The Story of Ares
Ares was the son of Zeus and Hera, the king and queen of the gods. Unlike many Olympians, his birth involved no strange tricks or prophecies. Some stories say he grew up in Thrace, a wild and warlike land to the north of Greece that always remained his favorite home.
From the start, Ares loved conflict. He became the god of war, but not the clever kind of war that Athena stood for. He embodied the rage, noise and bloodshed of battle, charging into fighting with little thought for who was right or wrong. Even his father Zeus told him in the Iliad that he was the most hateful of all the gods.
Ares rode into battle in a chariot drawn by fiery horses, joined by his companions Phobos and Deimos, his sons who stood for fear and terror, and by Eris, the goddess of strife. Enyo, a goddess of war, often fought at his side. Wherever they went, the clash of weapons and cries of soldiers followed.
Ares never married, but his long affair with Aphrodite was famous. Together they had several children, including Eros in some tellings and Harmonia, who married Cadmus, the founder of Thebes. Ares also fathered many mortal children, among them warlike heroes and kings, and the Amazons, the fierce women warriors, were often said to be his daughters.
Despite his strength, Ares was often humiliated in the myths. Hephaestus caught him with Aphrodite in an unbreakable net, two giants trapped him in a bronze jar, and the hero Diomedes wounded him at Troy with Athena's help. Heracles also defeated him in battle. The Greeks seemed to enjoy stories of the war god being beaten, perhaps because they feared real war so much.
Temples to Ares were rarer than those of most Olympians, but he was not ignored. In Sparta, a city devoted to war, soldiers made offerings to him before battle, and Athens had a temple to him in its marketplace. The Areopagus, the rocky hill where an ancient court met in Athens, was named after him because of the trial of Ares held there.
Ares was far more respected in Rome, where he became Mars, the father of Romulus and Remus and one of the most important gods of the state. The red planet Mars and the month of March are both named after him. In Greek eyes, though, Ares remained a reminder of the terrible cost of war.
Famous Myths About Ares
Trapped in the Golden Net
Ares had a secret love affair with Aphrodite, the wife of Hephaestus. Warned by Helios, Hephaestus forged an unbreakable golden net that caught the lovers in bed, and he called the other gods to come and laugh at them.
Imprisoned in a Jar
The giant twins Otus and Ephialtes captured Ares and locked him in a bronze jar for thirteen months. He was rescued only when Hermes heard about it and freed him, weak and nearly dead.
Wounded at Troy
Ares fought for the Trojans in the war, but with Athena guiding his spear, the Greek hero Diomedes wounded him in the belly. Ares roared like ten thousand men and fled back to Olympus to complain to Zeus, who had little sympathy for him.
The First Murder Trial
When Ares killed a son of Poseidon who had assaulted his daughter, Poseidon accused him before the gods. The trial was held on a hill in Athens later called the Areopagus, and Ares was acquitted.
Where to See Ares in Greece
Ares's Family Tree
Partners of Ares
Frequently Asked Questions About Ares
Who is Ares in Greek mythology?
Ares is the Olympian god of war, violence and courage. He stood for the brutal side of battle and was less admired by the Greeks than Athena.
Who are Ares's parents?
Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera.
Who was Ares's lover?
Ares had a famous affair with Aphrodite. Her husband Hephaestus caught them in an invisible net and showed them to the other gods, and their children included Phobos, Deimos and Harmonia.
What are Ares's symbols?
Ares's symbols include the spear, the helmet, the shield, the vulture and the dog.
What is Ares's Roman name?
The Romans called Ares Mars and honored him far more than the Greeks did, since they believed he was the father of Romulus and Remus.
