Ares
The bloody embodiment of war's chaos and carnage, feared by gods and men alike.
Ares is the Greek god of war, embodying the violent, chaotic, and bloody aspects of battle that stand in stark contrast to his sister Athena's strategic and disciplined warfare. While revered by Spartans as a necessary force for survival, he was often depicted unfavorably in literature as a bloodthirsty and impulsive deity who enjoyed the carnage of conflict rather than its glory or strategy. His Roman counterpart is Mars, who held a far more elevated status as the father of Rome's founders and a guardian of the state.
Quick Facts
- God of
- God of war and courage
- Member of
- the Twelve Olympians
- Abode
- Mount Olympus
- temples in mainland Greece
- Crete and Asia minor
- Parents
- Zeus and Hera
- Siblings
- Hephaestus
- Eileithyia
- Hebe and several paternal half-siblings
- Children
- the Erotes (Eros and Anteros)
- Phobos
- Deimos
- Phlegyas
- Harmonia
- Enyalius
- Thrax
- Oenomaus
- Cycnus
- and the Amazons
- Roman equivalent
- Mars
- Spouse
- Aphrodite
Lore & Background
Despite his martial prowess, Ares was often outwitted or humiliated in myths. His most famous affair with Aphrodite resulted in a public shaming when Hephaestus trapped them in an unbreakable net before all the Olympians. He was also defeated by Diomedes, a mortal hero, and even captured and imprisoned in a bronze jar for thirteen months by the Aloadae giants. These stories highlight his lack of wisdom compared to other gods, portraying him as a figure driven purely by instinct and rage.
Reader's Guide
Ares originated as a pre-Greek deity, possibly Thracian, before being integrated into the Olympian pantheon. His primary domain is the raw, violent aspect of warfare, distinct from military strategy or defense. He is frequently associated with the spear, helmet, shield, vulture, and dog. Key myths include his affair with Aphrodite, which exposed him to ridicule among the gods; his defeat by Diomedes in the Trojan War; and his imprisonment by the giant twins Otus and Ephialtes. In Roman mythology, he was syncretized as Mars, where he gained a more dignified role as the father of Romulus and Remus and a protector of Rome. His legacy is complex: while Greek culture often viewed him with suspicion due to his brutality, he remained essential for those seeking victory in battle. The Spartans uniquely revered him above other gods, sacrificing dogs before battle to appease his violent nature.
Did You Know?
- Unlike most Olympians who sided with either the Greeks or Trojans based on personal grudges, Ares fought exclusively against the Achaeans in the Iliad because Athena opposed him.
- The Romans revered Mars far more than the Greeks revered Ares; Mars was second only to Jupiter and considered the father of the Roman people.
- Ares is one of the few gods who was physically wounded by a mortal hero (Diomedes) in the Iliad, fleeing back to Olympus on his own after being struck by Athena's aid.
- His children Phobos and Deimos were not just abstract concepts but literal companions who rode in his chariot during battle.
More in Greek & Roman Deities
Elsewhere in Mythos Codex
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