Tartarus
The Primordial Abyss
Tartarus was the primordial abyss born of Chaos and the deepest part of the Underworld, a prison where the Titans were bound after the first Titanomachy. Kratos descended into it twice, escaping its depths and later slaying Cronos within it.
Tartarus was the primordial entity of the abyss and one of the first children of Chaos, brother to Gaia and Nyx, and also the deepest part of the Underworld, where most of the Titans were imprisoned by Zeus after their defeat in the first Titanomachy. Both an endless domain and a god born out of Chaos, Tartarus took no side in the wars of the upper world, allowing his abyss to serve as a prison while never moving to keep any captive bound. Kratos descended into its depths twice, once escaping its torments and later slaying the Titan Cronos within it.
The god of the pit#
Tartarus was a Protogenoi deity, born out of Chaos before the beginning of time alongside its siblings Nyx, Erebus, Ouranos, Eros, and Gaia. When it first sprang forth it was a dimension, sealed off from the upper realms by dimensional barriers, until the Titan Hyperion shattered them with the Power of the Sun, merging the dark and fiery chthonic realms with the world of man and gods. The God of the Pit took no part in the wars and political affairs of the upper world, content only to let his domain of torment serve as a prison. As a physical realm, Tartarus was endless and infinite, much like the sky that was its celestial counterpart, and the Gates of Tisiphone were one of the only entrances a mortal could use to enter it.
A prison that took no sides#
Among the captives of Tartarus were the mighty Hecatonchires and the Elder Cyclopes, thrown into the fiery abyss by their father Ouranos. They remained for many ages until the young Zeus freed them, and Zeus later cast a great number of Titans into the realm, binding them to its rocks and mountains with the Gauntlet of Zeus. Tartarus did not resist when the Hecatonchires were freed, for he held prisoners only as long as the ruling pantheon could enforce their sentences. The same indifference was seen when Persephone released the Titan Atlas, showing that the ancient god was beholden to no pantheon and would make no effort to keep their enemies imprisoned. He was, however, once seduced by Gaia to conceive the powerful storm-Titan Typhon, meant to overthrow the gods and destroy Zeus in his mother's name.
Kratos in the depths#
Kratos descended into Tartarus more than once. After he was defeated by Charon, he was cast into the abyss and fought his way out through hordes of enemies, passing the imprisoned Titans bound in their chains and the souls of the wicked tormented for eternity. He came upon the Jailer of Tartarus dead upon his throne and claimed the Gauntlet of Zeus, then found a way back to the banks of the River Styx. Later, on the instruction of Hephaestus, Kratos returned to retrieve the Omphalos Stone, said to dwell deep within the Pit of Tartarus below the Forge. Passing the freed souls searching in vain for redemption, he reached the Gates of Tisiphone, solved the puzzle of the doors leading to the pit, and fought his way down into the darkest depths until he came face to face with Cronos. After a vicious battle, Kratos slew the Titan, retrieved the Omphalos Stone, and bore it back to Hephaestus, who forged it into the Nemesis Whip.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Tartarus in God of War?
- Tartarus was the primordial entity of the abyss, both an endless domain and a male Protogenoi deity born from Chaos. It was also the deepest part of the Underworld, where most of the Titans were imprisoned by Zeus after their defeat in the first Titanomachy.
- Who was Tartarus born alongside?
- Tartarus was one of the first children of Chaos, born before the beginning of time alongside its siblings Nyx, Erebus, Ouranos, Eros, and Gaia. When it first sprang forth it was a dimension sealed off from the upper realms by dimensional barriers.
- Why did Tartarus take no side in the wars of the gods?
- The God of the Pit took no part in the wars and political affairs of the upper world, content only to let his domain serve as a prison. He never tried to keep prisoners bound once a ruling pantheon could no longer enforce their sentence.
- Who were the captives held in Tartarus?
- Its captives included the Hecatonchires and the Elder Cyclopes, cast in by their father Ouranos, and later a great number of Titans bound to its rocks by Zeus with the Gauntlet of Zeus. Tartarus did not resist when the Hecatonchires were freed or when Persephone released Atlas.
- What did Kratos do in Tartarus?
- Kratos descended into Tartarus twice. After being defeated by Charon he was cast in and fought his way out, claiming the Gauntlet of Zeus, and later returned on Hephaestus' instruction to retrieve the Omphalos Stone, slaying the Titan Cronos in its depths.
Sources
- WikiTartarus — God of War Wiki entry
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Related entries
The Underworld
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Charon
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Cronos
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Ares
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Atlas
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Charon
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Cronos
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