The most colorful tale of the Greco-Roman war god is told by Homer (Odyssey Book VIII) in his story of Ares and Aphrodite caught in a net. Ares and Aphrodite had an affair. Although Hephaestus caught his wife and Ares in a net and had many witnesses to the adultery, most of the other gods would have been happy to change places with Ares. Ares and Aphrodite had Deimos, Phobos, and Harmonia (Terror, Fear, and Harmony) as offspring.
Another story involving Ares is Dionysus and the Return of Hephaestus. In this one, Ares' mother Hera is stuck on a magical throne constructed by Hephaestus. It is Ares' idea to ask Hephaestus to release Hera, so he visits his brother to make the request. Hephaestus refuses. Instead of helping, Hephaestus chases after Ares with firebrands. What Ares failed to do, Dionysus succeeded in.
Because Ares killed men, he was hated by the Greeks and Ares' cults were few, except in Sparta, but Ares was also known as the savior of cities and father of victory. The Roman war god, Mars, was far more popular. He was considered the father of Rome's founder, Romulus. Originally, Mars was a vegetation/fertility god.
