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.
In Greek mythology, Styx, also called the River Styx, is a goddess and river of the Underworld. Her parents were the Titans Oceanus and Tethys, and she was the wife of the Titan Pallas, and the mother of Zelus, Nike, Kratos, and Bia. She sided with Zeus in his war against the Titans, and because of this, to honor her, Zeus decreed that the solemn oaths of the gods be sworn by the water of Styx.
Thetis dips Achilles in Styx, 4th century relief, Museum of Ancient Eleutherna
Ferryman Charon embarks with the soul of the deceased. Fresco from an ancient Lucanian tomb.
Charon carries souls across the river Styx by Alexander Dmitrievich Litovchenko.
The waters of one possible source for the mythical Styx in the Aroanian mountains.