War and the warrior : functions of Ares in literature and cult
This dissertation presents a new interpretative synthesis of the sources relating to the cults, identities, and functions of the god Ares, focusing on the Archaic and Classic periods. An apparent dichotomy is identified: in many respects, the evidence suggests that Ares must have been a very important god throughout much of the Greek world throughout the Archaic and Classic periods (and beyond), but in other respects the evidence suggests that he was not. I argue that this dichotomy does not derive from changes in the popularity, relevance, or nature of the god, as has been proposed. Instead, I argue that the elements of Aresâ cults and representations which suggest that Ares was unpopular or unimportant derive from those which made him important and continually relevant. I argue that because Ares was identified with war, attitudes towards the god directly reflect Greek attitudes towards war. Warâs importance as an element of Greek life, and the godâs power as a causal force with it, led to deep respect for Ares, reflected by widespread cult, and a place among the great Olympians. But the wild, destructive, and unpredictable nature of war, which Ares represented, meant that he was not a regular recipient
Millington, A. T.
War and the warrior : functions of Ares in literature and cult. This dissertation presents a new interpretative synthesis of the sources relating to the cults, identities, and functions of the god Ares, focusing on the Archaic and Classic periods. An apparent dichotomy is identified: in many respects, the evidence suggests that Ares must have been a very important god throughout much of the Greek world throughout the Archaic and Classic periods (and beyond), but in other respects the evidence suggests that he was not. I argue that this dichotomy does not derive from changes in the popularity, relevance, or nature of the god, as has been proposed. Instead, I argue that the elements of Aresâ cults and representations which suggest that Ares was unpopular or unimportant derive from those which made him important and continually relevant. I argue that because Ares was identified with war, attitudes towards the god directly reflect Greek attitudes towards war. Warâs importance as an element of Greek life, and the godâs power as a causal force with it, led to deep respect for Ares, reflected by widespread cult, and a place among the great Olympians. But the wild, destructive, and unpredictable nature of war, which Ares represented, meant that he was not a regular recipient
war warrior function literature cult present_new interpretative synthesis source relate cult identity function god focus archaic classic period apparent dichotomy identify many_respect evidence_suggest must important god throughout much greek_world throughout archaic classic period beyond respect evidence_suggest not argue dichotomy derive change popularity relevance nature_god propose instead_argue element cult representation suggest unpopular derive make_important continually relevant argue identify war attitude_towards god directly reflect greek attitude_towards war war importance element greek life god power causal force_lead deep respect reflect widespread cult place among great wild destructive unpredictable nature war represent meant regular recipient