Ares and Other “Mothers’ Sons” in Greek Mythology: A Structural Analysis

Abstract

This paper, based on characters such as Hephaestus or Typhon, defines the Greek mythical category of the “mother’s son.” It analyses the link between Ares and this type of character through the god’s relationships with the female universe, and specifically with Hera, his mother, which help to determine the personality and attributes of the god of war, and his situation within the Olympian family. The similarities between Ares and the “mother’s sons” makes it possible to study his mythological figure, explore the consequences of exclusively being “born of woman” or “born of man,” and finally, to consider the situation of the feminine and the masculine in Greek mythology.