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Restrain also the keen fury of my heart which provokes me to tread the ways of blood-curdling strife. “Ares, exceeding in strength, chariot-rider, golden-helmed, doughty in heart, shield-bearer, Saviour of cities, harnessed in bronze, strong of arm, unwearying, mighty with the spear, O defence of Olympus, father of warlike Victory, ally of Themis, stern governor of the rebellious, leader of righteous men, sceptred King of manliness, who whirl your fiery sphere among the planets in their sevenfold courses through the aether wherein your blazing steeds ever bear you above the third firmament of heaven hear me, helper of men, giver of dauntless youth! Shed down a kindly ray from above upon my life, and strength of war, that I may be able to drive away bitter cowardice from my head and crush down the deceitful impulses of my soul. And in that hymn he’s even portrayed almost as one who prevents war and strife when it is unnecessary. I think the Homeric hymn gives a pretty good summary of Ares. He actually represented all sides of war, both the bad (the death and carnage) as well as the god (courage and honor).
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Important to point out that while everyone’s mentioning that Ares represents the worst parts of war, this is really just his portrayal in the Iliad where he is shown pretty negatively, as a bloodthirsty and cowardly god.