Kratos
The personification of strength and ruling power, son of Pallas and Styx, divine executor of Zeus's commands.
The Myth of Kratos
Kratos was the personification of strength, might, and sovereign power. He was the son of the Titan Pallas and the Oceanid Styx, one of four siblings who became permanent divine attendants of Zeus. In Aeschylus's Prometheus Bound, Kratos speaks the opening lines of the play, ordering Hephaestus to chain Prometheus to the mountain as punishment for stealing fire. Kratos represents not brute force (that is Bia) but the legitimate power of authority — the strength behind enforced law. His name is the root of numerous English political terms including democracy, aristocracy, and plutocracy — all the various ways power is organized and wielded in human societies.
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Fun Fact
Kratos is one of the most influential deity-names in political vocabulary — democracy, aristocracy, bureaucracy, and over twenty other English political terms derive from his name through the Greek "-kratia" suffix.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
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🏔 titanhundred-handed earth-born power
One of the three Hecatoncheires, the hundred-handed giants born of Gaia and Uranus.
Menoetius
🏔 titanTitan of violent anger and rash action
A Titan struck down by Zeus for his hubris and violent temper during the war between Titans and Olympians.
Kronos
🏔 titanTitan king of the Golden Age
The king of the Titans who ruled during the Golden Age and devoured his children to prevent prophecy of his overthrow.
Cratos
🐉 creatureforce,divine personification
Divine personification of strength and power, son of Pallas and Styx, who with his sister Bia oversees the chaining of Prometheus on behalf of Zeus.
Coeus
🏔 titanTitan of intellect
Coeus was the Titan of rational intelligence and the celestial axis — grandfather of Apollo and Artemis through his daughter Leto.
Menoetius
🏔 titanHubris, Recklessness
A second-generation Titan struck down by Zeus for his violent pride during the war between gods and Titans.
Atlas
🏔 titanTitan condemned to hold up the sky
The Titan who was condemned to hold the celestial sphere on his shoulders for eternity. His name became synonymous with endurance and with books of maps.
Kronos
🏔 titanTitan, father of the Olympians
King of the Titans who ruled during the mythological Golden Age. Kronos overthrew his father Ouranos and was in turn overthrown by his son Zeus.
Themis
🏔 titanTitaness of divine law and prophecy
The Titaness of divine law, custom, and natural order who served as Zeus's first counsellor and held Delphi before Apollo.
Perses
🏔 titanTitan of destruction and ravaging
A Titan associated with destruction who fathered Hecate, the goddess of crossroads and magic.
Prometheus
🏔 titanTitan of forethought, champion of mankind
The Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity, earning eternal punishment. Prometheus is one of mythology's greatest rebels and benefactors.
Perses
🏔 titanTitan of destruction
Perses was the Titan of destruction and ravaging — father of Hecate, the great goddess of crossroads and magic.