Who Is Ares (aka Mars)? His Myth, Story, and Astrology Meaning

Ares is one of the most archetypal warrior gods in Greek mythology. When exploring Ares in mythology and astrology, he stands out as one of the main Olympian gods as a son of Zeus and Hera.

Astrologically speaking, he has distinct similarities with the fire sign Aries. In both mythology and astrology, we see shared themes between Aries and Ares that make him one of the clearest archetypal expressions of this sign.

For example, Aries is a cardinal fire sign. This means that Aries energy typically likes to be first—to be a pioneer, or to prove something. This may come out in a competitive way, but not always. Aries may sometimes just be on a mission to prove something to themselves. However it shows up, we often see Aries acting through inspiration of the moment. While they may come across as courageous or brave, it may not necessarily be that they feel this way. Rather than thinking about courage and bravery as inherent qualities of Aries, it may be more helpful to consider that Aries is often presented with life lessons around courage and bravery.

As a warrior god, Ares symbolises many of these lessons. Ares in mythology and astrology represents raw instinct, action, and the challenge of learning how to direct that energy. He was known for being one of the more unrefined warriors (especially compared to the war goddess Athena). He would often act based on instinct and unfiltered, raw willpower.

He also had a habit of acting before thinking. On the positive side, this reflects how Aries may seize the day, take advantage of the moment, and act when an opportunity presents itself. This energy can be especially useful in situations where there is only a small window of opportunity.

Some of the challenges, however, have to do with making decisions too quickly and acting on instinct rather than considering the bigger picture.

Speed is another quality that Ares and Aries have in common. When looking at Ares in mythology and astrology, this sense of urgency is a defining trait. Their natural instinct is to move quickly. This makes sense if one of the core life lessons for Aries is about seizing opportunities or pioneering something that matters to them. But sometimes this energy moves so fast that it burns out—or becomes addicted to the adrenaline rush.

When looking at a birth chart with strong Aries energy, there may be other placements that help regulate or contain this fire. But in some charts, Aries energy is especially dominant and has the potential to run wild. In these cases, a person may benefit from consciously adding structure, support, and grounding elements to their day-to-day life.

One story that reflects an Ares-type lesson involves Ares and the Aloadae twins. This myth is often referenced when discussing Ares in mythology and astrology because of what it symbolises. The Aloadae were giants who trapped Ares in a bronze jar in order to assert themselves among the ruling Olympian gods. They believed that if they could capture the god of war, they would have a chance at infiltrating Olympus.

Because of their sheer size and physical power, they overpowered Ares and forced him into the jar. While Ares was trapped, the experience was unbearable. Imagine the feeling of a marathon runner being confined to a closet. While it’s uncomfortable for anyone to be trapped somewhere they don’t want to be, for Ares this represents something even more extreme — like intense, explosive energy being completely contained.

This can symbolise a common experience for many Aries individuals, or those with strong Aries placements. There may be a feeling of being trapped — either by circumstances or by the need to restrain their own instincts — and a strong desire to be released. Even the act of having to regulate their natural responses can feel frustrating.

Eventually, Ares was freed from the jar by Hermes (aka Mercury). Because Hermes represents communication, this can be seen as a symbol of how speaking something out loud can help release pent-up frustration, anger, or irritation. This is another layer we often see when interpreting Ares in mythology and astrology.

When looking at a person’s birth chart, these themes may show up if they have their Sun, Moon, Rising, or chart ruler in Aries. They may also appear with a stellium in Aries. And even with smaller amounts of Aries energy, these themes can still emerge — often concentrated in a specific area of life.

Do you feel like Ares/Mars might be strong in your own birth chart? If you’re curious about how this energy shows up for you, and want to develop skills for working with it intentionally, you can book a personalized birth chart reading with me. My signature service is the Astrology Journey, which is like an extended astrology reading experience. It is by far the best way to immerse yourself in your own birth chart.

However, I also offer 1-hour birth chart readings by special request. Send me a message through my contact page for more info.