This article is about the ancient Greek god; for other uses, see Ares .In Greek mythology, Ares (Ancient Greek: , modern Greek ???? "áris") is the son of Zeus (ruler of the gods) and Hera. Though often referred to as the Olympian god of war, he is more accurately the god of savage war, or bloodlust, or slaughter personified.Rather than being a brave soldier, he is often depicted as somewhat cowardly. The reading often remains ambiguous, as in a late sixth-cen