Ἄρης

See also: Άρης and -άρης

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

Ἄρευς (Áreus)
Ἆρες (Âres) — Ionic, Epic

Etymology

Usually derived from the Ionic word ἀρή (arḗ, “bane, ruin”),^[1] which could be related to Sanskrit इरस्या (irasyā, “malevolence”), suggesting a Proto-Indo-European origin.^[2]

However, Morris Silver and Pierre Chantraine propose a derivation from ἄρος (áros, “use, profit, help”) instead.^[3]

𐀀𐀩 (a-re), found in Linear B, is thought to be the oldest attested form of the name.^[4]

Pronunciation

(5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /á.rɛːs/
(1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈa.re̝s/
(4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ˈa.ris/
(10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ˈa.ris/
(15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ˈa.ris/

The α (a) is usually short in Homer and tragedy, but sometimes long, e.g. Iliad 5.31, Iliad 2..767, Argonautica 3.1187; and Aeschylus and Sophocles regularly use long ᾱ (ā).

Proper noun

Ἄρης • (Árēs) m (genitive Ᾰ̓́ρεως); third declension

(Greek mythology) Ares
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 5.29–33:
  […] ἀτὰρ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθήνη
  χειρὸς ἑλοῦσ’ ἐπέεσσι προσηύδα θοῦρον Ἄρηα:
  “Ἆρες Ἄρες βροτολοιγὲ μιαιφόνε τειχεσιπλῆτα
  οὐκ ἂν δὴ Τρῶας μὲν ἐάσαιμεν καὶ Ἀχαιοὺς
  μάρνασθ’, ὁπποτέροισι πατὴρ Ζεὺς κῦδος ὀρέξῃ
  […] atàr glaukôpis Athḗnē
  kheiròs heloûs’ epéessi prosēúda thoûron Árēa:
  “Âres Áres brotoloigè miaiphóne teikhesiplêta
  ouk àn dḕ Trôas mèn eásaimen kaì Akhaioùs
  márnasth’, hoppotéroisi patḕr Zeùs kûdos oréxēi
  {...} And flashing-eyed Athene
  took furious Ares by the hand and spake to him, saying:
  “Ares, Ares, thou bane of mortals, thou blood-stained stormer of walls,
  shall we not now leave the Trojans and Achaeans
  to fight, to whichsoever of the two it be that father Zeus shall vouchsafe glory?”
  
  English translation by A.T. Murray @perseus
- 800 BCE – 600 BCE, Homer, Iliad 5.455:
  Apollo speaks the same phrase: Ἆρες Ἄρες βροτολοιγὲ μιαιφόνε τειχεσιπλῆτα (Âres Áres brotoloigè miaiphóne teikhesiplêta)
  Apollo speaks the same phrase: Âres Áres brotoloigè miaiphóne teikhesiplêta (Âres Áres brotoloigè miaiphóne teikhesiplêta)
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)
Mars (planet)
war, warlike spirit
epithet of Zeus, "avenger"

Inflection

Irregular declension of ὁ Ἄρης; τοῦ Ἄρεως (Attic)

Case / #	Singular
Nominative	ὁ Ἄρης ho Árēs
Genitive	τοῦ Ἄρεως toû Áreōs
Dative	τῷ Ἄρει tōî Árei
Accusative	τὸν Ἄρη tòn Árē
Vocative	Ἄρες Áres
Notes:	This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For declension in other dialects, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal declension.

Third declension of Ἄρης; Ἄρεος (uncontracted, Epic)

Case / #	Singular
Nominative	Ἄρης Árēs
Genitive	Ἄρεος / Ἄρευς Áreos / Áreus
Dative	Ἄρει / Ἄρεῐ̈ Árei / Áreĭ̈
Accusative	Ἄρεᾰ Áreă
Vocative	Ἄρες Áres
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms may be based on conjecture. Use with caution.

Irregular declension of ὁ Ἄρης; τοῦ Ἄρηος (Epic, Ionic)

Case / #	Singular
Nominative	ὁ Ἄρης ho Árēs
Genitive	τοῦ Ἄρηος toû Árēos
Dative	τῷ Ἄρηϊ tōî Árēï
Accusative	τὸν Ἄρηα tòn Árēa
Vocative	Ἄρης Árēs
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms may be based on conjecture. Use with caution.

Irregular declension of ὁ Ἄρευς; τοῦ Ἄρευος (Aeolic)

Case / #	Singular
Nominative	ὁ Ἄρευς ho Áreus
Genitive	τοῦ Ἄρευος toû Áreuos
Dative	τῷ Ἄρευϊ tōî Áreuï
Accusative	τὸν Ἄρευᾰ tòn Áreuă
Vocative	Ἄρευ Áreu
Notes:	Dialects other than Attic are not well attested. Some forms may be based on conjecture. Use with caution.

Derived terms

Ἀρειθῠ́σᾰνος (Areithŭ́sănos)
Ἀρεϊκός (Areïkós)
Ᾰ̓ρειμᾰνής (Ăreimănḗs)
Ἀρειμᾰ́νῐος (Areimắnĭos)
Ἀρειμᾰνῐότης (Areimănĭótēs)
ἄρειος (áreios)
Ἄρειος (Áreios)
Ἄρειος πᾰ́γος (Áreios pắgos)
Ἀρείτολμος (Areítolmos)
Ἀρείφᾰτος (Areíphătos)
Ἄρεος (Áreos)
Ᾰ̓ρηΐθοος (Ărēḯthoos)
Ᾱ̓ρηϊκτάμενος (Ārēïktámenos)
Ἀρηΐφθορος (Arēḯphthoros)
Ἀρηΐφῐλος (Arēḯphĭlos)
ἀρηΐφιλος (arēḯphilos)

Descendants

Greek: Άρης (Áris)
Latin: Arēs
→ Russian: Аре́с (Arés), Аре́й (Aréj)
→ Old Church Slavonic: Арисъ (Arisŭ)
Coptic: ⲁⲣⲏⲥ (arēs)

References

^ Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “Ares”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
^ “Ἄρης”, in William Smith et al., editor (1890), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin
^ 1992, Morris Silver, Taking ancient mythology economically, page 162; citing Pierre Chantraine's Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue grecque
^ Mallory, J. P., Adams, D. Q., editors (1997), Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture, London, Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers