For over 15 years, God of War fans have witnessed the iconic Ghost of Sparta brutally tear through hordes of mythological beasts, gods, and warriors. But one aspect of Kratos still confounds gamers – how does he continue to return from death itself to wreak havoc time and again? Recent revelations indicate Kratos boasts a special kind of unconditional immortality, curse-fueled perpetual existence that allows endless resurrection. Let‘s analyze the evidence behind the God of War‘s seeming immortality.
The Path to Godhood Usually Requires External Dependence
Before speculating on Kratos‘ immortality, it helps to understand how most gods gained eternal life in Ancient Greek tradition. Powerful entities like Zeus, Poseidon and Athena derived their godly vigor directly from external sources – namely the prayers and tributes of mortal devotees. The more humans worshipped them, the more mighty they became, while losing followers could severely diminish their divine abilities.
We witness this dynamic first-hand when Kratos, originally a mortal Spartan warrior, Ascends to become the Greek God of War. After slaughtering Ares, Kratos takes his place on Mount Olympus, his powers now dependent on the faith of his legions of followers through Greece. But Kratos‘ godhood status quickly attracts jealousy and ire from fellow Olympians like Zeus and Athena, eventually leading to his epic downfall.
The Village Oracle‘s Curse Imbued Kratos with Special Immortality
The key moment cementing Kratos‘ enduring immortality comes during his childhood, described by the God of War franchise creative director Cory Barlog. Young Kratos trains to become an elite Spartan soldier to impress his mother Callisto, the village Oracle cursed with visions of their doom. Against Callisto‘s warnings, Kratos defiantly tattoos the skin of the sacred Guardian Lion he killed onto himself, enraging the village elders.
They accuse Kratos of "coupling with beasts" and condemn his mother to imprisonment. Before her death, Callisto places a powerful curse on Kratos, so that the cruelty of the gods would never allow him rest in death. It is this curse that gives Kratos the unconditional endless resurrection he now possesses. As Barlog stated regarding Kratos and death – "He will always crawl back out, ready for more."
Losing His Godhood Made Kratos Mortal But Not For Long
Later in the God of War 3 storyline, Kratos finds himself betrayed by Athena and Zeus. After being killed by Zeus, Kratos reawakens powerless and stripped of his godhood, once more a mere mortal man. A major indication of Kratos‘ newfound mortality is the permanent scar on his abdomen from Zeus‘ blade, which no divine power remains to heal. After a second confrontation, Zeus defeats and seemingly kills Kratos for good, mocking his loss of immortality.
However, this mortal demise proves short-lived. The power of Callisto‘s curse soon resurrects Kratos yet again, catching a mocking Zeus totally by surprise. Kratos proceeds to drain what little power he has left into the Blade of Olympus to finally strike down Zeus and end the Titan-Olympian War. Even with godly immortality lost, the curse still brings Kratos back from death – a clear sign of his unconditional immortality.
Atreus Inherits Godhood But May Still Lack Kratos‘ Special Immortality
In recent God of War entries set in the Nordic realm, we witness Kratos‘ young son Atreus discover he is actually the Norse god Loki. Despite his burgeoning skills, Atreus still displays vulnerability in battle Kratos lacks, taking serious wounds from foes like Baldur. Creative director Barlog explains that while Atreus has inherited godly power from his father, he does not benefit from any curse granting him perpetual resurrection.
Barlog leaves the door open that Atreus may still acquire some form of "actual god level immortality", but it currently remains ambiguous if he enjoys Kratos‘ endless revival abilities. This contrast clearly highlights the unique continuous rebirth Kratos gained from his mother‘s long-ago curse. Without her curse-powered intervention, even divine beings can expire.
Defeating the God of War Requires Both Lifting His Curse and Matching His Warrior Might
The revelations regarding the curse placed upon Kratos in youth perfectly explain his inexhaustible lifeline in the face of certain death. As Barlog declared, the Ghost of Sparta "will always crawl back out" until the curse gets broken somehow. However, simply removing Callisto‘s death-defying hex may not prove enough to slay Kratos indefinitely.
After losing the might of godhood in God of War 3, Kratos still exhibits peerless combat ability allowing him to overcome Zeus himself. He retains superhuman strength, endurance, healing and willpower surpassing almost all foes. So to truly defeat Kratos likely requires not just lifting Callisto‘s unconditional resurrection curse, but also possessing warrior power great enough to outmatch his endless Spartan rage.
For now, Kratos remains an unstoppable personification of vengeance, able to suffer blows that would fell Titans or Odin himself only to rise again oozing rage. But perhaps in the final Ragnarok to come, through some historic heroic effort, both Kratos‘ unique cursed immortality and unmatched skill get neutralized. Until then, Boy, beware the Ghost of Sparta!