"Why is there a god of war if there's already a goddess of war?" This is a question many people ask when they're learning about the ancient Greek pantheon. Athena, who was the goddess of war and the patron of Athens, was one of the most respected and worshiped deities among the Greek gods. Her brother Ares, on the other hand, despite being the god of war, received much less attention from the Greeks. Athena was a goddess of war, but on the battlefield, she was more about strategy and skill; Ares was the god of the battle and the fighting spirit. For the Greeks, Ares was, like the other gods and goddesses, deserving of respect, but he was never the object of the same awe and admiration the Greeks offered to his sister. The Romans, however, regarded the god of war as one of the most important deities in the pantheon. Mars, the Roman equivalent of Ares, was second only to Zeus/Jupiter in the eyes of the Romans, and he was not only an important figure in one of their founding myths, but it was also after him that the Campus Martius was named. 

In this course, we will put the spotlight on Ares, and we'll discuss his origins, his powers, and some of the many stories about him. As this god was regarded as much more important among the Romans as opposed to the Greeks, more time will be spent discussing the Roman view of the god (as opposed to other classes, where most of our attention is focused on the Greek view). Stories for discussion may include, but are not limited to: the story of Romulus and Remus, the story of Ares and Hercules, and the story of Ares's trial for murder. We'll also discuss some famous locations in the ancient world that were tied to Ares/Mars.

This course is the tenth in a series designed to spotlight each of the twelve major Olympian gods (the first and second being about Zeus and Hera, respectively, the third being about Athena, the fourth being about Aphrodite, the fifth being about Artemis, the sixth being about Apollo, the seventh being about Hermes, the eighth being about Poseidon, and the ninth being about Demeter). Such courses are meant to go beyond the basics to give learners a deeper understanding of each of the twelve major gods in the ancient Greek (and Roman!) pantheon. This course follows the format of my traditional symposium classes, and there is no prerequisite for this course.

As with my other symposium-style courses, this course is designed to feature some of the hallmarks of a true classical symposium. I may read excerpts from ancient Greek or Latin poetry, in keeping with the tradition of poetry recitation (please note:  any such readings are so that students can hear the language; this is not a language course, so language learning is not part of the class). Together as a class, we'll also read some short passages in English. From there, via around-the-campfire style storytelling, I will weave the larger stories around our topic of the day: Ares. This course will make use of slides to introduce new material and to provide visual representations of art and literature. Ongoing dialogue and conversation, questions directed to students from the teacher (and from students to the teacher!), and reading aloud are all part of this course (please note that students are free to listen OR to join in the reading; it is their choice, and there is no pressure to participate in this way); discussion and questions are not just welcomed, but encouraged! 

As food and drink were an important part of a symposium, we'll seek to recreate that with traditional symposium snacks (please see the supply list for more details!), and while the traditional wine isn't age appropriate, a more appropriate drink like water or juice is a suitable replacement. (Please note that students should not feel obligated to eat or drink if they do not wish to; the food is meant to enhance the experience, but it's far from necessary.)

A symposium was an occasion for people to gather together for entertainment and learning. This course is one of many symposium-style courses, with each course designed to feature a different topic. This course has no prerequisites, and it is ideal for learners who love mythology, who have a curiosity about the classical world, or who enjoy good stories. Let's sit down to a symposium together!