Ares, the Greek god of war, was the son of Zeus and Hera, making him one of the few major Olympian deities born to the ruling couple. His family tree branches widely across Greek mythology, encompassing his divine siblings, his famous consort Aphrodite, and a host of mortal and immortal children who often embodied violent or warlike traits.
Parents: Zeus and Hera
In the standard account given by Hesiod’s Theogony and Homer’s epics, Ares is the son of Zeus, king of the gods, and Hera, queen of the gods. This makes him a full brother to the goddess Hebe (youth) and the goddess Eileithyia (childbirth). Some later traditions, particularly the Roman poet Ovid, offer an alternative where Hera conceived Ares parthenogenetically, without Zeus, by touching a magical flower—a parallel to how Zeus bore Athena from his head. However, this version is a minority tradition; the overwhelming consensus in Greek sources is that Zeus and Hera are his parents.
Siblings and the Olympian Family
As a son of Zeus and Hera, Ares had several notable siblings. His full siblings were Hebe and Eileithyia. His half-siblings, from Zeus’s other unions, included many of the most important Olympians: Athena (goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare), Apollo and Artemis (twins of Leto), Hermes (messenger god), Dionysus (god of wine), and the hero Heracles, among others. The relationship between Ares and Athena was particularly fraught; both were war deities, but Athena represented disciplined, strategic combat while Ares embodied the chaos and bloodlust of battle. They frequently opposed each other in myth, most notably during the Trojan War where Athena fought for the Greeks and Ares for the Trojans.
Consort: Aphrodite
Ares’s most famous romantic relationship was with Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, who was married to Hephaestus, the blacksmith god. Their affair is one of the most celebrated in Greek mythology, most vividly told in Homer’s Odyssey (Book 8), where Hephaestus catches them in a trap of unbreakable chains and exposes them to the mockery of the other gods. Despite the scandal, the union was enduring and produced several children who inherited aspects of both parents—combining love and war in their natures.
Children of Ares and Aphrodite
The children of Ares and Aphrodite are consistently named in Greek sources, though their number varies. The most commonly cited are:
- Harmonia: The goddess of harmony and concord, who married Cadmus, the founder of Thebes. Their wedding was a major mythological event, and Harmonia received a cursed necklace that brought tragedy to her descendants.
- Deimos: The personification of terror and dread, who accompanied his father on the battlefield.
- Phobos: The personification of fear and panic, also a constant companion of Ares in war. His name is the root of the modern word “phobia.”
- Eros: The god of erotic love, often depicted as a youthful archer. In later traditions, Eros is more commonly associated with Aphrodite alone, but in some early accounts, Ares is cited as his father.
- Anteros: The god of requited love or the avenger of unrequited love, often paired with Eros.
Some later sources also add a daughter, Adrestia, who personified vengeance, though she is less prominent in surviving myths.
Other Children of Ares
Beyond his union with Aphrodite, Ares fathered numerous children with mortal women and nymphs. These offspring were typically fierce, violent, or founders of warlike peoples. Notable examples include:
- The Amazons: A race of warrior women. Their queens, such as Hippolyta and Penthesilea, were often said to be daughters of Ares.
- Diomedes of Thrace: King of the Bistones, who owned man-eating mares that Heracles was sent to capture as one of his twelve labors.
- Cycnus: A brutal bandit who challenged travelers to duels and killed them, until he was slain by Heracles. He was a son of Ares and the mortal woman Pyrene.
- Phlegyas: A king of the Lapiths, known for his arrogance and for burning the temple of Apollo at Delphi.
- Oenomaus: King of Pisa, who challenged suitors of his daughter Hippodamia to chariot races and killed those he defeated.
- Tereus: A Thracian king whose horrific story of rape and mutilation is told in Sophocles’ play Tereus (now fragmentary).
These children often served to explain the origins of violent peoples or to provide antagonists for heroes like Heracles.
Role in the Trojan War and Other Myths
Ares’s family ties directly influenced his actions in myth. In the Iliad, he fought on the side of the Trojans, partly because his daughter (by Aphrodite) Harmonia had married Cadmus, whose descendants ruled Thebes, and the Trojans were allied with them. During the war, Ares was wounded by the mortal hero Diomedes, who was aided by Athena. Ares’s cry of pain was said to be as loud as ten thousand men. He also had a son, Ascalaphus, who fought for the Greeks and was killed in battle, prompting Ares to rage against Zeus for justice. Zeus dismissed his complaint, showing the god’s limited authority even over his own son’s fate.
Worship and Roman Equivalent
Ares was not as widely worshipped in Greece as other Olympians, partly because his chaotic nature was seen as less beneficial to civic life. He had a significant cult center in Thrace, a region associated with warfare, and at Sparta, where he was honored as a patron of military discipline. In Rome, Ares was identified with Mars, who was a far more important deity. Mars was not only the god of war but also an agricultural guardian and the father of Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome. This made Mars a central figure in Roman state religion, in contrast to Ares’s relatively minor status in Greece.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Ares married to Aphrodite?
No, Aphrodite was married to Hephaestus, the blacksmith god. Her relationship with Ares was an affair, though it was long-lasting and produced several children. The marriage to Hephaestus was arranged by Zeus, and Aphrodite was not faithful to it.
Did Ares have any legitimate children with a wife?
In most myths, Ares was never married. He had consorts and lovers, but no wife. His children were born from affairs with goddesses, nymphs, and mortal women. The closest he came to a stable union was with Aphrodite, but even that was adulterous.
Why is Ares less popular than Athena in Greek myth?
Athena represented the noble, strategic, and just aspects of war, such as defending the city and fighting for a cause. Ares represented the brutal, chaotic, and bloodthirsty side of battle, which the Greeks generally viewed with suspicion. He was often portrayed as a figure of fear and destruction, whereas Athena was a patron of civilization and wisdom.
Who killed Ares in Greek mythology?
No one killed Ares. As an immortal god, he could not die. He was wounded in the Trojan War by the mortal Diomedes, with Athena’s help, but he retreated to Olympus and was healed by his father Zeus. His pain was severe, but it was not fatal.
Are the Amazons really daughters of Ares?
In Greek mythology, the Amazons were a race of warrior women, and their queens were often said to be daughters of Ares. For example, Hippolyta and Penthesilea are described as daughters of Ares in various sources. However, this does not mean all Amazons were his children; it was a way to emphasize their martial nature and divine lineage.
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