Temple of Ares: Honoring the God of War and Courage
The Temple of Ares in Athens stands as a testament to the Greek’s reverence for Ares, the Olympian god of war, courage, and conflict. Known for his fierce and passionate nature, Ares was one of the Twelve Olympian gods who ruled from Mount Olympus alongside deities like Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, and Athena. Although his worship was not as widespread or elaborate as other Olympian gods, Ares held a unique place in Greek culture, symbolizing the chaotic and brutal aspects of warfare as well as the courage needed for battle.
In this article, we explore the history, architecture, and cultural significance of the Temple of Ares in Athens, reflecting on how this ancient structure honored the god of war and embodied the Greeks’ complex relationship with battle and valor.
Ares and the Twelve Olympians of Mount Olympus
As one of the Twelve Olympians, Ares was part of the most powerful group of deities who resided on Mount Olympus and governed the cosmos. Unlike Athena, who represented strategic warfare and wisdom, Ares embodied the more chaotic, bloodthirsty aspects of battle. This contrast made Ares a complex figure, both feared and revered for his courage, physical strength, and passion.
Ares was often depicted as a fierce warrior, wielding a spear and shield, ready to charge into battle. Although not as universally loved as other gods, Ares was nonetheless respected, especially by soldiers and warriors who sought his favor for courage and strength in combat. He was often accompanied by Eris (goddess of strife) and his sons Phobos (fear) and Deimos (terror), embodying the emotions and turmoil that arise in the heat of battle.
Historical Background of the Temple of Ares
The Temple of Ares was originally constructed in the 5th century BCE and is believed to have stood initially in the ancient city of Pallene in Attica. In the Roman period, the temple was dismantled and transported to the Agora of Athens, where it was reassembled as a monument to Ares and as a testament to Roman respect for Greek culture and religion. This relocation reflected the Romans’ admiration for Greek architecture and their desire to connect themselves with Greece’s rich cultural heritage.
Although Ares was not as widely worshipped in Athens as Athena, the Temple of Ares was a significant addition to the Athenian Agora, where temples and monuments to gods and heroes served as the heart of public life. The temple’s new location reinforced Ares’ importance within the military aspects of Athenian society and gave Athenians a dedicated space to honor the god of war.
Architectural Significance
The Temple of Ares was built in the Doric architectural style, one of the oldest and most straightforward forms of Greek temple design, known for its simplicity, strength, and balanced proportions. The temple was rectangular, approximately 32 meters (105 feet) in length and 16 meters (52 feet) in width. It featured six columns on each of the shorter sides and 13 columns along the longer sides. Each column was around 6 meters (20 feet) tall, creating an impressive, fortified appearance suited to the god of war.
The temple’s structure and design were similar to the Temple of Hephaestus, also in the Athenian Agora, and it is likely that the temple was adorned with war-related reliefs and motifs. These decorations would have depicted scenes from Greek mythology, including battles and stories associated with Ares and his heroic confrontations. Such imagery highlighted Ares’ association with valor and the raw power of warfare, serving as a reminder of both the costs and the glory of conflict.
While the temple was not as lavishly decorated as some other temples, it was a strong and imposing structure that symbolized the ferocity and indomitable spirit of Ares. The temple’s positioning in the Agora also made it accessible to the public, allowing citizens and soldiers to offer sacrifices and prayers to the god of war.
The Role of Ares in Greek Religion and Warfare
In Greek religion, Ares represented an essential but controversial aspect of human nature—violence, courage, and the instinct for survival. Unlike Athena, who was widely celebrated for her strategic wisdom, Ares was seen as the embodiment of the raw, often uncontrollable, force of war. He was not universally revered, as the Greeks viewed war with both reverence and fear, but he was respected by soldiers and warriors who sought his blessing for courage and success in battle.
Athenians and other Greeks would make offerings to Ares before battles, praying for bravery and physical prowess. Rituals dedicated to Ares included sacrifices, hymns, and martial ceremonies. His temple served as a gathering place for soldiers seeking strength and courage before going off to war. While Ares’ worship was not as central as other gods, his temple provided a space for those who valued courage in the face of danger to honor the god.
The temple’s relocation to the Athenian Agora underscored its civic importance, connecting the ideas of war and public life, as Ares was integral to the defense and military aspirations of the city. Ares’ presence in the Agora also symbolized the acknowledgment of the chaotic, destructive, and vital aspects of warfare, which were as much a part of Greek life as the arts, philosophy, and democracy.
Decline and Legacy of the Temple of Ares
With the spread of Christianity in the 4th century CE, traditional pagan worship in Greece declined, and temples dedicated to the Olympian gods fell into disuse. The Temple of Ares, like many ancient structures, was gradually abandoned and eventually fell into ruin. Stones from the temple were likely repurposed for other structures, and by the medieval period, the temple had all but disappeared from public life.
Despite its physical decline, the legacy of the Temple of Ares endures through the historical significance of Ares and his complex role within Greek mythology. As the god of war, Ares represents both the bravery and the tumult of battle, reflecting the human experience of conflict with all its challenges and triumphs. In the classical world, Ares’ temple symbolized the Greeks’ recognition of war’s dual nature—its power to destroy and its role in shaping courage and resilience.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, excavations of the Athenian Agora uncovered remnants of the temple’s structure, offering modern historians and archaeologists insight into its design and placement within the civic heart of Athens. These findings have helped scholars reconstruct the temple’s historical and cultural importance, reminding us of Ares’ place in the ancient world and his connection to the courage and trials that defined Greek civilization.
Today, though much of the Temple of Ares is lost, its symbolic role as a place of reverence for Ares remains relevant. The temple serves as a reminder of the values of bravery and resilience, enduring aspects of the human experience, just as Ares continues to represent the complex nature of warfare and the strength required to face it.
The Temple of Ares was a powerful symbol of ancient Greece’s respect for courage, strength, and the will to face life’s challenges head-on. As one of the Twelve Olympians of Mount Olympus, Ares embodied the fierce, chaotic aspects of war while standing as a source of inspiration for those who valued bravery and resilience. Today, the remnants of his temple continue to echo the legacy of the god of war and the indomitable spirit that defined Greek civilization.
