Ares is the Greek god of war or rather the representation of the unpleasant aspects of war. Ares is one of twelve other Olympians who ruled different aspects of life and death for the Grecian people. Born as the son of Zeus (the God of Sky and Thunder) and Hera (the Goddess of Marriage and Birth and wife of Zeus). Although Ares was a god, he was also said to be hated by both his mother and father; as well as unpopular with the other gods and people alike.
Despite the fact, he was the god of war it was claimed he was cowardly and fiercely angered at even the tiniest scratch that he received while in battle. He was also known to be fickle and change sides in the middle of a fight.
It seemed he would behave somewhat like a petulant child. In one account during the time of the Trojan War, Ares took the side of Aphrodite (his lover and Goddess of Love) and fought for Hector on the side of the Trojan’s. However, he was wounded by a spear guided by Athena (the Goddess of War), hurled at him by the hero Diomedes; to which he promptly left the battlefield to go to complain to his father Zeus about Athena’s violence toward him. He later challenged Athena and found defeat yet again.
Although Ares does not often appear in many of the Greek tales of the gods, when he does, he usually found to suffer some form of humiliation. In one well-known story, Aphrodite and Ares are captured naked in bed by Aphrodite’s husband Hephaestus (the God of Fire) who crafted an unbreakable golden chain-link net so tiny as to be invisible. Then Hephaestus called all of the Olympians to ridicule and shame them.
What powers and skills does he have?
Ares had a varied array of talents and skills. He was the master of conflict and strategy and held sway over all weapons and armor. His strength was unmatched by the gods with the expectation of his half-brother and demi-god Hercules.
As the god of war his strength, abilities, and healing are powered by that of hate, anger, bloodshed, and death. He was fast on his feet, rivaling that of Hermes (the Messenger of the Gods, who is said to be able to run, on land, at the speed of sound).
Gifted with the ability to change form into anything he desired, Ares could also teleport himself and anyone he chooses to anywhere. The armor that he is usually featured wearing in most of his artistic representations is said to be indestructible.
He was once the acting God of Dead, which enabled him to have power over the death and resurrection; able to resurrect an entry army of the dead at his command to act on his will. Lastly, he is immortal and cannot be harmed by any human-made weapon, but only those with magical powers.
What interesting children did he have?
Ares fathered many notable children. His affair with Aphrodite resulted in the birth of Ero, sometimes known as Cupid, their daughter Harmonia the Goddess Harmony, Anteros the god of reciprocated love, Deimos the god of fear, and Phobos the God of Panic.
Ares was once linked to and peace-loving nymph name Harmony their time together created of The Amazons, a powerful race of fearless warrior woman. The Queen of the Amazons Hippolyte was killed by Hercules for her girdle during his quest for the Twelve Labors. He also abducted Antiope who was the princess of the Amazon’s while attempting to steal Hippolyte’s girdle.
Hercules also killed several other sons of Ares including Cycnus who’s mother was Pelopia. Kyknos (Cycnus) was defeated by Hercules as well as wounding Ares and Diomes who was the king of Bistonia and son of Ares and Kyrene or Asterie.
Ares fathered more mortal children than those of his immortal offspring. His children were kings and queens of many kingdoms throughout Greece and parts of Italy. They created many noble houses and royal lines such as Melanippos who founded the ancient town of Triteia in Southern Greece and was the son of Ares and Triteia. Askalaphos the once King of Orkhomenos, and one of the leaders in the Trojan War. Oinomaus, the ruthless king of Pisa, son of Ares and Princess Harpinna, and Thrassa, Queen of the Triballoi a tribe in Thrake in the Northern part of Greece, to name a few.
He fathered Drakon Ismanian as well, who was a dragon serpent that guarded the Spring of Thebes and was killed by the hero Kadmos.
What role does Ares play in the Percy Jackson books?
Ares appears in The Percy Jackson book series writing by Rick Riordan. In the first book in the series: The Lightning Thief release in 2005, Ares appears to be a friend to Percy, Grover, and Annabeth when he first comes on the scene. At this point, he pays for their meals along with giving Percy a backpack with money, clothing for himself and his friends, a pouch of golden drachmas, and later we are to discover that the backpack is a sheath for the Master Lightning Bolt.
Over time, we discover that Ares has more mischievous and deadly plans at work. After Percy, Annabeth and Grove survive their journey into the underworld Ares is waiting to kill them. He reveals that he orchestrated this whole plot to have Poseidon (The God of the Ocean) declare war on Hades (the God of the Underworld) after Hades had killed Percy, and Zeus would declare war on Hades as well for now possessing his Master Bolt.
Following a battle with Ares’ giant boar, Percy’s challenges Ares to a duel. After an intense fight, Percy is victorious over Ares, who is defeated and enraged by the whole ordeal. He warns Percy that he has made a grave mistake in angering him and threatened that his weapon would eventually fail him.
Ares has a brief cameo in “The Sea of Monsters” released in 2006. Sending his daughter Clasisse La Rue off to kill Percy and his friends but is eventually thoriated in her attempts as Percy, Annabeth and Tyson escape.
Throughout the Percy Jackson series, Ares appears from time to time, but none are as important as his original attempt to create a great war between the gods in The Lighting Thief.