⚔️ A GUIDE TO ARES WORSHIP ⚔️
So you decided you wanna worship Ares. Great! It's kind of hard to find information on him right away, so I'm here to help you out with this masterpost. It may be big, but covers up just about everything you need to know for a start.
WHO IS ARES?
In hellenic polytheism, Ares is the god of war, bloodshed, courage, battlelust, civil order and rebellion. He is the patron of soldiers and personification of strength.
Ares has been shown in media and in most greek myths as a hotheaded, stupid, sadistic jock who only cares about harming others and causing chaos, but obviously, he is a lot more than that.
Ares is angry, I wouldn't dare saying anything different, but he isn't out of control or mad. Ares is one for minorities and for women, he is a passionate god that inspires us to be brave and keep fighting whenever we feel like we can't anymore.
Most of mythology does not offer an accurate depiction of Ares' character, but that's not the case with the myth of Alcippe.
To sum it up, Alcippe was one of Ares' daughters. She was being raped (in some versions, was about to be raped or generally being sexually assaulted) by Halirrhotius, a son of Poseidon. She cried out for her father, who showed up and killed her rapist. Poseidon wasn't happy with the murder of his son, so the first trial took place. Ares was considered innocent and the hill where his trial took place was named Areopagus after him.
Another time his mythology did not fail him was the myth of the amazons, warrior women who were daughters of Ares. They fought side by side on many occasions and from what I noticed, he's giddy at any mention of them.
I'd describe Ares as an amazing father, a seeker for justice and someone who will be there for you when you need it most – wether it be as the hand on your back, supporting you and urging you on or as the final push of strength you didn't know you had in you.
SACRED DAYS & FESTIVALS
As Ares is connected to Mars, his sacred weekday is Tuesday. Tuesdays are associated with action, physical activity, sexuality, the color red, passion, strength, vitality, raising motivation and anger. Perfect match, right?
Ares had few temples, but was always honoured with special rites in times of war or before battle. Unfortunately, I haven't found many resources for festivals honouring him other than one celebrated only by women and one celebrated only by men.
The one celebrated only by men occured in Geronthrai, in Lakonia. Ares' cult in this village happened yearly, when he was asked to bless those who would serve as soldiers and asked for their victory.
The second festival honored Ares Gynaikothoinas, Ares Feasted by Women. It originated in the Lakonian war, after the women of Tegea set up an ambush for the Lakedaemonians. They won the fight and celebrated by giving victory sacrifices to Ares on their own account, without the men.
I think it's important to say that while the festivals were separated by the gender binary, that doesn't mean that Ares only accepts male or female followers. Being non-binary myself, I know that's not the case, but it's not like centuries of cisgender and heteronormative historians didn't do harm... Anyways! What I mean is: Ares loves every single one of his followers, whether they're cis or not.
TAROT CARDS
The tarot cards associated with Ares are The Chariot and The Emperor.
The Emperor upright means masculinity, stability, fearless, passion, fatherhood, authority, discipline and regulation.
The Chariot upright means advancement, mastery, assertion, willpower and control.
SACRED ANIMALS
serpents
the boar
vultures
dragons
dogs
barn owls
woodpeckers
eagle-owls
SACRED PLANTS
Ares doesn't actually have any sacred plants. In mythology or historical practices, there's nothing about it. Here's some of my UPG:
basil
buttercup
yarrow
ginger
anything with tiny yellow flowers
spicy stuff: peppers, paprika...
ARES' EPITHETS
Thêritas | Beastly
Aphneios | Abundant
Gynaikothoinas | Feasted by Women
Laossos | He Who Rallies Men
Khalkeos | Brazen
Teikhesiplêtês | Stormer of Cities
Aatos polemoio | Insatiate of Fighting
Rhinotoros | Flesh-Piercing
Deinos | Terrible
Enyalios | Warlike
Khrysopêlêx | Of the Golden Helm
Ares has many other epithets. Most of them are about his violence and bloodshed, so I picked my favorites or the ones that focused on other aspects of him.
ARES' SYMBOLS
a peaked warrior's helm
spear
shield
a dog
chariot
flaming torch
vulture
symbol of mars (masculine)
OFFERINGS & DEVOTIONALS
anything you made. seriously. as long as you worked hard and gave it your all, he'll love it.
hot sauce
pork ribs
a whole barbecue, if you'd like. even if it's vegetarian
pretty much any meat
peppers
a lighter
blades (of any kind)
anything that's sharp and potentially deadly
a homemade meal
alcohol in general, but especially whiskey, tequila and beer
exercising. it doesn't matter what it is, as long as you're exhausted, sweaty and gross by the end of it
energy drinks
things made out of iron or steel
beef jerky
bacon
cigarettes
broken glass
storm water
read him books on strategy or war history
take a self defense class
go to a protest
meditate focusing on your heartbeat
participate in political discussions
practice radical sports
dark chocolate (75-80% cocoa)
cookies (homemade are best)
matches
basil
strong scented stuff
study war history
learn first aid
healthy, unharmful things that give you adrenaline rushes (amusement park rides, bungee jumping, etc)
educate yourself on ptsd
spicy foods
follow through with your tasks
watch action movies with him
pet a dog
learn about his children
volunteer work
WHY WORSHIP A GOD OF WAR?
For me, life is war.
I don't say it to sound cool or edgy or whatever may be going through your head right now. In my country, trans people have a life expectancy of 35 years.
I didn't choose for it to be like this. I didn't sign up for a war. This is just my life. I just wanted to live it. I don't want to be fighting a battle every single day I go outside, but I am.
Can you imagine that? Your life being an incessant game of tug of war? Fearing everyone that looks at you funny on the street because oh well, this might be curtains for me?
All I know is war. It may not be the ones that get written down on history books and people make movies about, but it's war. It's terrible, but it's all I know. I can't imagine how my life would be without it. Sometimes, I wonder if there's anything to me but it.
Ares understands. He makes it better. I'm not sure he knows anything but war either, but he doesn't act like that's bad. War is all consuming, and Ares knows that better than anyone. Having him with me, every step of the way, makes it easier.
I was raised with a perfect God. A God that only cared about the beautiful, the perfect, the holy. The rest was shameful and should be cast aside, hidden.
I spent a long time ashamed of myself for it. Ares frees me from this.
He wants to know the ugly, the bad thoughts, the things that hurt and make you ashamed. Ares doesn't mind getting dirty. He'll hold you, bloodied and all, even if your tears wet his clothes.
Ares knows how bad humans can get. He's seen us at our worst, so he won't shy away when you're at the bottom.
He understands that we're flawed. I don't think he minds.
He isn't looking for perfect little angels, free of sin and guilt. You can come to him with with your evil, tell him all that's bad about you, all your past mistakes, all that makes you disgusting and ashamed, and Ares won't even bat an eye. He's seen worse. He might say it's okay, if you're scared. He won't be.
Ares will know all of your flaws and shrug. He will help you with them, loves seeing his followers grow, but won't think less of you for them. If you let him stick around long enough to learn all of your qualities too, Ares will love your bad and good all the same.
