The god of war was most often shown without any identifying features besides the tools of his trade. Athena had her owl and aegis, Poseidon carried his trident, and Apollo was shown with his lyre and bow.Ĭompared to these gods, Ares had a much less distinct iconography.
Ares god of war skin#
Heracles, for example, was commonly shown wearing the skin of the Nemean Lion as a protective cloak. They were associated with specific animals, symbols, and even modes of dress. Many of the gods of Greece had complex and detailed iconography. So why was the iconography of Ares so limited? The answer lies in the attitudes the Greek people had toward him and the war he represented. He was generally shown in a very basic way, with the armor and weapons of a common Greek soldier.Ī spear or sword is certainly an understandable symbol for a war god, but they do little to set his image apart from that of any other fighting figure. This is because Ares was the one god of the Greek pantheon that had no real symbolism associated with his worship. He was the god of war, but most people would struggle to think of a single symbol that would identify him. The mention of Ares, however, does not usually conjure up such a strong mental image. Hermes, for example, was always shown with his famous hat and winged sandals. When you think of many of the gods of Greece, certain images and symbols immediately come to mind.