A student once asked us whether the ram whose fleece became a golden quest and the god who rode into battle on a chariot of war were the same being. The names differ by a single letter, and the confusion is ancient. Aries is the ram of Greek myth, the creature that carried Phrixus to Colchis, later placed among the stars as a constellation and adopted as the first sign of the zodiac. Ares is the Olympian god of war, son of Zeus and Hera, a figure of bloodlust and conflict. They share no direct lineage, only a modern spelling error.
Where the Confusion Begins
The two names sound alike in English, but in Greek they are distinct: Aries (Ἀρίης) is the ram, while Ares (Ἄρης) is the war god. The similarity is coincidental. Greek does not treat them as related words. Yet because the planet Mars (the Roman counterpart of Ares) rules the zodiac sign Aries, the association deepens. A student of astrology might assume that Ares himself governs the sign. He does not. The sign is named for the ram, and its planetary ruler is named for the god. That distinction matters for anyone reading a birth chart or invoking a deity.
The Ram’s Story: From Thessaly to the Stars
The myth of the golden ram begins in the Greek region of Boeotia. King Athamas had two children, Phrixus and Helle, with the cloud nymph Nephele. His second wife, Ino, plotted to kill the children. Nephele sent a winged ram with a golden fleece to rescue them. The ram flew east, carrying the children. Helle fell into the sea (the Hellespont, named for her). Phrixus reached Colchis on the Black Sea, where he sacrificed the ram to Zeus and hung its fleece in a grove sacred to Ares.
That detail is the only direct link between the two: the fleece was placed in a grove of Ares, guarded by a dragon. But the ram itself was not an attribute of the god. It was a creature sent by Hermes or Poseidon, depending on the source. The earliest written version appears in Pindar’s Fourth Pythian Ode (462 BCE) and later in Apollonius of Rhodes’ Argonautica (3rd century BCE). The fleece became the object of Jason’s quest, a symbol of kingship and divine favor.
Zeus placed the ram among the stars as the constellation Aries. The Greek astronomer Ptolemy cataloged it in the Almagest (2nd century CE), but the constellation was known much earlier. In Babylonian astronomy, the constellation was called the “Hired Man” or “Ram,” and it marked the vernal equinox around 2000 BCE. That timing made it the first sign of the zodiac when Greek astrology formalized the system.
The God of War: Ares in the Pantheon
Ares appears in Homer’s Iliad (8th century BCE) as a violent, impulsive god. He is the son of Zeus and Hera, but his parents openly dislike him. Zeus calls him “the most hateful of all gods who hold Olympus.” Ares fights on the side of the Trojans, is wounded by Diomedes, and runs to Olympus crying. He is not a strategic commander; he is the embodiment of the frenzy of battle.
The Greeks did not build many temples to Ares. The most notable was in the Athenian Agora, built in the 5th century BCE, but it was modest compared to the temples of Athena or Zeus. The Spartans, however, honored him more, offering sacrifices before battle. In Rome, Mars was a far more important figure, the father of Romulus and a guardian of agriculture. The Roman Mars absorbed the Greek Ares but added dignity and paternal authority.
In myth, Ares had a relationship with Aphrodite, producing Harmonia and the twins Phobos (Fear) and Deimos (Terror). His children by mortal women included the Amazon queens. He was not a creator god. He destroyed.
What Each Symbolizes
Aries the ram represents initiative, courage, and the impulse to begin. In astrology, it is the first sign, associated with the head, the element of fire, and the cardinal modality. The ram’s horns suggest charging forward. The golden fleece symbolizes something precious that must be retrieved through trial. In esoteric traditions, Aries energy is used for new projects, rituals of self-assertion, and breaking through obstacles.
Ares the god symbolizes raw aggression, conflict, and the necessary violence that upholds order. He is not a symbol of strategic war but of the chaos that war unleashes. In Hellenic polytheism, he was sometimes invoked for courage in battle or for protection against enemies, but he was also feared. His presence in a ritual required careful boundaries. Unlike the ram, Ares does not initiate growth; he ends it.
The difference is one of direction. Aries pushes forward. Ares tears down.
How We Work with Aries and Ares Today
In modern occult practice, we approach these two figures differently.
Aries the sign governs the period from March 21 to April 19. During this season, we might perform rituals for new beginnings, set intentions for the astrological year, or work with the element of fire. The ram is not a deity to be worshipped; it is an archetype. We might light a red candle, charge a citrine crystal, or write a declaration of purpose.
Ares the god is a deity of Hellenic polytheism. Those who honor him may offer black dogs (historically, though we use symbolic offerings), spears, or wine. In the Iliad, his priests were called the “sons of Ares.” Modern reconstructionists might pour libations at a crossroads or dedicate a martial arts practice to him. He is not a god for casual invocation. We treat him with the same caution we would a drawn blade.
The planetary ruler of Aries is Mars, the Roman name for Ares. So when an astrologer says “Mars is in Aries,” they mean the planet named for the god is moving through the sign named for the ram. That sentence alone captures the entire confusion.
Common Mix-Ups
“Aries the sign is named after Ares the god.” No. The sign is named after the constellation, which is named after the ram. The planet Mars is named after the god, and it rules the sign. The connection is indirect.
“The golden ram belonged to Ares.” The fleece was hung in his grove, but the ram was not his property. It was sent by other gods. Ares had no special relationship with the creature.
“Ares is a positive war god like Mars.” In Greek myth, Ares was largely despised. The Romans rehabilitated him into Mars, a father of the nation. Modern pop culture often blends the two, but historically they were not identical in character.
“Aries and Ares are the same word in Greek.” They are not. Aries (Ἀρίης) has an iota; Ares (Ἄρης) does not. The spelling difference is not a scribal error.
FAQ
Is Ares the same as Mars?
No. Ares is the Greek god of war. Mars is his Roman counterpart. The Romans emphasized Mars as a protector of agriculture and ancestor of Rome, while the Greeks saw Ares as a brutal, unpopular figure.
Why is Aries the first sign of the zodiac?
Because the constellation Aries marked the vernal equinox when the zodiac was formalized around 500 BCE. The ram’s position at the start of spring made it the natural beginning.
Did the golden ram belong to Ares?
No. The ram was sent by Nephele (or Hermes, in some versions) to rescue Phrixus and Helle. Its fleece was later dedicated in a grove of Ares, but the ram itself was not his creature.
How do I work with Ares in modern practice?
Approach with respect. Offer libations of wine or water, dedicate a weapon or a training session, and speak his name clearly. He is not a god for casual or playful rituals. Read historical sources like the Iliad before attempting any invocation.
The ram and the god share a letter, not a story. One leads the flock; the other leads the charge. Understanding the difference clarifies both your astrological chart and your relationship with the Greek pantheon. For further exploration, see our astrology zodiac hub, the glossary entry on Ares, and our guide to zodiac mythology.