Kratos in modern mythology: From myth to rated M

In Greek mythology, Kratos is the god of strength and power, though his name and character may be more familiar of the video game rendition. Kratos is a character in the game loosely based off Greek mythology, "God of War." Kratos is the main protagonist in the game, and derives around the themes of power, vengeance, and deceit. In the game, Kratos is given super human strength by the god of war Ares, and is submissive to his will. But when Kratos blindly slaughters a random village on Ares whim, he discovers in the after math that his wife and child were among the dead. Enraged by the fact that he was tricked and used, he tasks himself to kill the god of war, with the help from Athena. Though the video game character Kratos is not directly based off the Greek god, there is many indications and similarities between the two.

One striking similarity between the ancient and modern Kratos is strength. In Greek mythology Kratos was a powerful being and a protector of Zeus, the modern depiction of Kratos follows this by making Kratos equally strong. While the Greek god Kratos was an angelic being that was a protector of Zeus, the God of War Kratos sees the gods as decietful and wishes to destroy them, especially Zeus. It is ironic that the angelic Kratos defended Zeus and Olypus against Typhon, while in the video game Kratos leads an attack on Olympus and Zeus along with the Titans. Another possible reference between the two Kratos is chains. In the story "Prometheus bound," he aids Haphaestus in chaining Prometheus to a mountain, in God of War Kratos weapons of choice is the Chains of Olympus, powerful swords on chains.

Kratos in Greek mythology

The Greek culture incorporated many gods and goddesses in their society, from god's of beauty to god's of the sea. In Greek mythology Kratos or Cratus was the embodiment of strength,might, and power.  Kratos and his siblings were the winged guardians of  Zeus, Angelique beings that were always acquiescent to his will.

The most famous legend involving Kratos was the battle for Olympus. Kratos, along with his siblings Nike (god of victory), Bia (goddess of force), and Zelus (god of rilvary), defended Mount Olympus along with Zeus from Typhon, the god monster. In the end Kratos and his siblings fight off Typhon and Zeus sends him back to Tartarus where he lies trapped under Mt.Etna.

                                                                            

Another famous story of Kratos is "Prometheus Bound." In the story of "Prometheus Bound," the titan Prometheus, credited with creation of human beings, stole fire from the gods and gave it's power to the humans, bringing warmth and light to their world. Now this action did not come without consequence, as the gods never intended for the humans to have the power of fire. A punishment had to fit the crime, as man's knowledge and power of fire is everlasting, so should Prometheus pain. So Zeus instructed Kratos to have the blacksmith god, Haphaestus, chain Prometheus to a mountain with adamant chains that will never break, and Prometheus must endure the fate of having his liver eaten by an Eagle every day, and regenerate every night.


http://www.theoi.com/Daimon/Kratos.html

http://gogreece.about.com/od/greekmythology/a/Kratos-The-Greek-God-Of-War.htm

http://www.gods-and-monsters.com/kratos-greek-mythology.html

http://www.rjgeib.com/thoughts/prometheus/prometheus.html