Kratos is a character and the protagonist of Santa Monica Studio's God of War series, based on Greek mythology and, later, Norse mythology. He first appeared in the 2005 video game God of War, which led to the development of eight additional titles featuring the character as the protagonist. Kratos also appears as the protagonist of the 2010 and 2018 comic series, as well as three novels retelling the events of three of the games. The character was voiced by Terrence C. Carson from 2005 to 2013, with Christopher Judge taking over the role in 2018's continuation, also titled God of War. Antony Del Rio voiced a young Kratos in Ghost of Sparta.
Early concept art by Kratos' original designer/creator Charlie Wen, depicting unused variations of Kratos (although the variations were later used in God of War III as bonus costumes).
Kratos (left) and Deimos (right) as boys in a flashback scene from God of War: Ghost of Sparta.
Nordic Kratos cosplay at the 2018 New York Comic Con
Christopher Judge's performance as Kratos in 2018's God of War and its 2022 sequel Ragnarök was met with acclaim.
In Greek mythology, Kratos, also known as Cratus or Cratos, is the divine personification of strength. He is the son of Pallas and Styx. Kratos and his siblings Nike ('Victory'), Bia ('Force'), and Zelus ('Glory') are all the personification of a specific trait. Kratos is first mentioned alongside his siblings in Hesiod's Theogony. According to Hesiod, Kratos and his siblings dwell with Zeus because their mother Styx came to him first to request a position in his regime, so he honored her and her children with exalted positions. Kratos and his sister Bia are best known for their appearance in the opening scene of Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound. Acting as agents of Zeus, they lead the captive Titan Prometheus on stage. Kratos compels the mild-mannered blacksmith god Hephaestus to chain Prometheus to a rock as punishment for his theft of fire.
Illustration by John Flaxman
Prometheus Being Chained by Vulcan (1623) by Dirck van Baburen. In Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound, Kratos (not shown in this painting) is the one who orders Hephaestus to chain Prometheus.
Illustration of the binding of Prometheus by John Flaxman, first published in Richard Porson's 1795 translation of Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound. Kratos and Bia stand on either side holding him down as Hephaestus chains him to the mountainside.
Black chalk drawing of the binding of Prometheus by George Romney, dating to c. 1798–1799. Kratos and Bia are at his feet, holding him down as Hephaestus binds his arms.