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The Iliad · Character

Ares

God of war, who fights on the Trojan side.

minor

Also known as Mars, mighty Mars, Shield-breaking Mars, murderous Mars

First appearance: the iliad

Ares shows up with force in Book V: The Exploits of Diomed. The page is where that presence becomes real.

Leads the Trojans alongside Hector, is later led away by Athena, and is wounded by Diomedes with Athena's help.
In the storyBook V: The Exploits of DiomedOpen this moment free

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In Book V: The Exploits of Diomed: Leads the Trojans alongside Hector, is later led away by Athena, and is wounded by Diomedes with…

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See Ares in the iliad

Character Web

30 connections

A slice of how Ares sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

ACAchillesHEHectorAGAgamemnonZEZeusDIDiomedesARAres

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Major Greek and Trojan Figures
  • Protagonist

+25 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

SetupEscalationAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

This is the dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of Jupiter’s wrath, as he…

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In the story

Ares appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

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See Ares in the iliad