Mythology of Mars

Ares is the Greek god of war. He was later identified with the Roman war god, Mars. Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera. Ares had no wife, but had three children by Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love. The twins, Phobos, panic, and Deimos, fear, always accompanied him on the battlefield. As you may have already figured out, Phobos and Deimos are the two moons of Mars. Ares is seen wearing full armor in the above photo. The names of the physical features on Mars are all Latin or Greek. Mars as we know it today comes from the Roman word for the planet. On the left is a chart showing the names that Mars has been given in the languages of the ancient world.