Cyclopes: the one-eyed giants of Greece
The Cyclopes were a race of burly, one-eyed giants of the Greek world. Once peaceful shepherds and master craftsmen, they were banished underground, freed by Zeus to fight in the Great War, and bred thereafter as beasts of war.
The Cyclopes were a race of burly, one-eyed giants of the Greek world, immensely powerful creatures encountered throughout the long history of Kratos. Once peaceful shepherds and master craftsmen, they were banished beneath the earth, freed by Zeus to fight in the Great War, and bred thereafter as beasts of war in the armies of the gods.
Origins and the Great War#
According to the journal of Kratos, the Cyclopes were once peaceful sheep herders who lived solitary lives across the lands of Greece. They were capable of great craftsmanship and counted among the finest stonemasons. Yet neither the Skyfather Ouranos nor the Titan Lord Cronos saw fit to let the race walk the earth during their reigns, and the Cyclopes were banished to the Underworld for many ages of the world.
During the first Titanomachy, Zeus freed the Cyclopes from their imprisonment, and they were made to fight for the gods in exchange for their freedom. The elder Cyclopes, akin to the Titans in power, forged the great weapons of the Olympians, while the brutes lent their strength to the war. With the gods victorious, the Cyclopes raised the mighty palaces on Mount Olympus in honor of their masters and were at last free to walk the earth.
Beasts of war#
In the Age of Olympus, new Cyclopes were bred from the bloodline of Poseidon, the sea god, who sired many of the giants. The most prominent of these was Polyphemus, whose strength and might may have rivaled the ancient Cyclopes born of Heaven and Earth. After their freedom, the practice of using the powerful brutes in combat grew all too common, and in time they lost their peaceful ways, becoming mighty beasts of war in the armies of the gods. Their great strength came from their near-divine nature and ancestry, surpassing that of most monsters and proving enough to kill even demigods.
The Cyclopes appeared in many forms and roles across the wars of Greece. They were turned loose by Ares during the siege of Athens, serving largely as shock infantry, and were set to guard parts of Pandora's Temple. Elsewhere they were enslaved by the Persian King and driven against the city of Attica alongside a great Basilisk. In later ages, armored Cyclopes stood among the guardians of Olympus itself, attacking in large groups to protect the most important passages, while feral varieties dwelt in the wild places and the domain of the Sisters of Fate.
Greek lineage#
In the older lore of Greece, the first Cyclopes were three giants named Brontes, Steropes, and Arges, children of Ouranos born alongside the Hecatonchires. Ouranos thought them hideous and hid them away within Gaia, causing their mother great pain, until she moved one of the Titans to overthrow him. Though that Titan succeeded, he refused to free his Cyclopes and Hecatonchires brothers. It was Zeus, son of Cronos and leader of the Olympians, who freed the Cyclopes, and in gratitude they forged the weapons that proved crucial to the gods' victory over the Titans. These elder Cyclopes were reckoned deities each on par with a Titan or an Olympian, distinct from the later race that herded sheep upon the islands.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the Cyclopes in God of War?
- The Cyclopes were a race of burly, one-eyed giants found throughout the Greek world. They were once peaceful shepherds and skilled stonemasons before being banished underground, then freed by Zeus and made into beasts of war.
- Where did the Cyclopes come from in God of War?
- According to Kratos' journal, the Cyclopes were once peaceful sheep herders and craftsmen living solitary lives in Greece. Neither Ouranos nor Cronos saw fit to let them walk the earth, so they were banished to the Underworld for many ages until Zeus freed them.
- How did the Cyclopes help win the Great War?
- During the Titanomachy, Zeus freed the Cyclopes and they fought for the gods in exchange for their freedom. Afterward they raised great palaces on Mount Olympus in honor of the gods and were free to walk the earth at last.
- Who was the most powerful Cyclops in God of War?
- The most prominent of the later Cyclopes was Polyphemus, sired by Poseidon, whose strength may have rivaled the ancient Cyclopes born of Heaven and Earth.
Sources
- WikiCyclopes — God of War Wiki entry
- WikiTitanomachy — God of War Wiki entry
- WikiPolyphemus — God of War Wiki entry
Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.
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