Ares
by CTCWeb Editors
Ares and Aphrodite
Ares and Aphrodite had an adulterous affair that resulted in offspring described by Homer and Hesiod. The goddess of love and the god of war joined in an affair that is not only documented in the ancient Greek myths but appears on vases and sculptures as well.
Students should look at the relationship between the god and goddess for clues to how the Greeks considered adultery, the bonds of love and war, and whether they accepted the union between Aphrodite and Ares. Below are a few places to begin this investigation.
Texts
Aeschylus, Suppliant Maidens line 665 - Aeschylus refers to Ares as the partner in Aphrodite’s bed.
Homer, Odyssey, Book 8 line 268 - This is the beginning of the story of Hephaestus’ plot, execution and humiliation of Ares and Aphrodite.
Apollodorus vol. 1.8.4 - Apollodorus mentions the appearance of a statue of Aphrodite in a temple of Ares in his .
Aristotle, Politcs 1269b - Aristotle says that those who united Ares with Aphrodite in literature had good reason as a man of “martial spirit” attacks a male or female companion.
Vases
Ares and Aphrodite appear together as the wedding of Peleus and Thetis on the following vase: London 1971.11-1.1.
Sculpture
Athens, Agora S1882, this is a statue of Aphrodite found in a temple of Ares in Athens. Read the description for more information.
Questions
1. Is Hephaestus justified in his capturing of Ares and Aphrodite and their following humiliation? What does this say about Greek social attitudes to adultery?
2. Is evidence available to support the possible mythical marriage of Aphrodite and Ares? Where might you look to find this information?
3. Why would a statue of Aphrodite appear in a temple of Ares?
4. Look at the children of Ares and Aphrodite in myth. Do they have traits from both their mother and father? Do they do anything significant?
5. How might Love and War as embodied by Ares and Aphrodite be related in the Greek mind?
