Ask anyone about the Greek god of war, and they'll probably describe a hulking, angry brute covered in gore. It's a fair guess. Honestly, the ancient Greeks weren't exactly his biggest fans either. While Athena was the "cool" goddess of strategy and cleverness, Ares was the personification of the raw, messy, and terrifying parts of a fight.
What are Ares symbols exactly? They aren't just random props for a statue. They are specific visual codes that tell us what this god represents: the adrenaline, the fear, and the sheer physical toll of combat. If you've ever wondered why he’s linked to a vulture or why a specific type of helmet defines his look, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down the icons that define the most hated god on Olympus.
The Bronze Spear and the Crested Helmet
If you see a guy in ancient art holding a spear and wearing a massive, feathered helmet, there’s a 90% chance it’s Ares. Or maybe a very lost Spartan.
The spear is his primary weapon. Unlike Zeus with his lightning or Poseidon with his trident, Ares uses the tools of a common soldier. It’s grounded. It’s brutal. The spear represents the "reach" of war—the idea that violence can touch you from a distance before it gets personal with a sword. In the Iliad, Ares is frequently described as "Ares of the brazen spear," a title that highlights his reliance on physical strength over divine magic.
Then there’s the helmet. In Greek iconography, the helmet is almost always "crested," meaning it has that iconic horsehair plume on top. To the Greeks, this wasn't just fashion; it was about intimidation. It made a warrior look taller and more formidable. When Ares puts on his helmet, he’s not just protecting his head—he’s becoming the personification of "battlelust."
The Shield and the "Vibe" of Defense
Interestingly, Ares usually carries a shield, but he isn't known for being a defensive player. His shield is often depicted as being stained with blood or "shining with a burning light." For him, a shield is just a tool to stay in the fight longer, not a way to avoid it. It’s the opposite of Athena’s Aegis, which often features the terrifying head of Medusa to turn enemies to stone. Ares doesn’t need magic tricks; he just needs a piece of bronze to hide behind while he finds an opening to stab someone.
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Why the Vulture and the Dog?
Animals in mythology are never just pets. They are symbols of the god’s "nature."
The vulture is the most famous bird associated with Ares. It makes perfect sense if you think about it for more than two seconds. Vultures don't hunt; they wait for the aftermath. They circle battlefields, waiting for the killing to stop so they can eat. By linking Ares to the vulture, the Greeks were making a pretty dark point: war isn't just about the glory of the fight; it’s about the rotting bodies left behind. It’s a grisly reminder of the "scavenger" nature of conflict.
Then we have the dog. This one confuses people because we usually think of dogs as "man's best friend." But in the ancient world, dogs were often seen as aggressive scavengers—especially the ones that hung around the edges of a city or a war camp.
- Spartan Connection: In Sparta, which was one of the few places that actually liked Ares, they would sometimes sacrifice dogs to him.
- Ferocity: The dog represents the "unleashed" nature of a soldier.
- Loyalty vs. Violence: While a dog can be loyal, an untrained or "war" dog is a terrifying force of snapping teeth and unpredictable rage.
The Fire-Breathing Chariot and the Sons of Terror
Ares doesn't walk to work. He rides a golden-reined chariot pulled by four fire-breathing horses. These aren't your average ponies. Their names usually translate to things like "Fire," "Flame," "Tumult," and "Fear."
This is where the "what are Ares symbols" question gets into the psychological territory. Ares is rarely alone. He is almost always accompanied by his twin sons, Phobos (Panic) and Deimos (Terror). Sometimes his sister Eris (Strife) tags along too.
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When you see a chariot in a myth involving Ares, it’s a symbol of the "momentum" of war. Once a battle starts, it’s like a runaway chariot—hard to steer and even harder to stop. The fire-breathing horses symbolize the "consuming" nature of war. It burns through resources, lives, and cities until there’s nothing left.
The Serpent: A Guard and a Grudge
A less common but very important symbol is the serpent (or dragon).
In the story of the founding of Thebes, the hero Cadmus has to kill a massive dragon that was guarding a spring. Turns out, that dragon was a son of Ares. Ares was furious. Eventually, to make peace, Cadmus had to serve Ares for eight years and then marry Ares’ daughter, Harmonia.
The serpent represents the "poisonous" and "sneaky" side of Ares. It also hints at his role as a protector of specific sacred spaces. While he’s usually a god of offense, the snake shows that he can be a very dangerous guardian when he feels like his territory (or his kids) are being threatened.
Ares vs. Mars: Don't Get Them Confused
It’s easy to lump the Greek Ares and the Roman Mars together. They share the same symbols—the spear, the helmet, the wolf (which the Romans swapped for the dog). But their "vibe" is totally different.
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To the Greeks, Ares was a bit of a loser. He’s the god who gets trapped in a bronze jar by two giants and has to be rescued by Hermes. He’s the god who gets stabbed by a mortal (Diomedes) during the Trojan War and runs back to Olympus crying to his dad, Zeus.
The Romans, however, loved Mars. To them, he was a father of the state (literally the father of Romulus and Remus) and a symbol of peace through military power. While Ares is the symbol of the riot, Mars is the symbol of the army.
How to Use These Symbols Today
If you're an artist, a writer, or just someone who likes the aesthetic of Greek myths, understanding these symbols helps you tell a better story. You don't just put Ares in a suit of armor; you give him the vulture-feathered cloak or the blood-stained shield to show his darker side.
Actionable Insights for Mythology Fans:
- Check the bird: If you’re looking at an ancient vase and see a bird near a warrior, look at its beak. A hook-necked vulture is a dead giveaway for Ares, whereas a small "Little Owl" belongs to his rival, Athena.
- Look for the companions: Ares is defined by who he's with. If the art includes figures representing "Panic" or "Discord," you’re looking at the raw, Greek version of the war god.
- The Color Red: While not an "object," the color red is the unofficial mascot of Ares. It represents both the "Red Planet" (Mars) and the blood of the battlefield. If you're designing something inspired by him, deep crimsons and burnished bronze are your best friends.
Ares symbols serve as a reminder that the ancients didn't romanticize everything. They knew war was ugly, loud, and filled with vultures. By giving Ares these specific icons, they were acknowledging the parts of human nature that we often try to hide—the parts that are messy, impulsive, and occasionally, very dangerous.
To explore the practical side of these myths further, you might look into how Spartan soldiers used these specific motifs on their own shields to channel the "bravery" aspect of Ares while trying to avoid the "slaughter" aspect.