Why the Ancient Greeks viewed Ares as the embodiment of war's brutal, bloody nature.
In short: Ares was not a strategic general but the personification of raw, violent conflict. This exploration details his lineage, his volatile affair with Aphrodite, and the terrifying offspring that defined his legacy in Greek mythology.
In Ancient Greek mythology, Ares represented the chaotic and destructive aspects of warfare. Unlike other deities who might favor tactical victory, Ares was characterized by his love for combat for its own sake, earning him epithets like 'shield-piercing' and 'city-sacking' in Hesiod’s Theogony.
Born to Zeus and Hera, Ares was the brother of Eileithyia and Hebe, though Homer’s Iliad also identifies Eris as his sister. His most famous relationship was with Aphrodite, the wife of Hephaestus. Their union produced a lineage reflecting the psychological impact of war, including Deimos (terror), Phobos (panic), and Harmonia (harmony), alongside Eros and Anteros.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Ares the God of War in Greek Mythology
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