#athena and ares

[sarnai4]

(Odysseus steps out of his chambers in Ithaca. Sees a bone.)

Odysseus (scratching his head): That's the sixth one this week. Athena.

Athena (appearing): Yes?

Odysseus: I thought all the suitors were dead.

Athena: They are.

Odysseus (points at the bone): Then do you know who keeps leaving these? Are they a kind of threat or something?

Athena (in realization): Oh, those! No, they're not threats. Those are from Ares.

Odysseus: What?

Athena: He's a fan of yours now. That's how he says he likes you.

Odysseus:...by leaving bones?

Athena: I can call him over here if you want.

Odysseus (quickly): No that's okay--(fails to stop her)

(Ares appears and waves)

Athena (to Ares): He's curious about the bones you keep giving him.

Ares (sadly to Odysseus): You don't like them?

Odysseus (unsurely): N-no, they're great. I just...wanted to know who to thank.

Ares (happily): Good, because I've got more for you!

(A pile of bones drops into Odysseus's arms. Ares waves again and vanishes.)

Odysseus: Do you know why this is his way of showing approval?

Athena: I try not to ask.

[chromyo]

Athena and Ares 🫶

(I love to imagine Ares being really good at braiding hair)

[firinnie]

So inspiration from @sarnai4 because I absolutely love their idea. I can see in my mind how much Ares wanted to punch Athena after the 3rd hour.

The second art is basically a breakdown of this poor boy, because after all if she talks so much of some student, what would happen if she found love??? Jar for a win.

[randomdelusionaldee]

The God of War vs The Goddess of War

+The lines(I originally drew them in Korean and I couldn’t erase the moving blur effect)

Ares: Come at m-ARGHK!!!

Athena: HA!!!

sfx: SMASH

[sketchykittwn]

Car thoughts.

I believe Ares was actually keeping an eye on Penelope. Either because of Aphrodite or because he protects women and the suitors that crawled the halls of the palace had dishonesty in their bones.

How is it only after 20 years they decided they had enough? Because something was surrounding the Queen, giving them an ominous feeling. It’s fine, give it some time maybe the feeling will go away. Except it didn’t, not until Ares had to help Odysseus fight Poseidon.

When Odysseus was close enough Penelope recalled a challenge she thought of years ago, in a dream gazed in red. A challenge that could stall them long enough for Odysseus to come home, but also enrage them to break the hospitality laws. (Zeus law if I’m correct?) giving Odysseus a reason to execute everyone who dared.

It was one of the few times Ares was able to fight side my side with Athena.

Ares-Odysseus

Athena-Telemachus

I hope this makes sense.

[dyingroses]

The Owling (Interlude)

While I work on getting chapter 13 (well I guess now 14) together please enjoy this fluffy little scene from sometime in the Post Ithaca Saga timeline. Sibling time!!!

Ares skidded down the hall, catching the pillar and swinging into the room.

"Guys! I just found the most amazing thing in mom's drawer!" He announced. Loudly. And to all his siblings. Including the infamous trickster Hermes.

"What were you doing in mom's drawers?" Hephaestus asked.

"Father sent to get a scroll from her office and I couldn't find it," Ares explained.

"Dude! If father ever tells you to take something from your mother he's probably using you because he knows she doesn't want him to have it," Hermes said.

"That's not important right now! You'll never guess what I found," Ares said, heels bouncing off the floor.

"Okay," Apollo said, in a voice that Ares found outrageously and stupidly unenthusiastic

"Okay fine! I'll just show you," Ares replied, upset by his siblings lack of enthusiasm and cooperation in building up the suspense for such an important artifact.

Ares pulled out a painting of a sleeping four year old Athena. Or the cutest cherub you ever saw having a snooze in a bed that dwarfed her. Or their formidable and unbeatable and often cold (but slowly thawing) sister with her long eyelashes resting on the chubbiest of cheeks.

"It's tiny 'Thena!" Ares announced with great excitement.

"Awwwww! She was so cute!" Artemis exclaimed.

"Be careful," Hermes warned having teleported right next to Ares to get a closer look, "if she finds out that such a thing exists she might destroy it and we CANNOT let that happen!"

"I hate to admit but she was really adorable," Aphrodite said, she wore a huge smile and her eyes were twinkling with delight, "I guess that's what she looks like when she's not scowling."

"She doesn't smile in her sleep any more," Apollo sighed, "Well, at least not when she's severely injured or in analgesic induced unconsciousness."

"Just look how chubby her cheeks were!" Ares exclaimed.

"She's so tiny. She's practically dwarfed in that bed," Hephaestus said his face was soft but on inside he was smiling even brighter at how peaceful and cherubic his sister looked, "Everything about her is so small except her chubby cheeks and her long eyelashes resting on them."

"Ares did -" Zeus stopped when he saw all his children (well, all of the ones that were currently in the room) flinch and snap their heads towards him. Never a good sign.

"What's going on here?" Zeus demanded.

"Ares found a picture of little Athena," Hermes announced. This had got to be one of the greatest messages he had ever delivered.

"What?" Zeus exclaimed.

Ares showed the picture to Zeus, who took it. Ares, well, any of the god in that room, could not recall ever seeing a larger smile on their father's face.

"Awwww, her cheeks used to be so chubby! But almost everything else about her was so tiny, see her little hands!" Zeus explained fondly, "Where did you get this?"

"Uh, I found it in mom's drawer," Ares replied.

"Thanks for finding this, Ares!" Zeus said giving his son a pat of the back.

"Y- You're most welcome, father!" Ares replied glowing from his father's appreciation.

"I have got to get copies of this made!" Zeus said as he walked out of the room still looking at the photo with smile bright enough to blind most creatures.

[ij16]

ARES! ...Is having a staring contest with his helmet :)

At the end of God Games

Him and Athena, I feel like they would get along at least a little bit, the way siblings do

Look at them taking a nap after Athena recovers from God Games (See the lightning scars? I'm not sure if it's really that clear, let me know if you can't see it.)

Athena would be like one of the few people Ares takes his helmet off around, he can trust her not to judge him or whatever. (Apparently, he was made fun of because he couldn't grow a beard? Please tell me if I got it wrong.)

Athena looks shorter than she's supposed to be tho :/

[altruismaboveall]

ARES DEBUNKED

I’ve scrolled down probably ten dozen posts on Greek mythology with such misinformed facts that I kind of want to die…. My classics professors would probably have been eviscerated by how some of these questionable takes are being presented as fact.

IT’S FINE TO HAVE YOUR OWN INTERPRETATIONS OF THE MYTHS BUT DON’T STATE THEM AS FACT WITHOUT EVIDENCE/SOURCES ESPECIALLY WITH THE MORE HISTORICAL STUFF.

And don’t link like a website with ten thousand ads which also has no citations as your source cmon Tumblr we’re better then that lmao

To debunk of some them now:

No, Ares wasn’t worshipped or known as the ‘protector of women’. He does have a better reputation with them than others and you’re free to interpret those myths as supporting the idea but DON’T PRESENT THEM AS FACT BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO CREDIBLE EVIDENCE. I will say that he’s a better dad than most of the pantheon.

Also the whole ‘Ares Gynaecothoenas’ being proof of his ‘feminism’ is gonna be the end of me. Yes we have Pausanias’ account of this BUT HE NEVER MENTIONS THAT ARES DIRECTLY HELPED THE WOMEN FIGHT. THEY DID THAT THEMSELVES. WE COULD INFER THEY PRAYED TO HIM THROUGH THEIR ACTIONS AFTER BUT AGAIN HE DID NOT DIRECTLY HELP. always kinda funny when people inadvertently make an already fairly ‘feminist’ story less so by stating that a male god was the reason behind their success lol.

Also would suggest reading the Wikipedia articles for the myths people use to prop him up as the chivalrous protector of women - not a good source itself but they link all the primary sources way better then most Tumblr users will ever. For example, the ‘Ares got abducted while saving his mother and sister and was repaid when Artemis saved him’ thing is quite a distorted take on the story. Yes the giants did want to get to Hera and Artemis but some versions of the myths have Apollo actually kill them. Ares does get abducted in at least one version of the myth but no myth actually states Artemis went with Hermes to save Ares (misconception from OSP I believe but even their wikia explicitly states that Red is wrong here).

Did Ares rape/assault women? Ok now this one’s very interesting because even my classmates don’t agree on a single answer. The general consensus seems to be that he did EXPLICITLY rape/assault but some of the wording regarding Astyoche and Phylonome is kinda vague. I haven’t read the original text yet (my Ancient Greek is not amazing) but all translations use ‘seduce’ and I guess if you consider Leda and Zeus to be rape then Phylonome would be dubious at best.

Now was Ares was the patron of Sparta? I’ve not got enough knowledge on the subject to feel comfortable enough explaining to I’ll link a blog I think does a better job @the-good-spartan

Is Ares a pathetic loser? Now this one’s up to your interpretation. Personally I see him as a victim of the Worf effect - sometimes cool, other times not so much (Iliad and Diomedes… I know Athena was helping him but point still stands - he’s as strong as the writer/storyteller wants him to be). Still a big fan of his dynamic with Athena - so fun seeing the duality of war.

If anyone wants to add more be my guest (all I ask is for a source to be included hehe)

[grape-jucie-dog]

I wonder if there was a statue made for Athena and Ares in the War Twins AU.

There's just this statue of them when they were young gods just earning their titles together, and they both look so happy and prideful together.

I wonder if Athena sits beside it after what she did to Ares. Or maybe she can't bear to look at it anymore because of the overwhelming guilt she feels.

[kindred-spirit-93]

Rhea: Harvey Fierstein

Demeter: Auntie Whispers

Persephone: Something shift and whispery, rarely speaks, if she does everyone is quiet to hear her.

Ares: Kronk

ares: kronk *nods*

[sarnai4]

Post "My Goodbye"

(Athena is going through her 12th box of tissues. Ares is patting her back.)

Ares: Got you some more books.

Athena (sadly looks at them): I used to read those with Odysseus.

Ares (slides them away): How about sparring? That always makes you feel better.

Athena (sinks into pillow): Odysseus was good at sparring.

Ares (to himself): So help me, Odysseus, if my uncle doesn't kill you, I will.

Athena: Ares?

Ares: Yeah?

Athena: There IS something that might make me feel better.

Ares: What?

Athena (meekly): Well, I read that petting puppies can help.

Ares:...

Athena: It can lower stress and elevate mood.

Ares:...

Athena (baby owl eyes)

Ares (sighing): (turns into a puppy)

Athena (smiling as she gets to pet the pup)

Ares: If you tell anyone about this, I will test your immortality.

[passionsofthegods]

"To defeat a tyrant, you need to become a greater one."

~Ares to Athena

Passions of the Gods Book 2: Desires of Olympus

[firinnie]

If we stick to the fact that Athena came out of Zeus' head as an adult, and Hera gave birth to Ares "normally"...

then imagine that this whole carousel of fighting between them started when this adult woman kicked the baby. Ares was the loser in this unequal duel from day 1.

[randomdelusionaldee]

Greek Mythology incorrect quotes

*the quotes are mostly from Rise Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Athena: Alright, listen up, gentlemen.

Athena: And Ares.

Ares:

Athena: Ares, you should probably go apologize to Hephaestus about expressing your… you know, hatred.

Ares: All I need to do is explain it’s not Hephaestus I don’t like- it’s just EVERYTHING HE STANDS FOR.

Athena: Admit it, Ares- you just wanted to come here so you could get that champion medal. To prove you’re the best at something!

Ares: (crosses arms) Yeah, that’s what I just said.

Athena: Don’t you try to deny it, Ares! I gotcha.

Ares: (narrows eyes) I’m not tryna deny it.

(Ares casually cuts a monster in half)

Athena: OH- What did you do?!

Ares: It was on my head, I panicked!

Hermes: (purely curious) Is it gonna be okay?

Athena: (dumbstruck) “Is it gonna be okay”?????

(monster’s split half lands on the ground with a splat)

Everyone: 

Athena: IT’S IN TWO PIECES!

Ares: Okay, but let me ask just this- why can’t I wear the cool suit?!

(Everyone groans)

Artemis: We’ve been over this!

Dionysus: You ruined that woman’s 95th birthday in the suit-

Ares: (cuts in) SHE’S FINE!

Hermes: Alright, Hermes’ survival lesson one: Food. We have none. So, what would you eat?

Athena: (proceeds to pick up a random boulder)

Hermes: Wrong.

Hebe: (picks up a twig)

Hermes: Wrong.

Ares: (sneaks up behind Athena with a dagger in his hand)

Hermes: Wrong, you’re terrible-

Hades: Outside? Thanatos- (sighs) the last time we accidentally stumbled into a flower garden, I almost died of sneezing.

Thanatos: (realization) Oh, right! I remember it like it was yesterday!

Hades: It was today.

Hermes: (to himself, sighing) Alright Hermes, keep your wits, and do whatever mature and brave individual would do.

Hermes, a second later: DADDYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thelastballadofolympus]

War and Wisdom

An uncanny ship

Greek mythology has been a fascination to many. it is timeless that many great artists made it as the inspiration for their Magnum Opus. With its many tales involving gods, demi-gods, fantastical creatures, and even the blacks and whites of humanity--there is no question why many still regard Greek mythology as one of the best literary works to ever exist.

With that in mind, the gods and goddesses had been the aged-old subjects of every known art, whether in writing form, a play, or in paintings.

And mine is no different...

Writing the novel, The Last Ballad of Olympus, I was immediately drawn to the concept of "star-crossed lovers" and even "enemies-to-lovers", hence why I have Athena paired with Ares--her most hated foe.

The pairing of the Greek god of war and the Greek goddess of wisdom is indeed uncanny, even to some considering it forbidden. But to my colourful head, Athena and Ares made sense.

What is war that does not involve wisdom?

War is chaotic--disruptive in nature. Many would hypothesise that ending war should involve love. it is the reason why Aphrodite and Ares are a couple in the mythology. However, in reality, to end the war, it must involve a great understanding and use of wisdom.

I understand Athena and Ares as a couple in a "fanfiction" is still something odd to some, but I see it as going beyond the norm without compromising much of the known myths and legends.

Read the story here...

WEBNOVEL

WATTPAD

[cerseimikaelson]

Sorry, no Baby Owl today. I am still writing, and I am not comfortable posting this episode without going over it once or twice. However, I did post an Ares/Aphrodite story last Friday, called You're my only wish this year.

Hopefully Episode 4 will be up tomorrow!