Ares thrust first, but Athena caught the spear and pushed it aside. Diomedes thrust second, and Athena drove the spear into Ares’s belly where the belt was fastened. Ares shouted as loudly as nine or ten thousand men in battle, and trembling took both armies.
Ares went up to Olympus like a dark storm-cloud and complained to Zeus that Athena had driven a mortal to wound immortals: first Aphrodite, then himself. Zeus looked at him darkly and called him the most hateful god on Olympus, always loving strife, wars, and battles.
Even so Zeus would not let his own son suffer. He ordered Paieon to heal him. The medicine cured Ares quickly, as fig juice curdles milk. Hebe washed and clothed him, and he sat by Zeus glorying in his glory. Hera and Athena returned to Olympus, having stopped murderous Ares from his slaughter.