Hades' Helm
the Helm of Darkness
Hades' Helm, known also as the Helm of Darkness and the Cap of Hades, is the helm of invisibility that the Cyclopes forged for Hades in Greek myth. In the games Hades wears a flaming horned helm, and the hero Perseus turns invisible with a magic helm in his duel against Kratos.
Hades' Helm, known also as the Helm of Darkness, the Cap of Hades, and the Helmet of Invisibility, is the helm of invisibility that the Cyclopes forged for Hades in Greek myth. In the games, Hades wears a horned, flaming helm of his own, and the hero Perseus turns invisible with a magic helm when he fights Kratos. (God of War II; God of War III)
Origin and the gifts of the Cyclopes#
The games never tell the helm's origin, but the Greek myth does. There it was created by the Cyclopes and given to Hades after his brother Zeus freed the Cyclopes from their imprisonment in Tartarus. In the same act of gratitude the Cyclopes forged the lightning of Zeus and the trident of Poseidon, so that the three brothers each received a weapon of power for the war against the Titans. In the myths the helm also turns up on the heads of Hermes and Perseus. (Bibliotheca)
The helm of Perseus#
When Kratos came to the Island of Creation in pursuit of the Sisters of Fate, the hero Perseus wore a magic helm in his battle against the Spartan. Setting it upon his head, Perseus vanished from sight and used his invisibility to press the fight, but Kratos marked his position by the splashes his steps left in the water. Having weakened his unseen foe, Kratos lifted Perseus by the neck and brought his heel down upon the helm, shattering it, then cast the hero to the ground and continued their duel. (God of War II)
The helm of Hades#
Hades wore a horned helm that covered his whole face, from which flame poured forth. It had been worn for so long that it seemed to have become part of his body, and it caused him great pain to have it removed, tearing away his skin with it. During their battle in the underworld, Kratos slammed the head of Hades again and again against the ceiling of his throne room, casting the god into the River Styx and seizing for himself the Claws of Hades, the god's chosen weapon. Hades rose once more from the Styx in his giant form, his helm gone, and was at last destroyed by Kratos. Afterward the helm, dark bronze yet keeping its trademark orange glow, lay at the bottom of the River Styx against whose currents one had to swim to reach it. (God of War III)
Frequently asked questions
- What was Hades' Helm in God of War?
- Hades' Helm, also called the Helm of Darkness or the Cap of Hades, is the helm of invisibility that, in Greek myth, the Cyclopes forged for Hades after Zeus freed them from Tartarus, alongside the lightning of Zeus and the trident of Poseidon. In God of War II the hero Perseus turns invisible with a magic helm, and in God of War III Hades wears a flaming horned helm.
- How did Perseus use the Helm against Kratos?
- The hero Perseus wore a magic helm during his battle with Kratos at the Island of Creation. Putting it on, he turned invisible and pressed his advantage, but Kratos tracked him by the splashes of his steps in the water. After weakening him, Kratos seized Perseus, crushed the helm beneath his foot, and continued the fight.
- What happened to the helm Hades wore?
- Hades wore a horned helm that wreathed his face in flame. Worn for so long, it had become almost part of his body, tearing his skin when removed. During their battle in the underworld, Kratos took the Claws of Hades from him and slew the god, and the helm could afterward be recovered from the bottom of the River Styx.
Sources
- GameGod of War II, Santa Monica Studio, 2007
- GameGod of War III, Santa Monica Studio, 2010
- BookBibliotheca, Pseudo-Apollodorus, 1st or 2nd century AD
Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.
Followed from this entry
River Styx: the river of hatred beneath Greece
The River Styx was the great river of the Greek Underworld, a barrier that killed the living on contact and carried the souls of the dead toward judgement. Charon ferried across it, the Path of Hades bridged it, and Kratos crossed, fell into and finally swam it more times than any mortal.
Claws of Hades
The Claws of Hades were chained weapons wielded by Hades, god of the Underworld, who used their magic to tear the souls from his enemies. Kratos stole them in battle, claimed the god's own soul with them, and carried them as a means of ripping and summoning the souls of the dead.
Cyclopes: the one-eyed giants of Greece
The Cyclopes were a race of burly, one-eyed giants of the Greek world. Once peaceful shepherds, they were dragged into the first War of the Titans and used thereafter as beasts of war in the armies of the gods.
Hades: the god whose soul Kratos tore out
Eldest son of Cronos, Hades ruled the Underworld and held life and death in balance. Kratos turned the Claws of Hades on him and ripped his soul out.
Hermes: the swift god Kratos crippled
Hermes taunted Kratos through a long chase across Olympus. The Spartan cornered him, severed his legs at the knee and took the winged boots for himself.
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.
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