He’s not exactly the hero you’d expect. Most people hear "God of War" and immediately think of a brooding, bald guy with red tattoos named Kratos. But in actual history, specifically within the sprawling web of the Olympians, the title belongs to Ares. He wasn't some stoic warrior. Honestly, he was kind of a disaster.
If you're asking who is god of war greek mythology, you’re looking for a figure that the Greeks themselves actually disliked. It sounds weird, right? Usually, people worship their gods with a sense of pride. But Ares represented the raw, ugly, blood-soaked side of combat. While Athena handled the "smart" side of war—strategy, planning, and defense—Ares was the guy who just wanted to break stuff. He was the personification of "war for the sake of war."
The Family Tree From Hell
Ares was the son of Zeus and Hera. You’d think being the son of the King and Queen of the Gods would give you some social standing, but Zeus basically hated him. In the Iliad, Zeus straight-up tells Ares that he’s the most hateful of all the gods on Olympus. Why? Because Ares loved strife and slaughter. He didn't care about justice. He didn't care about who was right. He just liked the noise of shields clashing and the smell of bronze hitting bone.
He had some pretty intense siblings, too. He was the brother of Hebe (the goddess of youth) and Eileithyia (the goddess of childbirth). It’s a strange contrast. On one hand, you have the beginning of life and eternal youth, and on the other, you have a guy whose entire job is ending life as violently as possible.
His Brutal Entourage
Ares never traveled alone. He had a literal squad of nightmares. His sons, Phobos (Fear) and Deimos (Terror), usually drove his chariot. Think about that for a second. When the god of war shows up, he’s literally bringing Fear and Terror with him. Then there was Eris, the goddess of discord, who was often described as his sister or companion. She’s the one who famously threw the golden apple that started the Trojan War. Basically, if Ares was in the neighborhood, things were about to get messy, loud, and very, very violent.
Why the Greeks Actually Hated Him
It's a common misconception that Ares was this invincible powerhouse. In reality, he lost. A lot.
The Greeks weren't big fans of mindless violence. They were a civilization of law, philosophy, and tactical military brilliance (think of the Spartan phalanx). Because Ares represented the uncontrolled "bloodlust" of battle, he was often depicted as a bit of a coward when things didn't go his way.
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There’s this famous story where two giants, the Aloadae, actually captured Ares. They stuffed him into a bronze jar for thirteen months. Just imagine the god of war, stuck in a giant vase, crying for help until Hermes finally came to bail him out. It’s embarrassing. It’s the kind of story that reminds you that who is god of war greek mythology isn't a simple answer about a "tough guy." He was a volatile, emotional, and often unsuccessful deity compared to his sister Athena.
The Love Affair That Ruined Everything
You can't talk about Ares without mentioning Aphrodite. This is the ultimate "opposites attract" scenario. Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, was married to Hephaestus, the blacksmith god who was... well, not conventionally handsome and had a bit of a limp.
Ares and Aphrodite had a long-running affair. It wasn't just a fling; they had several children together, including Eros (Cupid) and Harmonia. The irony of War and Love producing Harmony is a classic Greek philosophical wink. But the way they got caught is legendary. Hephaestus, being a master craftsman, built a microscopic golden net that was so strong it couldn't be broken. He draped it over the bed, and when Ares and Aphrodite got together, the net snapped shut.
Hephaestus didn't just stop there. He called all the other gods to come and laugh at them. Ares was humiliated. This story is crucial because it shows that even in the bedroom, the god of war was constantly getting outsmarted by the people he looked down on.
Ares vs. Athena: The Rivalry
If you really want to understand the Greek mindset on war, you have to look at the contrast between Ares and Athena. This is where the nuance of who is god of war greek mythology really shines.
- Ares: The "Physicality" of War. He represents the adrenaline, the rage, and the chaotic violence. He’s the guy screaming on the front lines.
- Athena: The "Intellect" of War. She represents the strategy, the city walls, and the victory that comes from being smarter than your opponent.
In the Iliad, they actually face off. Athena helps the mortal hero Diomedes wound Ares with a spear. Ares, the literal god of war, screams with the force of ten thousand men and flees back to Olympus to complain to his dad. Zeus basically tells him to shut up. The Greeks were sending a clear message: brains beat brawn every single time.
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The Spartan Exception
Now, there is one group that didn't hate Ares: the Spartans. But even they treated him differently. While most Greeks saw him as a menace, the Spartans respected his endurance and his unrelenting spirit in the face of death.
There are rumors and some historical suggestions that the Spartans kept a statue of Ares in chains. Why? To symbolize that the spirit of war and victory should never leave the city. They didn't worship him because he was "good." They worshipped him because he was necessary. They understood that to survive in a world of bronze and blood, you needed a little bit of that Ares energy, even if you didn't particularly like the guy.
Ares in the Modern World
Today, we see Ares everywhere. He’s a staple in movies, books, and obviously the God of War video game series. But the modern version is usually way more competent than the mythological version.
In the games, Ares is the main antagonist of the first title. He’s a manipulative mastermind who tricks Kratos into killing his own family. In reality, the mythological Ares probably wasn't smart enough to pull off a scheme that complex. He was more of a "hit it with a sword until it stops moving" kind of god.
However, his influence on our language is massive. The word "Areopagus" (the Hill of Ares) in Athens was the place where high courts met. It was named that because, according to legend, Ares was the first god to be put on trial there. He was accused of murdering a son of Poseidon. Even in his own origin stories, he's constantly in legal trouble or getting mocked by his peers.
Common Misconceptions About the God of War
People get a lot of things wrong about this guy. Let's clear some of that up.
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First, he wasn't the only god who fought. Almost all of them did. Apollo was a deadly archer, and Poseidon could level cities with earthquakes. But Ares was the only one whose entire personality was fighting.
Second, he wasn't "evil" in the way we think of Christian demons. The Greeks didn't really have "good" and "evil" gods. They had "useful" and "dangerous" gods. Ares was dangerous. He was like fire; he could keep you warm (protect your city) or he could burn your house down. Most of the time, he was burning the house down.
Third, he wasn't popular in Rome. Wait, let me clarify. Ares wasn't popular, but Mars—his Roman counterpart—was a huge deal. The Romans took the Greek Ares and gave him a makeover. They made him more fatherly, more stable, and more of a protector of the Roman state. If you’re looking at a statue and the god looks dignified and noble, it’s probably Mars. If he looks like he’s about to start a bar fight, it’s probably Ares.
Key Takeaways for Mythology Buffs
If you're trying to remember the essentials about the original God of War, keep these points in mind.
- He’s the god of "Mean" war. Athena gets the "Good" war.
- His parents hated him. Zeus literally called him a "two-faced" pest.
- He’s surprisingly beatable. Mortals, giants, and other gods all took him down at various points.
- He is the father of Fear and Terror. His kids, Phobos and Deimos, are where we get the words "phobia" and "dread."
- He’s a lover, not just a fighter. His relationship with Aphrodite is one of the most famous (and scandalous) stories in the Greek canon.
Actionable Insights for Further Learning
To truly understand who is god of war greek mythology, you should look at the primary sources. Reading about him on a blog is one thing, but seeing how the ancients described him is another level of cool.
- Read the Iliad (Book 5): This is where you see Ares get wounded by a mortal. It’s a wild read and shows exactly how the Greeks viewed his "toughness."
- Check out the Homeric Hymn to Ares: Interestingly, this is one of the few ancient texts that actually speaks well of him, calling him a "helper of mortals" and a "leader of righteous men." It shows a different, more prayerful side of his cult.
- Visit a Museum's Greek Pottery section: Look for the "Vase Paintings." You can often identify Ares because he’s wearing a Corinthian helmet and carrying a spear, often looking a bit more "agitated" than the other gods.
- Compare Ares and Mars: Research the Roman god Mars to see how a culture’s values (Greek philosophy vs. Roman imperialism) can completely change the personality of the same deity.
The story of Ares is really the story of how humanity views its own violent tendencies. We don't necessarily like that we have a capacity for war, but we recognize it's a part of the human experience. Ares is that reflection—messy, loud, occasionally embarrassing, but impossible to ignore.