Eis: the Spartan who gave Atreus his name
Eis, also called Atreus of Sparta, was a Spartan Agoge cadet who fought alongside Kratos and was known for his good nature even in the worst of times. He sacrificed himself in battle, and years later Kratos named his son after him.
Eis, also called Atreus of Sparta, was a Spartan and an Agoge cadet who fought alongside Kratos. Said to be unlike his fellow Spartans, he smiled even during the worst of times and was remembered by Kratos as a happy man. Many years after his death, far from Greece, Kratos would name his own son Atreus after him. (God of War (2018); God of War Sons of Sparta)
A Spartan of rare warmth#
It was seldom that words such as good natured and well-liked sat so prominently in the account of an Agoge cadet, least of all one of such martial and athletic talent. Eis was a young man of aspirations and promise and a friend to all, including the cadet Vasilis, to whom he was especially close. Where his fellow Spartans were hardened into machines of war, Eis kept his warmth, smiling even during the worst of times, and Kratos remembered him as happy. (God of War (2018); God of War Sons of Sparta)
Sacrifice and legacy#
Eis fought at Kratos' side and inspired the Spartans around him. In the end he gave his own life, his sacrifice turning the tide of a battle in Sparta's favour. Kratos carried the fallen warrior home upon his shield and buried him with all the honours of Spartan custom. The memory of Eis stayed with him long afterward as a comfort in dark times, and many years later, in a land far from Greece, Kratos gave his son the name Atreus in his honour. (God of War (2018))
Frequently asked questions
- Who was Eis in God of War?
- Eis, also known as Atreus of Sparta, was a Spartan Agoge cadet who fought alongside Kratos. He was known for his good nature, said to smile even during the worst of times, and was unlike his fellow Spartans in his warmth.
- Why did Kratos name his son after Eis?
- Kratos named his son Atreus in memory of the fallen Spartan, whose memory he described as a comfort in dark times. Eis had inspired his fellow Spartans even though they were machines of war, and Kratos carried his body home on his shield and buried him with full honours.
- How did Eis die?
- Eis sacrificed himself in battle and turned the tide of the fight in favour of the Spartans. Kratos carried him home on the fallen soldier's shield and buried him with all the honours of Spartan custom.
Sources
- GameGod of War (2018), Santa Monica Studio, 2018
- GameGod of War Sons of Sparta, Mega Cat Studios and Santa Monica Studio, 2026
Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.
Followed from this entry
Kratos
Kratos was the demigod son of Zeus who rose from a Spartan general to the Greek God of War, destroyed the pantheon of Olympus in a quest for vengeance, and then began again in the Norse realms as a father seeking to leave his bloody past behind.
Spartans
The Spartans were the warrior people of the city of Sparta, a hardened army whose ruthless discipline made them feared across Greece. Under Kratos, their greatest general, they conquered city after city, and they remained loyal to him long after he rose to become the God of War.
Atreus (Loki): Kratos's Son and the Truth of His Name
Atreus was the son of Kratos and the Jotunn Faye, born in Midgard and given the hidden name Loki. Across two great journeys he grew from a sickly boy into the prophesied champion of the Giants, the god of mischief whose fate was bound to Ragnarok.
Sparta: Kratos' city, razed by Zeus
Sparta raised Kratos, worshipped Ares, then took Kratos himself as its patron god. Zeus destroyed the city in revenge for the Spartan's defiance.
Also in Greek Era
Is Kratos Immortal?
Kratos is a god, so he won't die of age or illness, but he isn't unkillable. He has been killed more than once and come back, and he has survived things that should have ended him. Here is what the games show about how hard he is to kill.
Kratos's Wives: Lysandra and Faye
Kratos has had two wives. Lysandra, his Spartan first wife, died by his own hand in a temple Ares sent him to burn. Faye, the giant Laufey, married him in Midgard, raised Atreus and planned her own funeral. Here is each marriage, how each ended, and how they shaped him.
Mentioned in2 entries
Kratos in Greek Mythology vs God of War: the Real Myth Behind the Ghost of Sparta
Kratos was a real figure in Greek myth: the god of strength, son of Pallas and Styx, and the enforcer who chained Prometheus to a rock. Here's what the old poems say about him, what Santa Monica kept for its Spartan, and where Atreus and the series' other borrowed names come from.
Why Is Atreus Called Loki? The Name Explained
Atreus is called Loki because that was the name his mother Faye wanted for him, and the name the giants gave him in their prophecy. Here is how God of War reveals it, why Kratos called him Atreus instead, and what the name means for Ragnarök.
Get new articles in your inbox
No spam. New lore drops, canon conflicts, and deep dives only when they’re worth reading.
Some links on Lore Fortress are affiliate links. If you buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.