Ares
From Mythology Wiki
Ares' (Άρης) was the god of war in Greek mythology. He was the son of Zeus and Hera. He was often portrayed as a terrible, murderous barbarian who was disliked by his parents and all others, in contrast with the wise, reasonable war goddess, Athena. Curiously, he was also considered a coward, shown in the Iliad screaming and retreating to Mount Olympus whenever he was wounded. He was born in Thrace, the home of a people just as warlike as he was. His bird has been identified as the vulture. His attendants included his sister Eris (discord), a battle goddess named Enyo, and his sons Deimos and Phobos.
[edit] In Ancient Rome
Ares was called Mars in Roman mythology. Mars, in contrast to Ares, was said to have been the most revered Roman god. He was particularly important there because his sons by Rhea Silvia, Romulus and Remus, were the founders of the city of Rome, making Mars the city's patriarch. He was also associated with agriculture and his sacred month, the beginning of spring, is now called March after him.
[edit] Ares and Aphrodite
Aphrodite, the enchanting goddess of beauty and love, was married to the ugly, deformed god of fire, Hephaestus. Ares and Aphrodite fell in love and had an affair. However, Hephaestus discovered his wife's infidelity and trapped the two lovers in an invisible net. There, he held them captive for all the other Olympians to see. Ares and Aphrodite's children included Deimos (dread), Phobos (fear), Harmonia (harmony), Eros (love, better known by the Latin translation Cupid), and Himerus (lust).
