens near the acropolis, where the court took place, was called the Areopagus ("hill of Ares"). The death of his son caused Ares a similar reaction during the Trojan War: upon learning that his son Ascalaf died in battle, Ares furiously rushed into battle to take revenge - despite the fact that Zeus forbade the gods to interfere.

When the other son of Ares, who was waiting for travelers carrying gifts to Delphi, the robber Kikn, challenged Hercules, Ares intervened, taking the side of his son. However, Athena came to the aid of Hercules, and thanks to the assistance of the goddess, he wounded Ares and killed Kyknos.

Another child of Ares was a sacred serpent guarding a spring in Thebes. Cadmus, who killed this snake, was forced to serve Ares for eight years, after which he married Harmonia, the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, and founded the city of Thebes.

Conflicting reviews

In Greece, a negative attitude towards Ares prevailed, it was also reflected in the poems of Homer. Ares was the most significant of the gods who took the side of the Trojans, who were defeated in the war and thus lost the opportunity to write history. As mythologist Walter Otto notes, speaking of Ares, "Against the background of the dark spirit of murder and bloodshed, the bright figure of Athena appears - and the poet uses this contrast quite intentionally."

However, in Hymn to Ares, Homer exalts the qualities of the god of war in such words as "Ares, mighty heart", "Ares, father of victory", "Ares, advocate of justice", "Ares, leader of all men", "Ares - bearer of the rod of manhood" . He is called "the helper of mankind, bestowing primordial youthful courage." This attitude towards Ares, also not alien to the Greek tradition, is consistent with the positive view of the god of war among the Romans (they called him Mars).

When compared with the rational Athena, we see Ares in a negative light - this crazed killer causes our rejection. If we want to present Ares in a positive light, then first of all we remember the beauty of his heart and courage (the English word courage - "courage" comes from the French word coeur - "heart"); it is a god who reacts to everything emotionally. But in the family of Zeus, children who are well in control of their emotions enjoy the greatest favor.

Ares as an archetype

The Ares archetype, like this god himself, manifests itself through passionate violent reactions. Under the influence of the Ares archetype, an outburst of emotions directly entails physical action. This is a reactive archetype, completely immersed in the moment "here and now". The Ares archetype undoubtedly predisposes a person to constantly live in bodily sensations, which can have a very positive effect on sexuality. However, when rage boils up in him, Ares acts under the influence of instincts and often finds himself in situations that are unfavorable for himself and dangerous for others. Ares doesn't take into account who he's dealing with and what the consequences are, and that can get him into trouble.

Warrior as hero or bully

Ares embodies aggression, the impulsive impulse to fight, that instinct that draws some men into the thick of conflict and urges them to mindlessly wield a knife or fists. If this man serves in the military, he can become a hero, hung with awards, in whose track record there are the words "neglecting danger and risking his own life, he ...".

Filmmakers are very fond of describing the moment when Ares awakens in a man and he turns into a furious destructive unstoppable force. The hero of one series is a mild-mannered scientist who, when enraged, turns into a muscular green-skinned Hulk with superhuman strength - unstoppable and reckless. In the movie "Rocky" with the participation of Sylvester Stallone, there is a moment when an exhausted and bloodied boxer continues the fight, holding on only due to instincts, and wins. This character is much less expressive of Ares than the Hulk, but he, too, is in the grip of reckless aggressiveness. The Rambo films also depict Ares as a hero who, like the god himself, is driven by loyalty, righteous anger, and a thirst for retribution.

The mythological Ares symbolizes the uncontrollable irrational fury of battle. He is intoxicated by the atmosphere of the battle. In real life, alcohol intoxication often really awakens Ares in a man, resulting in brawls in bars. Ares doesn't get into a fight for competition or strategic reasons, it's just an emotional reaction to a provocation.

The Ares archetype reflects the passion for battle. In the depiction of Homer, Ares is a god who loves war for its own sake, enjoying the rattling of weapons and the roar of fighting armies, murder and destruction. This aspect of Ares explains the rapture of battle experienced by both the bully in the bar and the award-winning war hero.

For the immortal Olympians, battles like those fought on the fields of the Trojan War were just games. During this war - where the deities were mostly just spectators, supporting either the Greek side or the Trojan side - the gods themselves rarely rushed into battle. Modern Ares likes to be on the playing field amidst the hustle and bustle, he needs to fight and show aggression, and not sit in the stands, betting on the players. A football or hockey player driven by the Ares archetype often gets penalized for foul play, breaking the rules, or arguing with the referee when things get heated. In contact sports, Ares finds recognition - although this player is often fined, no one blames him for his violent temperament. In gentlemanly sports such as tennis, the form and art of the game are valued, and anger is considered bad manners. Fans expect a tennis champion to act like Apollo, as John McRoy found out, who was booed by the audience for reacting like Ares.

Lover

Ares and Aphrodite were lovers - and one day they were caught by Aphrodite's husband, Hephaestus, who suspected that Ares comes to his wife when he leaves for work. It was a long and lasting relationship of equals. Aphrodite had four children with Ares. Other mistresses also bore him more than one child. In contrast, most of the Olympian connections were a one-time act - most often a god seduced a mortal woman. Even in relationships within the community of gods, seduction and rape were commonplace - a woman was taken by force, deceived or kidnapped. In these cases, it can hardly be said that the gods "made love to women."

The passionate nature of Ares, his propensity for physical action and the depth with which he plunges into the emotions of the moment - all this defines Ares as a lover. Making love to the goddess with the richest sexual experience, Ares does not care about how he looks compared to others. His passionate sexuality is very personal and devoid of the Dionysian transpersonal component. Mellors, the hero of D. H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover, has many of the traits of Ares the lover. Like Ares, those around him considered Mellors an inferior being for his down-to-earth nature and occupation.

Dancer

According to Greek myth, the mentor of Ares, Priapus, first taught the boy to dance and only then engaged in military affairs with him. Although little is said about this side of Ares' life, the art of dance is very close to this archetypal image. Such a person is more disposed to activity in the physical than in the mental sphere, his body and emotions act synchronously. He may well become a dancer, and it is quite logical that passion and emotionality play a more important role in his work than technique. For example, the dance of Mikhail Baryshnikov evoked in the audience not a cold-blooded admiration for the beauty and precision of movements - although he had it all. The charismatic dancer from the Bolshoi Theater, who fled the USSR to the West and gained a reputation as a womanizer, had a huge physical and emotional impact on the audience.

The world heavyweight boxing champion, the young Cassius Clay (who later took the name Muhammad Ali), was also characterized not only by aggression and pressure, but also by the grace of Ares the dancer.

In primitive tribal cultures, warriors are also dancers at the same time: before the battle, men perform a ritual dance. Drumbeats and music awaken Ares in the warrior.

The unloved son of the heavenly father

The Ares archetype - like this god himself - is scorned by men who are inclined to demonstrate their power without entering into physical contact, cold-blooded strategists and clever deceivers (after all, they often do not disdain deception when they want to take power from someone or achieve closeness of a woman). If Ares could descend to the role of a simple soldier on the battlefield, Zeus preferred to throw lightning from afar, and Hermes, instead of entering into direct combat with his rival brother Apollo, simply stole his cows. The Greeks idealized rationalism and clarity of thought, and since antiquity, these qualities have been the main patriarchal values. Zeus hated Ares. From a psychological point of view, Ares is the shadow of Zeus - that part of nature, which he neglects, because it is not sufficiently developed in him and (or) contradicts the idealized image of himself.

Similarly, Ares is dismissed and underestimated in our culture. Now the attributes of Ares are attributed to blacks - they are shown the same disdain and contempt that Zeus experienced in relation to the god of war. Sexuality, a tendency to violence, even Ares' choreographic abilities (qualities that actually coincide with racist stereotypes) are all attributes of a "bad" son.

These values ​​and judgments are cultivated from generation to generation in white families. Male patients often report being overlooked and unappreciated as children because a successful father favored a brother or sister with a better tongue and a more alert mind. One patient every time felt like a complete idiot and could not get a word out of himself when the father, trying to draw his son into a conversation, asked him smart questions in front of guests. At the same time, the boy achieved considerable success in sports, but his father never came to his son at the stadium and did not even ask about training. Despite the lack of support from his father, this boy, at least in general, played sports and had the opportunity to embody the Ares archetype. And many men take their disdain for Ares for granted and suppress this archetype in their character in order to adapt to the demands of society and achieve success in life. They do not know the joy that you are doing well a thing that is archetypally close to you.

Ares - protector

A prudent person prefers not to come into conflict with those close to Ares, for this means incurring inevitable punishment. The god of war is always ready to stand up for his friends, daughters and sons. In fact, Ares is the only god who behaved this way. Later, the god Mars just as zealously defended the citizens of Rome.

The former US Attorney General, Robert Kennedy, had the temperament of Ares, which instilled fear in the mafiosi and corrupt union leaders, because the fight against them was not a legal game for him, but a merciless and furious battle. He was distinguished by loyalty and devotion, was extremely impulsive, he had many children - with all these features, Robert resembled Ares like no other of the Kennedy brothers.

Ares jumps into a fight without hesitation when someone close to him is attacked—especially if the person is having a hard time. Ares (as opposed to the vengeful Poseidon) does not hold a grudge against the offender and will not take revenge on him many years later. Even after the most humiliating defeat, Ares will calmly lick his wounds and go his own way.

Develop your Ares

Today, in a patriarchal world ruled by Zeus, the Ares archetype remains underestimated—more suppressed than cultivated. Men striving for success are especially zealous in eradicating Ares in themselves.

But if the Ares archetype in the psyche of a man is suppressed, the sensuality characteristic of this god remains inaccessible. This aspect of the personality simply does not receive development (here it is appropriate to recall the Ares boy imprisoned in a bronze vessel).

He can be saved only if the man feels in himself the movements of this boy, who was once spontaneous and physically active. Little Ares, sealed in a bronze vessel, symbolizes many unmanifest facets of personality. It is his desire for physical contact with his father, who never wrestled with him in a joke and did not hug him tightly. It is a never-executed urge to casually place a hand on a friend's shoulder. This is the guy inside of him who is selflessly spinning to the music (or always wants to spin). This is a boy who once played ball in the city yard. It is passion, sweat and earth. Sometimes there are moments when a man has a burning desire to release Ares: will he release this boy at that moment, or will he continue to keep him locked in a jar?

After Ares sits in a bottle for a long time, physical reactions to people and events (the bodily expression of emotional processes) can be completely pushed out of consciousness. Outwardly, it seems that a man (or woman) lives mainly a mental life, but still the body reacts to external events with tension and relaxation. For example, a person may not feel acute attacks of anger or fear, but the muscles tense up, the palms are clenched into fists. He usually does not notice these physical reactions himself until someone points them out to him. Even less aware and physically manifest are Ares, who makes itself felt only by a change in blood pressure or diseases like stomach ulcers.

Since Ares is not loved in society, just as Zeus did not love this god, his features often do not develop or are suppressed - especially if this is not the main archetype in the psyche of this person. In order for Ares, locked in a jar, to be saved and released, a person must be aware of the current situation. In this he is able to help those around him. Perhaps someone close to the Ares man can read body language or intuitively feels those feelings that Ares himself brutally suppresses and is not aware of. If Ares listens to this loved one and trusts him, then he will soon be able to understand what is happening to him. He will begin to read his own body language little by little. But this is only the beginning. Next, he needs living physical sensations - physical contact with other people or an activity in which his body can awaken the repressed Ares in itself and allow him to develop.

Ares as a man

The Ares man is assertive, active, very emotional. It is embodied in a person who reacts to external stimuli without hesitation. Some innate traits now and then drag him into various troubles, and how this person’s life will turn out largely depends on the attitude of those around him.

early years

The Ares boy is active, emotional and expressive from birth. Most likely, he will immediately show character with a loud protesting howl. Soon this loud cry is firmly established in the life of parents, because if something goes wrong (he is hungry, or he wet the diaper, or hurt himself somewhere), and this baby immediately makes it known about his needs: "Do something immediately!" When he cries, the whole body participates in the protest - his face is red, his arms and legs are tense. He demonstrates with every line: "I feel bad!" or "I'm angry!" But as soon as the baby receives a pacifier or breast, or he manages to burp an air ball, the baby changes completely. The typical Ares eats with great appetite. When he is doing well, this kid is very charming and friendly. He loves physical sensations and from a very early age laughs heartily, enjoying the game, jumping and somersaulting with pleasure. If he is hurt or frightened of something, his protest is expressed just as violently.

As the months go by, little Ares gets older. If something catches his attention, the hand lags behind the admiring glance for just a moment. Now it is important to make sure that the house is as safe as possible for the child, because this is the kind of baby who can roll down the stairs, put his fingers in the socket, break the vase or tease the cat so that he bites and scratches him. He fearlessly goes to any subject that interests him. This little one needs more band-aids and greens than the average child as he only learns from experience and that leads to countless bruises, abrasions and scratches.

The baby's nascent self-esteem is also covered with countless bruises and abrasions, for the impulsive nature is an inexhaustible source of trouble, and also brings criticism and punishment to him. Here a lot depends on parents and teachers: on their patience, consistency and ability to understand what he really is, an impulsive emotional spontaneous restless boy, prone to exaggerated reactions.

Parents

Since little Ares is very energetic, demanding, imprudent and does not think before doing anything, this child is not easy to manage. Therefore, he especially needs firm, loving and patient parents. Little Ares needs more attention than other children, but often it turns out quite the opposite. It is quite natural for this child, carried away by a momentary impulse, to forget what the elders told him, and with his forgetfulness he often provokes the wrath of parents - especially authoritarian and pedantic ones. They regard such behavior as disobedience or disobedience. He is careless in everything, including not knowing how to keep his mouth shut and can say too much in a fit of anger, provoking a cruel father to be beaten.

Conversely, mothers with a weak character often find themselves completely unable to control this demanding and formidable baby who terrorizes them almost from the cradle: four-year-old Ares can be a real tyrant for some mothers. Ideally, his mother is a strong, loving, physically active woman who is able to keep such a child within certain limits, however, leaving him enough freedom so that the baby can be himself. She often hugs her son and knows how to direct his energy into physical activities, which helps him develop self-confidence, as well as learn patience and discipline.

Sometimes a mythological situation is reproduced in life, and the angry Hera and the rejecting Zeus turn out to be the parents of Ares. In the modern version, the father may be a successful man invested with power, who is closed even to those sons whose character he approves. Such a person categorically rejects Ares - for emotionality, impulsiveness and a tendency to live with the body, and not with the mind. If the father is angry and unrestrained, then the impulsive son will constantly provoke him to beatings and insults, as a result of which it will be even more difficult for little Ares to learn restraint. As a result, a boy who is a victim of abuse becomes an abusive man himself.

Mother Hera is very attached to her husband. Emotionally and archetypally, she is more of a "wife" than a "mother." Son-Ares often does not receive enough maternal warmth - she is disgusted by his sensuality and vulnerability, he does not fit into her ideas about the "little man". It happens that such a woman is constantly angry with her son Ares, beats and insults him. Perhaps in a relationship with her husband, she feels humiliated and powerless, but still very attached to him - and takes out evil on her son Ares. A more introverted child could avoid problems and get along somehow with those parents who can make the life of an Ares boy a nightmare. So, how this boy will grow up depends largely on the parents.

Youth and youth

Adolescence is a critical period for Ares: due to the activity of male hormones during puberty, qualities such as impulsiveness, aggressiveness, physical activity, emotionality and sexuality are enhanced. At this age, Ares is very susceptible to peer influences. Will he be able to discipline himself, channel his aggression into sports, and gain acceptance and admiration from those around him? Will he play football, rugby, hockey? Or will he join a gang and use his inclinations in criminal wars? Will he drop out of school? Will he oppose himself to any authorities and society as a whole, inviting problems on his head? Or will his drive and propensity to surrender to the power of the present moment be realized in car racing and rock climbing? Will music, dance, love become the most important discoveries and sources of pleasure for him? Or will sexuality simply become a channel for releasing accumulated aggression?

High school and college promise Ares either an early fall or a road to success. If this young person fails to plan ahead and tends to overestimate the moment's opportunities and emotional impulses, he may interrupt his studies early. Although it is possible that the opportunities that allure him will be justified, it is more likely that Ares will undermine his prospects for the future by stopping his studies, music or sports.

Job

Ares' temperament disposes him to intense physical labor, he loves to work with his hands, using tools, and enjoys the movement. Paperwork and long-term projects make him bored and impatient. Ares doesn't fit well into the corporate hierarchy. He is attracted to work that involves a certain amount of risk, and if he does not scatter on different hobbies, then over time he achieves considerable skill in the chosen business. He likes to work in a team, and he shows brotherly affection towards other men.

If, following the call of the warrior Ares, he enters the army or navy, his record will most likely be full of disciplinary sanctions. He will either remain until the end of his service in the rank of non-commissioned officer, or will receive a promotion during the fighting. If other archetypes are also active in his psyche, he may grow to be an officer, but gain a reputation as a warrior, always striving for the real thing. Soldiers of fortune, mercenaries of all armies, warriors of the French foreign legion - very often these people embody the Ares warrior archetype.

Having entered the field of professional sports, Ares is able to give his all to the team, but it is often difficult for him to restrain aggression in acute situations. If he learns to restrain his reactions to a controversial whistle from the referee or provocations from an opponent (impulsivity may well turn into penalties for Ares), this will serve him well in other areas of life. A hockey player or a football player who does not know how to curb his violent temper harms both himself and the team by provoking the referee to award a penalty - for rough play, for breaking the rules, for arguing with the referee.

Having become a man of art - an actor, musician, dancer - Ares often attracts attention with his emotionality and eccentric behavior on and off stage.

Active and risky people with the character of Ares often become builders and oilmen. They make good money and spend money easily.

Ares's success is very dependent on luck, as he is not inclined to make long-term plans. Sometimes success comes as a result of a chain of interrelated events. In addition, such a man can succeed due to the development of certain innate qualities - but they do not develop through diligence and perseverance, but simply because he can do what he likes for a long time.

When success comes to Ares, it often comes as a big surprise both to those around him and to himself. On the way to success, he certainly has many clashes with his superiors, and he is fired every now and then for his temper and absenteeism. If he is appreciated at work, it is only thanks to the ability to learn from his mistakes, abilities and intuition.

Relationships with women

According to the myths, Ares' lover was Aphrodite, and it is with women of this type that the Ares man has the best compatibility. They have similar temperaments with the goddess of love and beauty, they are united by eccentricity and sensuality. Both live here and now. In their lives, "fireworks" happen every now and then - a bright flame of eroticism and sparkling outbursts of anger. Quarrels break out between them now and then, followed by reconciliation. However, despite such expressiveness, their relationship is often quite harmonious - these people show much more mutual acceptance and tolerance for each other than any of them can get from anyone else. Extremely unfavorable for both partners will be an alliance between an emotionally traumatized, angry and cruel Ares and a woman with low self-esteem who survived childhood bullying.

An Athena woman with a sharpened mind of a strategist will treat the Ares man in the same way as the goddess Athena, who constantly strove to teach the god of war a lesson for emotionality and impulsiveness. Women who value in a man, first of all, the status and ability to earn money, as well as expecting him to provide them with confidence in the future, do not consider Ares as a potential spouse. Some are repelled by his demeanor, perceived as unceremonious. Therefore, an Ares man often feels that women condemn him and consider him inferior. This attitude awakens in him resentment, manifested in anger - and further alienation.

The Ares man is often associated with friendly relations with many women, with whom he can be very affectionate and courteous regardless of their age, but women, as a rule, do not fall into the number of his best friends. Usually he is not associated with women either by common hobbies or work.

Ares is attracted to women with whom he can act sincerely and spontaneously, showing his sympathy physically. Sex, dance, a joint meal, a game - he is completely immersed in all these activities and prefers that a woman also give herself completely to them.

Relationships with men

The Ares man loves to spend time in the company of other men - to do a common thing, play various games, organize practical jokes, watch sports programs or play sports. Such a man is not attracted to deep conversations or philosophical reasoning, his topics of conversation are limited to women, sports, his own affairs and the affairs of friends. He is attached to friends and is always ready to come to their defense.

Oftentimes, Ares's strongest ties are with the uniformed men he's had to go into battle with and fight fiercely to win—whether in combat, sports, or crime sprees. In such circumstances, his aggressiveness turns out to be a valuable quality, and he gets the opportunity to show himself in full force. In this environment, he can cry, and he will not be called a weakling, or hug a comrade tightly without arousing homophobic feelings in anyone.

This person is very painful when his comrades avoid him or make a scapegoat out of him - which often happens to the boy or man Ares. Not only is he hurt, he feels like he's been deprived of the male friendship that Ares desperately needs.

Sexuality

Whether a male Ares will love women or beat them depends on the circumstances of childhood. If the childhood was prosperous enough for Ares to develop a lover, he will grow into a man who loves sex, loves the female body and can make love for hours. This is a man who prefers mature, sexually uninhibited women who love sex as much as he does. Ares does not look like a mystical Dionysus lover seeking ecstatic experiences, nor does he strive for victories on the love front. This man cheerfully makes love for the sake of simple physical pleasure. In the film "Tom Jones", based on the novel by the English writer Henry Fielding, Albert Finney, who starred in the title role, very vividly played Ares the lover with his earthiness, immorality, cheerfulness and lust for life.

The Ares man is uncomfortable living in a patriarchal hypocritical society. Ares may view his passion as a vice, believing that this part of his nature is subject to condemnation and suppression - especially if he is married to a sexually inhibited puritan and he is constantly haunted by thoughts of "going left." If Ares implements these ideas, then he usually fails to hide his adventures - for this he is not a good strategist. Therefore, he is caught in the hot and subjected to public condemnation, as was the case with the god Ares.

Homosexual Ares, on the contrary, feels quite at ease (at least, it was before the AIDS epidemic) due to his impulsiveness, full involvement in the current moment, immorality and an abundance of partners ready for contacts in bars and public baths. In addition, non-monogamous relationships (such as between Ares and Aphrodite) are considered quite acceptable in a homosexual environment, when two people are in a deep, strong relationship, but at the same time each has other lovers. It is not uncommon for homosexual Ares to dress in leather - a modern version of military armor - and also build up muscles, which even achieves an outward resemblance to Ares.

Marriage

The Ares man does not seek marriage, but he does not avoid it either. He is completely absorbed in the current moment and does not make far-reaching plans. This person does not ask questions: “Will this woman be a good wife?”, “What kind of mother will she make?”, “How will our union affect my career?”, “Will I marry her?”.

If others - the woman, her parents, his parents - want this wedding, then it will take place. An Ares man often marries right out of high school, especially if he comes from a working environment where this is customary. Since he has a passionate sensual nature, marriage is often the result of pregnancy. If he loves his wife, if they are happy in sex, if he has a secure job, if he can sometimes play football or basketball with friends, and if his wife is satisfied with their life together, then he does not complain about fate. Family and a stable job serve as a support for him in life, he is pleased with himself and is pleased with those around him.

However, as soon as any difficulties arise, they immediately develop into problems. On the one hand, an impulsive nature can lead to serious conflicts at work or push him to adultery, which will cause tension in the family or even divorce. On the other hand, perhaps under the influence of other archetypes, ambition and intelligence will awaken in him over time and he will meet men and women from a completely different circle. Then Ares, who married early, may find that the woman who once attracted him physically now seems too primitive to him. If the mutual attraction between them weakens; or if, during the courtship, the reaction of the current wife to his passion was feigned; and also if a woman is more demanding or jealous than he thought - all this can create additional stressful tension, which, combined with his impulsiveness, can lead to family scandals.

Children

The Ares man often conceives children unintentionally, because of his sensuality and because he lives in the moment and does not think about the consequences. A woman should take care of contraception on her own, otherwise conception becomes exclusively a matter of chance.

If he is present at all in the lives of children, he usually behaves very authoritatively and menacingly. If Ares' life is going well and the family becomes the center of life, he spends a lot of time with the children. Ares teaches his sons to play baseball and football, takes them to competitions, wrestles with them - he likes to play with the kids. He willingly dances with his daughter and carries her with him on his shoulders when he goes to see friends. The children of such a man from an early age feel paternal care. Conflicts can arise when the children grow up - if the child turns out to be an introvert or an intellectual, he will not be able to share the interests of Ares and will be irritated by his father's attempts to interfere in his life. In addition, conflicts and mutual resentment often arise when children from a working-class family try to climb up the social ladder.

If Ares is an outcast, embittered man who is always in trouble at work and in the family, he treats children rudely. Children are very afraid of the father, who is overwhelmed with anger, who becomes furious at the slightest provocation. Such a man can physically abuse children - especially if he drinks.

In addition, it happens that the Ares father does not pay attention to his children at all, especially if he conceived them while still emotionally immature. And in general, often the Ares man sows his seed quite generously. At the same time, it is likely that he does not have either the mental strength or the financial means to take care of all the children conceived both in marriage and outside it. Therefore, such a father is often completely absent in the lives of children. However, if he is able to take care of his children, he usually does so. He is naturally generous and willing to give if he has something to give.

Average age

The status of an Ares man in middle years directly depends on what class he belongs to from birth. For example, it is often very difficult for Ares, who was born into an upper-middle class family of ambitious parents who value emotional restraint, composure and intelligence, as well as the ability to manipulate people, seek power and make money. Such a man awaits the fate of the mythological Ares, rejected and despised by Zeus. The Ares man, whose father is archetypally like Zeus and belongs to a social stratum that is the modern equivalent of the Olympian family, often shares the fate of the god Ares, being constantly humiliated and defeated on the corporate battlefields.

In order for Ares, who comes from a family of businessmen or high-class professionals, to be satisfied with himself in his middle years, it is important that he understands at a young age that he is different from his family or his social class. He needs someone's emotional support in order to live his own interests, develop innate talents, and also favor his temperament (he is more moderate or hot-blooded than cold-blooded). To remain himself, emotional support is absolutely necessary for him. It can be given to Ares by a therapist or someone who plays an important role in his life - but it is best if his parents do this, loving him and accepting him for who he is. But even under favorable conditions, it is not easy for Ares to establish himself from this social stratum by the middle of his life. He has to fight a lot for a place in the sun. His path in such an environment is exclusively individual and therefore difficult.

It is easier to find stability and peace in the middle of life for Ares, who was born in a working-class family, in a friendly neighborhood. This environment provides more opportunities for the acceptable manifestation of his temperament and for the exercise of a propensity for physical activity - this applies to both work and entertainment. Male friendships, sports, and even fights that happen from time to time - all this serves as excellent outlets for his aggression. In addition, Ares needs others to treat his lustful nature condescendingly and even with approval. The milieu of today's ambitious professionals cannot provide any of this. In the working environment, activities that require physical strength and skill from a man are respected, so here it is easier for him to achieve acceptance from others, which means developing a fairly high self-esteem.

To a greater extent than with representatives of other archetypes, the fate of Ares is finally determined by the middle of life. It is very dependent on such external factors as the social class to which he belongs, for our culture as a whole does not favor Ares.

Old age

So, in middle age, the main features of the life of a male Ares are already defined. How stable life and high self-esteem of Ares in his mature years depends on how his old age will pass.

Many Ares men do not live to a ripe old age at all. These people often die early: in fights, as a result of accidents, in war. Because of their temperament and occupation, their lives are especially endangered. And if the country is at war, then the likelihood of Ares dying early is even greater. Among the victims of the Vietnam War, the proportion of male Ares was disproportionately large, also due to the fact that they were less likely to receive exemption from military service or permission for alternative service. Often, Ares' lives are also interrupted as a result of stress-related illnesses - a person is killed by anger combined with helplessness. During periods of economic recession, when production is closed, these people lose confidence in the future, which leads to increased violence and instability in their families.

However, many Ares men in their advanced years are quite satisfied with their lives, perhaps even more so than at any other period. Blessed is the working-class family man when the long-awaited retirement age arrives! He has a family, a favorite sports team on TV, fun activities with old buddies, grandchildren to mess around with, maybe a lakeside cottage with great fishing, and an innate ability to enjoy the moment.

No less satisfaction, although it was obtained with great effort, awaits the Ares man who had to swim against the current in his life. He usually does not have to rely on the support of established social structures, his path is purely individual. Where such a person lives, with whom he lives, what he does - all this is the result of a personal choice based on deep and sincere motives. He has learned to adapt to society, remaining true to himself, and is one of the most independent and mature men. Old age for him is a time of harvesting a rich harvest.

Psychological problems

Of all the Olympian gods, Ares got the most. This god was beaten and humiliated every now and then. Likewise, Ares men are often bullied and rejected during childhood and adolescence. The result of some personal traits and the negative attitude of others is a number of disturbing problems for the Ares man.

Identification with the god of war

The man who is "only Ares" is completely identified with this archetype and never develops the ability to look at himself from the outside and reflect on his actions. He reacts to everything impulsively, and therefore his choice of actions in each situation is limited. An extreme example is the street bully who just can't help but get into a fight when provoked. From time to time, Hollywood stars get into the pages of newspapers precisely because of their impulsive behavior. The photographer takes it at the wrong time or someone makes a hurtful remark, and - despite the inevitable newspaper scandal, arrest and fine - the provocation took place, the "button is pressed", the god of war is out of control, the actor clenched his fists and rushes into battle, breaking lamps and smashing chairs.

offended offender

If an Ares man turns his fists against women and children, he is most likely a resentful offender - that is, he himself was beaten and humiliated as a child. Emotions push him to respond to any situation with physical actions. Inside such a man lives a hurt, frightened or humiliated child - and now he beats someone else who, in his opinion, deserves to be beaten. Thus, the sins of the fathers are endlessly passed on from generation to generation. Go to an abusive men therapy group (these groups follow the same model as Alcoholics Anonymous) and you'll find that all of these people were bullied as children.

In order to survive in childhood, he had to struggle to suppress feelings of horror and helplessness in himself. As a result, now he cannot put himself in the place of the victim. It would seem that this man should understand better than anyone what it feels like when you are beaten by a man who has lost power over himself, strong enough to cripple, because he experienced it all firsthand. However, he cannot show compassion, because then he would have to expose the victim in himself.

Thus, the family becomes a battlefield for the Ares man, and when he is dissatisfied with himself, he unleashes his rage on loved ones. The angry archetype of god acts on behalf of the inner child - the humiliated and offended boy in the soul of a man who has now gained enough strength to take revenge on the world.

Scapegoat

In childhood and adolescence, Ares often succumbs to various provocations from a group of peers and violently shows resentment and anger where it would be better to remain calm and unperturbed. In life, parallels are often observed with the myth of the Aloads, when the boys unite against the boy-Ares and do not give him a pass (so two juvenile twin giants imprisoned Ares in a bronze vessel). Emotional suffering can be added to physical suffering - because peers reject him and do not accept him in their game. And since Ares tends to act recklessly and openly show his emotions, peer rejection is not uncommon for this child. And if the houses of little Ares are also beaten and offended, he endures ostracism from his peers especially painfully.

In the family, this child may suffer not only from the attitude of the parents, but also due to the fact that he constantly loses in confrontation with his brother or sister (as Ares always lost to Athena). Not only is he himself inclined to get into trouble, his brother or sister often provokes him into mischief, and one of the parents "catch on the hot" and punishes - it is Ares who punishes, because he already has a prejudice against this "unbearable" child .

At school, Ares is often forced to play the role of scapegoat. He is constantly kicked out of class or sent to the director for bad behavior. If the role of a bully has already managed to gain a foothold for him, then the teacher is biased towards him. Knowing this, other children do not intercede when they blame him undeservedly, and Ares has to take the rap for other people's misdeeds.

If Ares is made a scapegoat as a child, this image often sticks with him in adulthood: he is provoked into unacceptable acts and then ostracized. Moreover, it is likely that later the same attitude will extend to his entire family.

Work and the blues of unemployment

Hot-tempered people have problems at work. Such a person loses his temper and is fired. In addition, it is very difficult for Ares to "do everything right", to follow the rules and regulations of his superiors - he prefers to always act on his own. Problems also arise because of the habit of always "cutting the truth" - including in cases where it is not diplomatic and imprudent. Or, following the dictates of the heart, he makes exceptions where there is an immutable rule. For all of these reasons, even if Ares doesn't let his anger out, he doesn't manage to stay long in bureaucratic positions or in business.

Promotion is also difficult for him. Ares is not a strategist and does not know how to look far into the future, which is not conducive to career growth. Because of the inability to think about tomorrow, Ares often fails to study well and leaves school early.

Ares and alcohol

A lover in the moment, a dancer, a warrior, a bully - all these qualities of Ares are repressed and condemned by other archetypes and our culture, which requires a man to live with his head, not his body. Often only alcohol frees Ares - both positive and negative qualities. Alcohol removes the restrictions that prevent spontaneous expression of feelings - it strengthens the comradeship between members of a sports team or soldiers who fight together and drink together. But alcohol can also release rage and violence in a man - Ares is much easier to provoke when he is drunk.

Unfulfilled expectations

God Ares is a lover, but not a husband. His father, Zeus (a type of chief executive), detested Ares' behavior. This archetype lacks the qualities and motives that make a person responsible for marriage and a successful career. As a result, the Ares man fails to live up to anyone's expectations and feels guilty about it. If this happens too often, he lives with a constant feeling of defeat and considers himself a failure. This problem is especially acute when he is first loved for who he is, and then suddenly they expect him to become completely different. For example, a woman may be attracted to Ares by sensuality and vitality, or strength and sexuality. Or she saw in him the offended rejected boy, and her heart responded with compassion. However, having established a more or less strong relationship, she may try to turn Ares into a good family man and an ambitious career-oriented professional, and having failed in this endeavor, she becomes angry with him.

Problems for others

If the partner of an Ares man is jealous, their relationship promises to be very turbulent. It is difficult for an Ares man to remain faithful - she is not something natural for him, but can mature through love and devotion. He needs to learn to say "no" to momentary impulses and his own immoral, purely instinctive sexuality, otherwise it will not be him who will make the decisions, but his member. Long-term consequences are much less important for Ares than the momentary situation, even if he has already stepped on this rake more than once before. Partner offended - "How could you!" - and blames him for all mortal sins. It is common for Ares to learn from experience, and usually only learns a lesson after many repetitions.

If a woman is inclined to be tormented by unreasonable jealousy, then Ares involuntarily warms her up by the fact that she does not know how to intelligibly account for the time of her absence. Maybe he lingered at the bar, carried away by a conversation or a game, or maybe he just sat too long on a bench in the park, losing track of time. If a woman is tormented by jealousy, then she cannot count on Ares to be able to save her from unnecessary worries. However, after several scandals, realizing how much jealousy hurts his beloved, he can learn to say "no" to temptations or call her when for some reason he is delayed. For a man of another type, such irresponsible behavior may be an indirect manifestation of hostility or resentment: he remembers a jealous lover, but wants to torment her. Ares is most likely just in the grip of the current moment and forgets to warn his beloved.

Illegitimate children

The god Ares had many children from different women, and the Ares man often reproduces this pattern of behavior. Following a momentary impulse, sensual and erotic Ares does not think about contraceptives. In addition, he loves children and has nothing against having them - even if he does not want to get married at all. A woman who has sexual intercourse with Ares must take care of the prevention of pregnancy herself and be ready for the role of a single mother. It should not be expected that the birth of a child will force this man into marriage. On the other hand, it is often the child that becomes for him the only reason for marriage.

Cruelty

In the most unfavorable case, the woman and children become victims of bullying by the Ares man, who is inclined to take his anger out on them. Such women should know that bullying will not stop unless she decisively ends it. If she tolerates cruelty towards herself and towards children, this will lead to the fact that such a situation will not only continue in the present, but most likely the children themselves will behave in exactly the same way in the future. If a man threatens or carries out violent acts, the woman should immediately leave him or call the police - this way she will protect herself and the children, and also help the man stop. If, after the first outburst of violence, the woman does not leave him and (or) report to the police, the beatings will probably become regular, and pretty soon this woman will need outside help.

Development ways

Psychological growth begins when Ares learns to consciously choose how to react to provocation and whether to react at all - if he goes beyond purely reflex reactions. To do this, he needs to learn self-control, as well as develop other archetypes.
Learn self control

Prone to emotional reactions, Ares is angry and responds to provocations with aggression, which is why it is more difficult for him to learn to control himself than for carriers of other archetypes. Self-control can best be taught by consistent, patient, loving parents who have to repeat the lessons over and over again until Ares learns them.

For example, a few years ago, twenty-eight-year-old Hollywood actor Sean Peny, who had previously been prosecuted many times for fighting, was once again brought to trial and was sentenced to two months in prison. Realizing that this man needed to learn to control himself, his lawyer, Howard Weissman, presented the situation as follows: "He needs to realize that people will often provoke him into antisocial actions. He needs to understand - and he understands this - that such incidents (the actor thought that some man was trying to kiss his wife, the rock star Madonna, and Penny beat him up) are simply inevitable.

The same lesson should have been learned by the former tennis champion with the temperament of Ares, John McEnroe. Discussing his violent outbursts of anger on and off the court, journalists unanimously insisted that McEnroe was behaving unsportsmanlike and simply childish.

To learn this important lesson, a man (or woman) must first recognize the need to change and then exercise control over his impulsive reactions. Ares will eventually be able to soften his violent emotionality if his ego learns to choose a different reaction to a stimulus. In this he may need the help of other archetypes.

Hermes the savior, Apollo the ally

Fortunately, in the human psyche, all archetypes are present in potential form, and even if one of them dominates (in particular, Ares), a person can develop others in himself. According to the myths, when the boy Ares was captured and imprisoned in a bronze vessel, Hermes came to his aid. Similarly, the Hermes archetype can come to the rescue of a person who tends to react like Ares to everything: instinctively explode in response to any provocation, after which he is scapegoated, labeled and condemned - as was the case with McEnroe.

Hermes represents the ability to communicate and act thoughtfully, while being resourceful and witty. Hermes is able to help Ares out of a dangerous situation. Whether it's an adult Ares, who is provoked into unseemly behavior by photographers who want to take a scandalous picture; or a child being pushed around in the school yard to get into a fight - in any case, getting into a conflict, he will get himself into trouble. Ares has already been labeled a brawler, so he will always be blamed and he will once again play the role of a scapegoat. But everything can change if Hermes teaches him how to use speech - suggest a few words that soften or prevent conflict.

Sometimes his family helps him learn to exercise restraint, think before acting, and use words rather than force. If in childhood his relatives did not help him in this, then later Ares can be taught all this by a coach, a psychotherapist or another person to whom he is not indifferent and who sees that this man should not be blamed or beware, but taught him to control himself and adequately show his feelings.

Scientific work or sports contribute to the awakening of the Apollo archetype - another potential ally of Ares. Apollo is the archetype of discipline, emotional detachment, self-control and the ability to set long-term goals. He, like Hermes, has the ability to look at the situation from the outside and consider the possible consequences. In addition, Apollo personifies the gift of effectively using the will and intellect.

Robert Kennedy, whose Ares nature made him a passionate fighter, might well have become President of the United States if he had not been assassinated. Robert was the favorite son of a family of politicians, where at dinner there was always a lively exchange of ideas and almost every day there was some kind of sporting event. In addition, in college and at the law faculty of the university, he was specially prepared for a political career. Thus, from early childhood, Robert Kennedy's Aresian emotionality was softened by Hermes and Apollo traits, as a result of which he was able to communicate effectively and win the positive attitude of others.

Pause to think and decide: the influence of Athena

The Greek hero of the Trojan War, Achilles, was Athena's favorite, although he was more like Ares in temperament. Once, when the commander of the Greek troops, Agamemnon, ordered that his beloved be taken away from him, Achilles had already put his hand on the hilt of the sword and would certainly have committed a rebellion and bloodshed if not for the intervention of Athena. Invisible to the rest, she descended from heaven, grabbed him by the golden curls and said: I have come to calm your anger - but will you obey me?... Do not take a sword in your hand, refrain from fighting, you can defeat him word. ...One day you will be given a gift that is three times more magnificent.

Athena here symbolizes a moment of reflection, an inner voice, a pause that prevents an emotional reaction and gives a person the opportunity to act, guided by a conscious choice. Ares often feels his own thinking as the presence inside the "other person" - an adviser, whom he learns to call on at the right time. For many men, this advisor is not a second masculine aspect of their being, but a feminine voice inspired by a prudent loving mother.

Active imagination: appeal to archetypes

You can use active imagination. Realizing that his problem is his tendency to react without thinking, a man or boy may develop the habit of mentally calling on Athena. Having imagined this goddess, he enters into an imaginary dialogue with her. She advises him to keep his cool in an emotionally tense situation and think about the consequences before doing anything. (If Achilles hadn't listened to Athena, the Greeks would have been defeated in the Trojan War, and the Iliad would have had only one chapter, not twenty-two.) In the same way, you can awaken Apollo or Hermes in your imagination.

Remember childhood trauma

If a man was mistreated as a child and, as is often the case, has "forgotten" or repressed the experience because it carries too many painful emotions, a therapist or participation in an appropriate support group can help. Memories will gradually be restored, deeply buried anger, resentment and a sense of helplessness will come out. If this does not happen, painful feelings will remain unconscious, but will have a strong influence on the person's behavior. Cruelty is a parental sin that is passed down from generation to generation until someone neutralizes this pattern of behavior - for which you need not only to restore repressed information in your memory, but also to open your ability to trust and compassion. The Ares man needs to solve this problem if he notices that he treats others as cruelly as he was once treated.

Evolution from Ares to Mars

Traveling to a different time and culture, the battle-hungry Greek god of war, Ares, evolved to become the protector of the Roman people of Mars. Similarly, the Ares archetype in a man can change and evolve. Perhaps in his youth, the Ares man played football or hockey rudely and by the rules and was too lustful. He thought he would never settle down, but in most cases, sooner or later it happens. And if his parents did not reject him and did not treat him cruelly, then, having started his own family, he can become a caring father who loves to mess with the kids and is deeply interested in their lives. By nature, he is a protector: anyone who decides to offend his children will have to deal with the Ares father, who is ready to use his fists if necessary. His children feel emotionally secure. Having reached a mature age, he can become a good leader of the community: the Ares man is ready to actively fight for the safety and rights of others.

Continuing the theme of ancient Greek mythology, the hero of our today's story is the Greek god of war Ares. Among all the inhabitants of Olympus, Ares was far from being the most beloved God among the ancient Greeks, and this is not surprising with an eye to his sphere of responsibility - a cruel, bloody and treacherous war. His name alone terrified the peaceful inhabitants.

The god Ares was alien to both Olympian parents and the rest of the gods due to his unmotivated cruelty, love of mortal combat for the sake of killing itself, and unquenchable thirst for blood. The warriors patronized by this god were akin to the berserkers spoken of in later Scandinavian mythologies.

Appearance:

The Greek god Ares was portrayed as a stern middle-aged man, crowned with a battle helmet, with a predatory and cruel expression on his face and powerful muscles - the embodiment of brutality and warlike fury.

Symbols and attributes of Ares:

The god of war is inconceivable without a spear, a burning torch and his military helmet. His retinue is made up of the kite Areya - a harbinger of a crazy battle and dogs ready to tear and torment all living things.

The god of war was depicted as a stern middle-aged man, crowned with a battle helmet, with a predatory and cruel expression and powerful muscles.

Strengths:

Indomitable determination, determination and fearlessness. The qualities of a true warrior, but not a strategist. The Greeks more respected pragmatism and prudence, and therefore, between the god Ares and Athena, they nevertheless chose a goddess who gravitates towards justice and agreement in resolving conflicts. Literally, the bestial trait of the God of War was vindictiveness on the basis of love of children. Ares always stood up for his children, despite the superior forces of the enemy, and did not calm down until he saw the dead body of the enemy.

Weaknesses:

Impulsiveness, wildness and bloodthirstiness, inability to compromise and choose less costly solutions. It was these qualities that aroused the indignation of Zeus, who more than once threatened to overthrow his son into the depths of Tartarus as unworthy to be in the pantheon of the gods. Ares has been defeated in battle by gods and mortals alike - he rarely considers the consequences and often gets involved in a fight only out of the need to fight.

Parents of the Greek god Ares:

There are two versions of how the Greek god of war Ares was born. On the one hand, he is recognized as the legitimate son of Zeus by his wife Hera. But there was also an option according to which Hera, offended by the frequent betrayals of her windy Zeus and even more stung by the birth of children from her husband either from the hip or from the head, without the need for her motherhood, decided to take revenge with dignity and conceived the future god of war from touching the magic grass . This grass, having secured the oath of the gods from Hera, was given to her by the inconspicuous goddess Chlorida, later among the Romans - Flora.

Strengths - indomitable determination, determination and fearlessness. Qualities of a true warrior

Place of Birth:

According to some mythological data, the Greek god Ares was born on Olympus. But during his life he preferred to be in the mountains of Thrace. Therefore, rumors arose that this particular area was his homeland. The conception of a god without the participation of his heavenly father only gave rise to idle talk.

Women and goddesses of the god Ares

The strongest love affair, after which many mythological references remained, was Ares' romance with the goddess of love and passion -. The rest of the romantic episodes were more of a fleeting nature, but the offspring from them was both glorious and plentiful. Ares did not get a wife and remained a convinced bachelor, like any man who devoted himself to the war. Indefatigable in battle and indefatigable in love, the Greek god of war honored many with sensual attention, but their names are associated mainly with those they managed to give birth to.

Children:

Fertility with Ares can only be compared with his official father Zeus and uncle Poseidon. From Aphrodite his children were born - the little god of love, who replaced the original power of the Universe - Eros, Anteros - his antipode brother, symbolizing destructive passion, Deimos and Phobos - horror and fear, Harmony and Himeros - symbols of compatibility and consent. From mortal women, Ares gave birth to children, and from nymphs, erinnias and other supernatural beings - dragons, werewolves, Amazons and possessed, the list of which would take more than one page.

The strongest love affair is an affair with the goddess of love and passion - Aphrodite

Main myths

Ares is often mentioned in the Trojan cycle of myths, where his role seems unseemly - he fights on the side of the Trojans against gods related by blood. The piquant details of intimate life are given out by the legend of their captivity with Aphrodite at the scene of the crime (adultery) by Aphrodite's lawful husband Hephaestus.