Ares

He doesn't just fight wars; he feeds on the chaos of every single clash.

Ares is the god of war, a son of Zeus and Hera. He is a callous bully who is driven by greed, aggression, violence or the promise of violence. He embodies the brutal, chaotic aspects of battle, acting as a volatile force who incites violence for amusement. In the book series, Ares is a major antagonist in the first novel, The Lightning Thief, and a supporting character in the rest of the series.

Quick Facts

Role:: God of War
First appears:: The Lightning Thief

Lore & Background

Percy first encounters Ares in The Lightning Thief, in which he drives a black Harley-Davidson motorcycle with flame decals and a leather seat made from human skin. He is the father of Deimos, Phobos, Eros, Clarisse (as Ares), and Frank (as Mars). In The Lightning Thief, Kronos manipulates the power-hungry Ares into helping cover up Luke's theft of the Master Bolt, to instigate a war between the Olympians. When Percy finds the missing Master Bolt in the backpack Ares gave them, the group realizes Ares has manipulated them; Percy defeats him in a sword fight, and Ares curses Riptide to fail Percy when he needs it the most.

Reader's Guide

Ares serves as a recurring obstacle and mirror for Percy Jackson, representing the temptation to solve problems solely through violence. Defining moments include his duel with Percy on Santa Monica beach in The Lightning Thief; in the TV series he also equips Clarisse with an ironclad warship and an undead army. He represents the raw, unfiltered desire for conflict that heroes must learn to resist.