KRATOS, ZEUS’ ENFORCER OF JUSTICE! #BLOGCHATTERA2Z

 

Kratos - God of War Statue - Etsy

Kratos is considered as one of the lesser gods, or even a demigod, in Greek mythology. He was the son of the Titan Pallas, and the river goddess Styx. It is believed that Zeus overthrew his father, Kronos, and took over the kingdom of the gods from him. When he came to power, he took under his protection all those who had not sided with Kronos earlier.

Styx was one of the first of approach him with her children – Kratos (Strength), Bia (Force), Zelus (Zeal) and Nike (Victory). Zeus took them all in, honouring them as the highest members of his regime. Since they did not have an abode of their own, he graciously allowed them to dwell with him.

Kratos turned into one of Zeus’ winged sentinels. He was almost like his henchman, ready to follow his bidding without thinking of whether it was right or wrong, like an ‘uncomplicated thug’ finding job openings under a despotic reign. Kratos was the embodiment of physical brutality and mercilessness, traits which came into use when he had to follow Zeus’ orders.

The most famous role that Kratos, and his sister Bia, had to play was that of leading Prometheus, the Titan who leaked the secret of fire to humans, onto a rocky outcropping where he was incarcerated over centuries. Prometheus stole fire from the temple of Athena and Hephaestus, instead of from Zeus’ citadel, because the guards of Zeus were fearsome and pitiless. However, he was caught and his punishment was extreme.

                                                                Prometheus stealing fire from the gods - UW Manifold

Hephaestus was the mild blacksmith god. Kratos forced him to chain Prometheus, ordering him to nail his hands to the rock, drive a steel wedge through his chest and tie his legs so that he would not be able to move. As if that were not enough, an eagle, a symbol of Zeus, would peck at his liver every day, causing him agonising pain.

The Punishment of Prometheus - Greek Mythology - Facebook

Kratos was devoid of the milk of human kindness. When Hephaestus lamented over the suffering of Prometheus, he ridiculed him. He also mocked at the helpless chained Titan, saying that he would never escape his fate or his shackles. Hephaestus showed a bit of spirit by calling Kratos ugly in speech and appearance.

Hephaestus, the Greek God of Blacksmiths - Instagram

If Kratos is known as the personification of strength, his sister, Bia, is the embodiment of violence or force in Greek mythology.

                                                        Bia, the Greek Goddess of Violence/Force - Greek Mythology

Trivia:

Aeschylus wrote of Kratos and Bia leading Prometheus to the rock to face his punishment in the opening scene of his ‘Prometheus Bound’.

                                                                                                Amazon.ca

In his ‘Libation Bearers’, Aeschylus describes Electra praying to Kratos, Dike (Justice) and Zeus to help her brother, Orestes, to avenge the death of their father, Agamemnon, the king and the commander of the Greek Army during the Trojan War.

In 1772, Thomas Morell brought out an English translation of ‘Prometheus Bound’.

                                                                                              Amazon.com

God of War: The Video Game in which Kratos is the tragic Herculean anti hero who murders his entire family after which he needs to wash away his sins and atone for peace of mind:

  This post is a part of Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2026.