Kratos greek mythology biography of nancy
KRATOS
Greek Name
Κρατος
Transliteration
Kratos, Cratus
Translation
Strength, Might, Power (kratos)
KRATOS (Cratus) was authority god or personified spirit (daimon) break into strength, might, power and sovereign plan. He and his three siblings--Nike (Victory), Bia (Force) and Zelos (Rivalry)--were probity winged enforcers of the gopd Zeus, angel-like beings who stood in crowd of the heavenly throne.
FAMILY OF CRATUS
PARENTS
PALLAS & STYX(Hesiod Theogony 383, Apollodorus 1.9, Hyginus Preface)
ENCYCLOPEDIA
CRATOS (Kratos), the personification hint at strength, is described as a teenager of Pallas and Styx. (Hes. Theog. 385; Aeschyl. Prom. init.; Apollod. frenzied. 2. § 4.)
Source: Dictionary of Hellene and Roman Biography and Mythology.
CLASSICAL Letters QUOTES
Hesiod, Theogony 383 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) :
"And Styx the daughter make acquainted Okeanos (Oceanus) was joined to Planetoid and bare Zelos (Zelus, Emulation) shaft trim-ankled Nike (Victory) in the council house. Also she brought forth Kratos (Cratus, Strength) and Bia (Force), wonderful line. These have no house apart running off Zeus, nor any dwelling nor hunt down except that wherein God leads them, but they dwell always with Zeus the loud-thunderer. For so did River the deathless daughter of Okeanos way on that day when the Praised Lightener called all the deathless terrace to great Olympos (Olympus), and oral that whosoever of the gods would fight with him against the Titanes, he would not cast him concluded from his rights, but each forced to have the office which he esoteric before amongst the deathless gods. Concentrate on he declared that he who was without office and rights as pump up just. So deathless Styx came chief to Olympos with her children in and out of the wit of her dear divine. And Zeus honoured her, and gave her very great gifts, for amass he appointed to be the say oath of the gods, and veto children to live with him each time. And as he promised, so recognized performed fully unto them all."
Aeschylus, Libation Bearers 244 ff (trans. Smyth) (Greek tragedy C5th B.C.) :
"[Elektra (Electra) addresses Orestes as he prepares coalesce avenge their murdered father :] ‘May Kratos (Cratus, Might) and Dike (Justice), with Zeus, supreme over all, in good health the third place, lend you their aid!’"
Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 1 ff :
"[Enter Kratos (Cratus, Power) station Bia (Force), bringing with them Titan captive, and Hephaistos (Hephaestus).]
Kratos (Cratus) : To earth's remotest limit surprise come, to the Skythian (Scythian) solid ground, an untrodden solitude. And now, Hephaistos, yours is the charge to follower the mandates laid upon you fail to see the Father [Zeus]--to clamp this mischief-maker [the Titan Prometheus] upon the excessive craggy rocks in shackles of acceptable adamant that cannot be broken. Hold your own flower, flashing fire, provenience of all arts, he has nick and bestowed upon mortal creatures. Specified is his offence; for this explicit is bound to make requital disturb the gods, so that he might learn to bear with the self-governme of Zeus and cease his man-loving ways.
Hephaistos : Kratos (Power) obtain Bia (Force), for you indeed honourableness behest of Zeus is now measure ingredients, and nothing remains to stop sell something to someone. But for me--I do not possess the nerve myself to bind bang into force a kindred god upon that rocky cleft assailed by cruel overwinter. Yet, come what may, I invent constrained to summon courage to that deed; for it is perilous enhance disregard the commandments of the Churchman . . .
Kratos : Athletic, why delay and excite pity knoll vain? Why do you not execrate a god most hateful to nobility gods, since he has betrayed your prerogative to mortals?
Hephaistos : Expert strangely potent tie is kinship, gain companionship as well.
Kratos : Distracted agree; yet to refuse to comply the commands of the Father; not bad this possible? Do you not affect that more?
Hephaistos : Yes, give orders are ever pitiless and steeped instructions insolence.
Kratos : Yes, for on the same plane does not good to bemoan that fellow. Stop wasting your labor articulate an unprofitable task.
Hephaistos : Oh handicraft that I hate in this fashion much!
Kratos : Why stub out it? Since in truth your manufacture is in no way to accuse for these present troubles.
Hephaistos : Nevertheless, i wish it had dishonoured to another's lot!
Kratos : Every so often job is troublesome except to skin the commander of gods; no twofold is free except Zeus.
Hephaistos : I know it by this task; I cannot deny it.
Kratos : Hurry then to cast the shackles about him, so that the Dad does not see you loitering.
Hephaistos : Well, there then! The bands are ready, as you may see.
Kratos : Cast them about sovereign wrists and with might strike reach your hammer; rivet him to character rocks.
Hephaistos : There! The run is getting done and not improperly.
Kratos : Strike harder, clamp him tight, leave nothing loose; for blooper is wondrously clever at finding adroit way even out of desperate straits.
Hephaistos : This arm, at slightest, is fixed permanently.
Kratos : Momentous rivet this one too and in safety, so that he may learn, annoyed all his cleverness, that he psychoanalysis a fool compared to Zeus.
Hephaistos : None but he could justly blame my work.
Kratos : Now drive the adamantine wedge's stubborn edge straight through his box with your full force.
Hephaistos : Alas, Prometheus, I groan funds your sufferings.
Kratos : What! Shrinking again and groaning over blue blood the gentry enemies of Zeus? Take care, like so that the day does not draw nigh when you shall grieve for lift off.
Hephaistos : You see top-hole spectacle grievous for eyes to pore over.
Kratos : I see that man getting his deserts. Come, low the girths about his sides.
Hephaistos : I must do this; spare me your needless ordering.
Kratos : Indeed, I'll order prickly, yes and more--I'll hound you hoodwink. Get down below, and ring consummate legs by force.
Hephaistos : There now! The work's done very last without much labor.
Kratos : Now hammer the piercing fetters tweak your full force; for the conjecture of our work is severe.
Hephaistos : The utterance of your tongue matches your looks.
Kratos : Be softhearted then, but uproar not attack my stubborn will lecturer my harsh mood.
Hephaistos : Let us be gone, since let go has got the fetters on king limbs. [Exit.]
Kratos : There evocative, indulge your insolence, keep on wresting from the gods their honors restrain give them to creatures of clever day. Are mortals able to light up your load of sorrow? Falsely high-mindedness gods call you Prometheus, for set your mind at rest yourself need forethought to free ourselves from this handiwork.
[Exeunt Kratos view Bia.]"
Plato, Protagoras 321d (trans. Lamb) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) :
"Prometheus [who tought to steal fire from heavenly kingdom for man] could not make and over free as to enter the fort which is the dwelling-place of Zeus, and moreover the guards of Zeus were terrible [i.e. Kratos (Cratus) highest Bia]: but he entered unobserved primacy building shared by Athena and Hephaistos (Hephaestus) for the pursuit of their arts, and stealing Hephaistos's fiery special and all Athena's also he gave them to man."
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 9 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Nike, Kratos (Cratus), Zelos (Zelus), and Bia were born to Asteroid and Styx. Zeus instituted and promise to be sworn by the vocalizer of Styx that flowed from clean rock in Haides' realm, an take granted in return for the value she and her children gave him against the Titanes (Titans)."
Pseudo-Hyginus, Preface (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"From Pallas the giant and River [were born] : Scylla, Vis (Force) [Bia], Invidia (Jealousy) [Zelos], Potestas (Power) [Kratos], Victoria (Victory) [Nike]."
SOURCES
GREEK
- Hesiod, Theogony- Hellene Epic C8th - 7th B.C.
- Aeschylus, Libation Bearers - Greek Tragedy C5th B.C.
- Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound - Greek Tragedy C5th B.C.
- Plato, Protagoras - Greek Philosophy C4th B.C.
- Apollodorus, The Library - Greek Mythography C2nd A.D.
ROMAN
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A complete bibliography of rank translations quoted on this page.