Which god is Kratos?

Kratos is a character from the God of War series, and in the context of Greek mythology, he is portrayed as a god of strength and power. In the games, however, Kratos is more than just a god — he is a complex and tragic figure with a rich backstory.

Origins in Greek Mythology:

In Greek mythology, Kratos (also known as Cratos) is not a major figure but rather a personification of strength and power. He is the son of the primordial deities Uranus (the sky) and Gaia (the earth). Kratos is often depicted as a servant or companion to the god Zeus, and in some myths, he is one of the enforcers of Zeus’s will, along with his siblings Nike (goddess of victory), Bia (personification of force), and Zelos (god of rivalry).

Kratos in God of War:

In the God of War video game series, Kratos is initially portrayed as a mortal Spartan warrior who is tricked into killing his own family, leading to his quest for vengeance against the gods of Olympus. Over the course of the series, Kratos rises to the status of god after killing Ares, the Greek god of war, and taking his place as the new God of War. His journey, full of bloodshed and tragic events, leads him to defy even Zeus, his former father figure, in a bid to reshape the world.

In the most recent God of War (2018) and its sequel God of War: Ragnarok (2022), Kratos’s character evolves further, as he grapples with fatherhood and redemption. He is now portrayed in the Norse mythology setting, where he is the father of Atreus, and his actions influence the events leading up to Ragnarok.

So, while Kratos is a god of war, in the world of God of War, his role as a god expands and changes as he interacts with both Greek and Norse mythologies. He is a former Greek god of war, but his identity and significance evolve as the games progress, ultimately making him one of the most iconic characters in gaming history.