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Punish me for my shortcomings, and grant my son redemption.

–Callisto.

Callisto (Greek: Καλλιστώ) was a Spartan woman and mother of Kratos and Deimos, and was also one of Zeus' many lovers. She was kept within the city of Atlantis, until Kratos' arrival in the city.

History[]

After giving birth to Deimos in a small village, they were forced to leave it with Kratos still at an early age. Seeking a new life, they went to Sparta where Kratos then lived out the rest of his childhood and grew up. When the Gods, Athena and Ares went to capture The Marked Warrior, they arrived at Sparta and mistook Deimos because of the boy's unusual birthmarks. Ares quickly grabbed Deimos, so Kratos jumped to attack the God of War in a desperate act to save his younger brother. Ares smacked him away and then attempted to kill the boy with his blade, only to be stopped by Athena. After the Gods left, Callisto went to go find her sons, only to find an injured and unconscious Kratos and quickly took him back home. After Kratos awoke, Callisto told him that Deimos was gone.

So far, that village was only mentioned in A Secret Revealed, one of the unlockable videos in God of War. It depicted Kratos visiting her on the intention of finally finding out who his father really was. When she was about to tell him the truth, she changed into a monster that Kratos had to kill, and, thus, murdered his mother. Just before she died, Callisto revealed the name of his father, Zeus. That scene was reworked for Ghost of Sparta.

As Kratos grew up and eventually became a Captain of the Spartan Army, he and Callisto lost touch with each other due to unknown reasons, with Kratos eventually coming to believe that she very likely passed away. However, she soon became aware of Kratos' unintentional slaughter of his wife and daughter due to his master Ares' manipulation.

In the God of War Series[]

Ghost of Sparta[]

How I have missed you, Kratos.

–Callisto, after seeing her son.

Callisto

Callisto found by Kratos in Ghost of Sparta.

As Kratos traversed Atlantis, he came to the Temple of Poseidon, which was erected by the people of Atlantis in honor of their God. Once Kratos entered the temple, he succumbed to a vision of himself and his brother training as children with a spear and shield, as their mother reminded them that their "battle" was done, and they followed her back into their home. When he awoke from the vision, Kratos came across his mother lying on a bed, weakened and frail. Callisto told her approaching son that she had missed him. At first, Kratos assumed that it was a trick by the Gods due to thinking that his mother was dead, but she assured him that it was truly her. After he closely examined her, Kratos realized that it was indeed his mother to which he was shocked to see her again. She said that his father had brought her there. Confused, Kratos asked: "My father?" Callisto then said that they didn't have much time and that his brother didn't have much time. She told Kratos that Deimos lived and was trapped in torment at Death's Domain and that it would be a perilous journey to get there.

Callisto Beast Form

Callisto's monster form in Ghost of Sparta.

Angered at that revelation, Kratos asked why she did not tell him that, only for her to apologize as Kratos' father had forbidden her. Kratos, enraged, then asked her who his father was. As she was about to reveal the name of Kratos' father, Callisto was transformed into a hideous beast whom Kratos was then forced to fight. After he defeated his mother in battle, Kratos then takes Callisto into his arms as she used her dying moments to thank him for setting her free, encouraged him to pursue Deimos in Sparta, and slowly died. When Callisto took her last breath, Kratos proclaimed: "Mother! " while he held his dead mother in his arms and asked himself: "What have I done?!" as his mother's body disappeared, which left Kratos enraged at the Gods for taking another member of his family and was more determined to save his brother. 

In the post-credits, her body was shown to have been transported to the Suicide Bluffs. Her body was placed in a grave next to Deimos' by the Grave Digger who silently kneeled and stated: "Now only one remains" as he buried Callisto next to her late son.

God of War II[]

In God of War II, Callisto was never seen or heard of again until the final installment in the series. Zeus always knew that Kratos was his son, and likely the son who would continue the cycle that Cronos had started. Before she died from a mortal wound that was accidentally inflicted by Kratos himself with the Blade of Olympus, Athena told Kratos that Zeus was his father. With that in mind, Kratos intended to fulfill the prophecy and continue his quest to destroy Zeus once and for all. Upon his ascent of Mount Olympus on Gaia's back, Kratos even exclaimed: "Your son has returned!"

God of War III[]

In God of War III, Kratos, who previously fell into the Underworld after Gaia's betrayal, was making his way back out, when he found a note that was scrawled by one of the tortured souls:

He was my responsibility. It was my burden to raise him, teach him right from wrong. All who get too near him suffer or die. His wife, his child, his brother, and now me. I failed him; as a mother, as a human being. His sins are mine to bear. Punish me for my shortcomings, and grant my son redemption.

–The letter left behind.

That letter was most likely written by Callisto, since it involved many of Kratos' horrible actions.

God of War 2018[]

While not being quoted directly in the game, Atreus refers to her when asking Kratos if the Spartan has a mother. Although Atreus himself does not know her, the players will think of her after his question. Another reference can be noticed when Kratos tells to Atreus that he is also half mortal when the boy realizes that he is part god and part giant.

Powers and Abilities[]

While Callisto has no particular powers in her human form, her monster form on the other hand has several powers. Callisto's monster form has great physical strength, durability, and endurance. She also has razor sharp teeth and claws. It is also possible that Callisto is immortal, because she was living in Poseidon's Temple for some time, presumably 30 years, appeared to be gravely ill, and yet she was still living. Although this may be due to the involvement of Zeus rather than herself.

Gallery[]

Video[]

04._God_of_War_-_Ghost_of_Sparta_PS3_-_Callisto_-_Kratos_Mother

04. God of War - Ghost of Sparta PS3 - Callisto - Kratos Mother

Trivia[]

  • The name Callisto meant "the most beautiful", which was originally an epithet of Artemis, likely a bear-goddess, later on her devotee, who became Zeus' lover that was transformed into a bear by Hera. In her bear form, she saw her son, Arcas (cf. άρκτος "bear"), who was a hunter, in a forest. As she ran to his direction to try to hug him, he prepared to kill her with his spear to defend himself. Before that could happen, Zeus transformed both into constellations, and, thus, saved them. The name of Kratos' mother was a reference to that nymph, as she was also a lover of Zeus who was turned into a monster and was almost killed her son. Kratos himself could be considered a "hunter" who just wanted to defend himself.
    • There is a possibility that Zeus has place a curse on Callisto; if she attempts to reveal the identity of their true father to Kratos and/or Deimos, she will transform into a mindless monster that will slay them.
  • Callisto was voiced by Deanna Hurstold, while her younger form was voiced by Jennifer Hale.
  • From the words in her note, it was clear that Callisto blamed herself entirely for Kratos' choice to take a path of destruction, rather than Kratos himself.
  • Callisto transforms into a monster in a similar way was the same as Calibos from the 1981 Clash of the Titansfilm.
  • When Kratos was a young boy before he was taken to the Agoge at the age of seven, his mother told him that it is not given to mortals to understand the whys and wherefores of the Gods, which Kratos always understood as "hush and do as you're told".
  • Even after she died by her own son's hands, Callisto still loved and cared about Kratos. She wished for all the blame to be placed upon her, and that Kratos be given redemption.
  • Given that Zeus himself digs her grave and buries her with his own hands, it can be presumed that he truly loves and cares for her. It is possible that it is him who makes her dead body disappears from Kratos' hands.
    • The King of the Gods may have even gone so far as to send word to his sons, the Three Judges to give Callisto a fair judgement, not allowing Hades vengeful antics to eternally torment his former lover. Zeus has the power and influence to do this, as he demonstrated for one of his recently deceased priests in the first God of War novel.
  • Since the hidden Secret Revealed scene was non-canonical, and Callisto was unable to say Zeus' name before she became a monster, it was eventually Zeus himself who told him, but Kratos only paid attention and realized it when a dying Athena told Kratos that Zeus was his father.
  • Callisto was the third direct member of Kratos' family that he killed. The first two were Lysandra and Calliope.
    • Similar to them, Kratos was distraught by her death, which showed that he cared greatly for her.
  • If Kratos wears the God Armor, the player can continuously attack Callisto when she is on the ground before Kratos finishes her, in order to receive more Red Orbs.
  • Callisto was the name of the self-proclaimed "Warrior Queen" in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess. This Callisto was known for her brutal tactics in her army's raids and her sadistic personality.
  • It is presumed that Callisto had disappeared in Kratos' adult life, as he had believed her to be dead when he found her.
  • Since Callisto was implied to be in the Underworld in God of War III, it is possible that she was able to escape due to Hades' death. However, she could have chosen to stay because of her desire to suffer for her son's sake.
  • Since Callisto's apparent note in the Underworld identifies the writer as a tortured soul, it is likely that Callisto's spirit was condemned to torment after her death, therefore not having peace as it was originally narrated.
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