ares

Ares is a figure in Greek mythology known as the god of war. He is one of the Olympian gods, the son of Zeus and Hera, and embodies the violent, physical aspects of battle. In ancient Greek culture, his role differed from other war deities such as Athena, who represented strategy and tactical skill. Ares’s worship was not as widespread or as central as that of Zeus or Athena, and his cults varied by city.

In myth, Ares is often depicted as fierce and turbulent, sometimes accompanied by his children Deimos and Phobos, personifications of terror and fear; Harmonia is sometimes listed as his daughter in later traditions. He had a notable affair with Aphrodite, and in one famous myth Hephaestus trapped the lovers in a golden net to expose them to the other gods. In Homeric poetry, Ares is a formidable but not universally admired figure who can be wounded in battle and forced to retreat to Olympus.

Iconography and worship: Ares’s symbols include weapons such as the spear and shield, as well as the helmet, a vulture, and a dog. His most enduring sanctuary on the Greek mainland was on the Areopagus (the Hill of Ares) in Athens, which lent the hill its name. He also had cults in regions such as Sparta and Thrace, and in Crete he was worshipped as Ares Velchanos, a youthful, martial aspect of the deity.

In Roman mythology, Ares is identified with Mars, who often takes on a more central and constructive role in religious and military contexts. The name Ares is sometimes used in modern adaptations to reference his martial aspects.