Apollo
by CTCWeb Editors
Ares as a Positive and Negative Force
As the god of war, Ares has a reputation in ancient Greek text for begin both a positive force and a negative one. Students should look that following primary text entries for Ares that deal with his personality. The anthropomorphic version of Ares aids soldiers as they prepare for battle and cuts them down when they are weak. Ares as a negative force “pollutes reverence” as he deteriorates the behavior of men so that it equals that of unthinking animals.
Negative Force
Aeschylus, Agamemnon 437.
Aeschylus, Seven Against Thebes 243, 343, 416.
Aeschylus, Suppliant Maidens 640.
Diodorus Siculus, Book 11.62.3, 17.100.4
Euripides, Bacchae 303.
Euripides, Electra 1260.
Hesiod, Shield of Herakles 190, 427.
Homer, Iliad 4.435, 5.777, 5.890, 13.569.
Homer, Odyssey 11.537.
Plutarch, Theseus 5.3.
Sophocles, Electra 95.
Positive Force
Aeschylus, Libation Bearers 461.
Aeschylus, Seven Against Thebes 416.
Aristophanes, Birds 833.
Homer, Iliad 17.209.
Pindar, Pythian Ode 1.11.
Sophocles, Antigone, 139.
Homer, Odyssey,14.216.
Questions
1. In Aeschylus’ Agamemnon line 437, what does it mean that Ares barters the bodies of men for gold?
2. In Aeschylus’ Seven Against Thebes, what does Aeschylus say is the food of Ares?
3. In Homer’s Iliad, 4.435, who rages with Ares as his companions in the throws of war?
4. Homer’s heroes often say that Ares and Athena put courage into their bodies. Do you think that Ares alone can put courage into a man’s body or does Athena, as a positive aspect, have to be present as well? Look at Homer, Odyssey 14.216 for an example.
