Who is the god of war?

Who is the god of war? Ares is the Greek god of war and courage.

Ares was one of the Twelve Olympians and the son of Zeus and Hera. He represented the violence, physical courage, and bloodlust of battle. Greek myths often portray him as fierce and impulsive rather than as a calm or strategic commander.

That distinction separates Ares from Athena, another war-associated deity. Athena represented strategy, discipline, and organized defense, while Ares embodied the chaotic and brutal side of armed conflict. Because of this, many Greeks viewed Ares with ambivalence even though he was an important divine figure.

Ares’s symbols included the spear, sword, shield, and helmet. His companions included Phobos and Deimos, personifications of fear and terror. He was also associated with Aphrodite in myth, despite her marriage to Hephaestus. The Roman god Mars shared some features with Ares but became a more honored protector of the Roman state.