I just watched the most interesting documentary on the “evolution” of Ares/Mars.
Here I was thinking (and maybe some of you), that Ares was beloved and highly revered in Ancient Greece Times.
I was wrong!
According to the Documentary I watched, Ares was actually not that revered and was quiet loathed.
In the Iliad, his father Zeus tells him that he is the god most hateful to him.
This is why I love learning, I just assumed, due mainly to the Hollywood versions, I guess. That Ares was a beloved and revered God. In reality, he was not.
In reality, and not the Hollywood films. Ares was the most despised God and Goddesses. As I watched the Documentary, I could understand why though.
Even in Modern times, most people don’t like War and try to avoid it. Unfortunately, for the Ancient Greeks, War was a every day part of life. However, like all Wars. Wars only bring death (generally of young life), famine, plagues. War generally doesn’t bring anything good.
Unlike modern times, ancient times, War, would have seemed like a necessity. A necessity, but never wanted.
Which then makes sense of why the ancient Greeks wouldn’t have liked Ares himself either. Anytime Ares was around, would have meant death of family and friends, more than likely famine or a plague.
In mythology, the Amazons were daughters of Ares. Which is why the Amazons, had such a vile reputation. Not anything like the DC representation we see now. They were thought to dwell at the edge of what the Greeks considered their ‘civilized’ world and were most often associated with the area around the southern coast of the Black Sea, the city-state, Themiskyra. Men were only welcomed for breeding purposes, and they killed male infants.
Of course though, the Amazons are only a Myth. There’s no real proof that they actually existed.
Mars Uncovered, BBC Four — Bettany Hughes
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p073vng8
BBC Four – Mars Uncovered: Ancient God of War 18 March 2019, Presenter: Bettany Hughes ; Executive Producer Rachel Bell, video
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