Ares is the Greek God of war and battle. He is also God of war booty, civil order, city defence, fear, anger and violence, and the God of courage. The ancient Romans called him Mars. Ares is the embodiment of war - the pain, violence, loss, spirit, fear and courage. He is a God of determination and force, a God of action.

Ares is the only son of Zeus and Hera. As God of war, he did not work alone, his sister Eris the Goddess of strife and discord was usually at his side; so too were his sons Phobos and Deimos. The war Goddess Enyo was also seen with him often. Ares had a great thirst for battle and was never one to miss a good fight. He was quick to appear on the field once a battle started raging. He would show up in his formidable war chariot that was pulled by four fire-breathing horses and let loose with his killing spear, spreading death through both armies. In most battles, Ares did not pick sides, but killed all that got in his way.

Ares was not well liked by the majority of the Greek Gods and his father Zeus called him the most hateful of all the Olympians. However, not all the Gods feared and despised him, the Greek Goddess of love Aphrodite loved him and worked with him often. During the Trojan War, unlike most of the Greek Gods, Ares supported the Trojans and saved Aphrodite’s son Aeneas from being killed. Later in the battle, he was wounded by the Goddess Athena and Aphrodite saved him by helping him escape the battlefield.

As expected for a war God, Ares was a large strong muscular man. He was very handsome and was a notorious bully. Although Ares never married, he fathered many children, with both mortal women and Goddesses. His divine children were Harmonia Goddess of Harmony, Phobos God of fear, Deimos God of terror, Drakon, and Cupid God of love. With mortal women, he fathered Prince Meleagros, Kyknos, King Diomedes, Queen Hippoltye and Queen Penthesileia. His son Kyknos with killed by Herakles (Hercules) in a duel. Ares hated Herakles and tried to avenge his son’s death, but was stopped by Zeus.

Ares was the patron God of several Greek cities- Aitolia, Thesprotia, Phlegyantis. He was also the patron God of Bistonia and Edonia in Western Thrake. Ares birthplace Bistonia in Thrake was home to his most sacred of temples. Although, Ares is not an extremely popular God today, he is still worshipped by some Neo-Pagans worldwide, especially those of the Hellenic faith.