Ares, the Greek god of war, was famously involved in a long-term love affair with Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. This relationship endured throughout Aphrodite's marriage to Hephaestus, the god of fire. While Aphrodite had other relationships with both gods and mortals, her affair with Ares is one of the most well-known and enduring stories in Greek mythology.
Several sources confirm this relationship:
- Google Arts & Culture: Explicitly states Ares's relationship with Aphrodite. https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/love-me-or-hate-me-ares-the-greek-god-of-war-aka-mars-the-roman-god-of-war-theresa-romero/wQKCXK-QG-lQJQ
- Theoi.com: Details the long-lasting affair between Ares and Aphrodite, noting it continued beyond her marriage to Hephaistos. https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/AresLoves.html
- Reddit discussions: Multiple threads discuss the numerous romantic relationships of Ares, highlighting his relationship with Aphrodite. https://www.reddit.com/r/GreekMythology/comments/18z22ml/damn_how_did_my_boy_ares_have_so_much_game_among/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/GreekMythology/comments/18dr160/what_is_the_aphrodite_and_ares_story/
- Quora discussions: Clarify that while Aphrodite had multiple relationships, her affair with Ares was significant. https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Aphrodite-only-love-Ares-1 and https://www.quora.com/Who-did-Aphrodite-love-more-Ares-or-Hephaestus
It is important to note that while some sources emphasize this particular romantic relationship, it's also clear from other sources that Ares had numerous other love interests. However, his affair with Aphrodite remains a central and well-documented aspect of his mythological narrative.
