Kratos’ Mercy: Untangling the Web of Gods Spared by the Ghost of Sparta
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Kratos, the Ghost of Sparta, is renowned for his relentless and brutal journey through the pantheons of Gods. However, despite his reputation as a God killer, Kratos did not eradicate every deity he encountered. The exact number is a little fluid depending on your definition of “god” within the context of the God of War universe, but we can conservatively estimate that Kratos spared, directly or indirectly, at least 17 Greek Gods during his rampage. This number includes major and minor deities, as well as figures whose godhood is somewhat ambiguous but nonetheless exist within the divine hierarchy.
The Gods Who Eluded Kratos’ Wrath
Identifying the gods who survived Kratos’ wrath requires a closer look at the events of the Greek saga. While the main targets of his rage – Ares, Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, and others – met gruesome ends, several gods were either spared outright or their fates remained ambiguous. Here is a breakdown of the Gods that Kratos did not kill:
- Aphrodite: The Goddess of Love and Beauty. Kratos engages with Aphrodite sexually, and even when he learns of her treachery, he doesn’t directly kill her.
- Hestia: The Goddess of the Hearth. Largely uninvolved in the conflicts of Olympus, her fate is unaddressed in the games.
- Demeter: The Goddess of Agriculture. Similar to Hestia, Demeter remains absent from the main conflicts of the games, leaving her survival status unknown but presumed.
- Artemis: The Goddess of the Hunt. As a relatively minor figure in the game’s narrative, her fate after the fall of Olympus is not explicitly stated.
- Apollo: The God of Music, Poetry, and Light. Similar to Artemis, Apollo’s fate remains ambiguous.
- Dionysus: The God of Wine and Festivities. A more peripheral figure in the pantheon’s power struggles, Dionysus is presumed to have survived the chaos.
- Phobos: The God of Fear. A minor deity and brother of Deimos, Phobos is not directly targeted by Kratos.
- Circe: The Goddess of Magic. Another figure not directly involved in Kratos’s quest for revenge, her fate is unconfirmed.
- Amphitrite: The Queen of the Sea and wife of Poseidon. Though Poseidon is killed, Amphitrite’s fate is unstated.
- Triton: The God of the Waves and son of Poseidon and Amphitrite. Like his mother, Triton’s fate is unknown but likely survival.
- Nike: The Goddess of Victory. As with many minor deities, Nike’s involvement is minimal and her ultimate fate is unaddressed.
- Eos: The Goddess of Dawn. A relatively minor figure in the game’s narrative, her fate after the fall of Olympus is not explicitly stated.
- Selene: The Goddess of the Moon. Similar to Eos, Selene’s fate remains ambiguous.
- Eros: God of sexual attraction, love, and desire. Eros’s role is minor, and so his fate is unaddressed.
- Hypnos: God of Sleep. The god of sleep is never encountered by Kratos.
- Morpheus: God of Dreams. The god of dreams is never encountered by Kratos.
- Asclepius: The God of Medicine. Similar to Hestia and Demeter, Asclepius is presumed to have survived the chaos.
This list, while comprehensive, relies on inference and the absence of explicit deaths within the game’s narrative. Some may argue that the collapse of Olympus inevitably extinguished all gods, regardless of Kratos’s direct actions. However, the survival of figures like Aphrodite, who are present in post-Olympus narratives, suggests that some deities managed to weather the storm.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into Kratos’ Divine Body Count
How many gods has Kratos killed before Ragnarok?
According to information directly from the article, Kratos has killed 19 full-blooded gods before the events of Ragnarok.
How many gods has Kratos killed until now?
It is not explicitly stated how many gods Kratos has killed until now, including events of Ragnarok. The exact number would be higher than 19 with the Norse Gods killed in Ragnarok.
How many Gods has he killed since the beginning until the end of Ragnarok?
The number of gods Kratos has killed from the beginning of his journey in Greece to the end of Ragnarok is significantly higher than just the Greek pantheon. While a precise number is hard to pin down, it’s easily over 25.
What happened after Kratos killed all the Greek gods?
Kratos did not kill “all” the Greek gods, but the deaths of key deities triggered a series of cataclysmic events, plunging the world into ruin. The seas rose, plagues spread, and the mortal realm became largely uninhabitable.
Why didn’t Kratos kill Aphrodite?
The in-game implication is that Aphrodite’s beauty was so overwhelming that Kratos, despite his rage, couldn’t bring himself to attack her. While this might seem like a simplistic explanation, it speaks to the character’s internal conflicts and moments of restraint.
Did Kratos leave any other Greek Gods alive besides those listed?
The list provided is the most comprehensive accounting of likely survivors based on in-game evidence and narrative omissions. It’s possible some unnamed or lesser-known deities survived, but their existence and fate are purely speculative.
Does Kratos feel regret for killing Zeus?
Yes, there are indications that Kratos regrets killing Zeus. Throughout the game, Kratos becomes solemn, quiet, and sometimes defensive whenever Zeus is mentioned, suggesting a deep-seated remorse or at least a recognition of the heavy consequences of his actions.
Why does Hades hate Kratos?
Hades’ hatred for Kratos stems from a few reasons: Kratos killing his wife, Persephone, and then killing his niece, Athena, and his brother, Poseidon.
How did Kratos forgive himself?
Kratos began to forgive himself through the help of Pandora and through her, Kratos later appeared and told Kratos that hope would save him.
Who was the strongest god Kratos killed?
Zeus, the King of Olympus, is arguably the strongest god Kratos killed. Their battles were legendary and stretched across multiple games.
Who killed Hercules?
While Kratos famously battles and kills Hercules in God of War III, Hercules was actually poisoned to death by Nessus.
What was Kratos’s most brutal kill?
The most brutal kills are subjective, however, Helios might be the most brutal. The decapitation of Helios, the Sun God, which plunged the world into darkness, is a particularly gruesome and impactful moment.
Which god betrayed Kratos?
Zeus, his father, ultimately betrayed Kratos. After initially claiming to be a benevolent father figure, Zeus ultimately seeks to kill Kratos.
Why did Kratos say no to Odin?
Kratos declines Odin’s offer due to distrust, a desire to protect Freya, and a belief in Mimir’s warnings about Odin’s untrustworthy nature. He had learned a harsh lesson in trusting gods.
Is Kratos a full god?
Kratos is born a demigod, the son of Zeus. Through his actions, he ascends to become the God of War, making him a full god by title and power.
The Broader Implications of Divine Survival
The survival of certain gods after Kratos’s rampage isn’t merely a footnote in the God of War lore; it has significant implications for the narrative and thematic depth of the series. It suggests that even in the face of unimaginable destruction, some semblance of the divine order persists. It also leaves the door open for future stories involving these surviving deities, potentially exploring their reactions to the fall of Olympus and their interactions with the changed world. Moreover, the act of sparing some gods, even if motivated by strategic considerations or simple indifference, humanizes Kratos and adds complexity to his character. He is not simply a mindless killing machine, but a being capable of making choices, however flawed or ambiguous those choices may be. The Games Learning Society aims to understand how games like God of War can contribute to learning and critical thinking, exploring themes such as morality, consequence, and the nature of power. You can learn more at GamesLearningSociety.org.
While Kratos’s journey through the pantheons is defined by violence and vengeance, the survival of these gods underscores the enduring nature of myth and the complex interplay between destruction and resilience. It’s a testament to the richness of the God of War universe and its capacity to provoke thought and discussion beyond the realm of simple hack-and-slash gameplay.