Changes: Callisto

Revision as of 20:40, 31 July 2017

“	Punish me for my shortcomings, and grant my son redemption.	”
–Callisto.

Template:Infobox gods

Callisto was the Spartan mother of Kratos and Deimos, and was also one of Zeus' many lovers. She was kept within the city of Atlantis, until Kratos' arrival at the city.

History

After giving birth to Kratos 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 in the village 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. Callisto quickly took him back home. After he awoke she told him that Deimos was gone.

So far, this village has only been mentioned in A Secret Revealed, one of the unlockable videos in God of War. It depicts 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, murdering his mother. Just before she died, she revealed the name of his father, Zeus. The scene was reworked for Ghost of Sparta.

In the God of War Series

Ghost of Sparta

“	How I have missed you, Kratos.	”
–Callisto, after seeing her son.

Callisto Beast Form — Callisto's monster form

As Kratos traversed Atlantis he came to the Temple of Poseidon, erected by the people of Atlantis in honor of their god. Once Kratos entered the temple, he succumbed to a vision of him and his brother training with a spear and shield, as their mother reminded them their "battle" was done, and they followed her back into their home. When awakening from the vision, Kratos comes across his mother lying on a bed, weakened and frail. Callisto tells her approaching son that she has missed him. At first, Kratos assumes it was a trick by the gods due to thinking his mother to be dead, but she assured him that it was truly her. After closely examining her, he realizes that it is indeed his mother to which he is shocked. She said that his father had brought her there. Confused, Kratos asks "My father?" Callisto then said that they didn't have much time and his brother doesn't have much time. She tells Kratos that Deimos lives and is trapped in torment at Death's Domain and it would be perilious journey to get there.

Angered at this revealation, Kratos asks why she did not tell him this only for her to which she apologizes as Kratos' father forbade her. Kratos, enraged, asks her who his father is. As she was about to reveal the name of Kratos' father, she transformed into a hideous beast whom Kratos was forced to fight. After having defeated his mother in battle, Kratos then takes her into his arms as she uses her dying moments to thank him for setting her free, and encouraging him to pursue Deimos in Sparta and she slowly dies. When she takes her last breath kratos proclaims "Mother! " while holding his dead mother in his arms and asks himself "What have I done?!" as his mother's body slowly disintergrates leaving Kratos enraged at the Gods for taking another member of his family and more determined to save his brother.

In the post-credits, her body is shown to have been restored and being carried to unknown location. Her body is placed in a grave next to Deimos by the Grave Digger who silently kneels and states "Now only one remains" as he buries Callisto next to her late son.

God of War II

As of God of War II, Kratos' Mother is never seen or heard of again until the final installment in the series. Zeus always knew Kratos was his son, and likely the son who would continue the cycle Cronos started. Before dying from a mortal wound accidentally inflicted by Kratos himself, Athena told Kratos that Zeus was his father. With this in mind, he intends to fulfill the prophecy and continue his quest to destroy Zeus once and for all. Upon his ascent of Olympus on Gaia's back, he even exclaims, "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 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.

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

Trivia

The name Callisto means "the most beautiful", originally an epithet of Artemis, likely a bear-goddess, later on her devotee, who became Zeus' lover 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 this could happen, Zeus transformed both in constellations, thus saving them. The name of Kratos' mother is a reference to this nymph, as she was also a lover of Zeus who was turned into a monster and almost killed her son. Kratos himself can be considered a "hunter" who just wanted to defend himself.
- It is speculated that Zeus has placed a curse on Callisto: if she ever reveals to Kratos and/or Deimos who their real father was, she will transform into a mindless monster that will slay them.
Callisto is voiced by Deanna Hurstold, while her younger form is voiced by Jennifer Hale.
From the words in the note it is clear she blames herself entirely for Kratos' choice to take a path of destruction, rather than Kratos himself.
Callisto transforms into a monster in a similar way as Calibos from the 1981 Clash of the Titans film.
Even after dying by her own son's hands, she still loves and cares about him, and wishes for all the blame to be placed upon her, and Kratos to be given redemption.
Since the hidden Secret Revealed scene was non-canonical, and Callisto was unable to say Zeus' name before becoming a beast, it was eventually Athena who told Kratos Zeus was his father.
Callisto 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 showing he cared greatly for her.
When you are wearing the God Armor, you can continuously attack Callisto when she is on the ground before finishing her to receive more Red Orbs.
This was unintentional, but it rather fits that his mother's name is Callisto. 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 Callisto 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 she was able to escape due to Hades' death or she could have chosen to stay because of her desire to suffer for her son's sake.
Given that Zeus himself dug her grave and buried her with his own hands, it is presumed that Zeus genuinely loved her. It is likely that it was Zeus who restored her body.

Gallery

Kratos and his mother
Callisto
Kratos holds his dead mother in his arms
Callisto transformed
Death of Callisto
Kratos against Callisto
Callisto's beast form concept art
young Callisto
older Callisto

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 [[File:Callisto Beast Form.jpg|thumb|184px|Callisto's monster form]]
-As [[Kratos]] traversed [[Atlantis]] he came to the [[Temple of Poseidon]], erected by the people of Atlantis in honor of their god. Once Kratos entered the temple, he succumbed to a vision of him and his brother training with a spear and shield, as their mother reminded them their "battle" was done, and they followed her back into their home. When awakening from the vision, Kratos comes across his mother lying on a bed, weakened and frail. Callisto tells her approaching son that she has missed him. At first, Kratos assumes it was a trick by the gods due to thinking his mother to be dead, but she assured him that it was her. After closely examining her, he realizes that it is indeed his mother to which he is shocked. She said that his father had brought her there. Confused, Kratos asks "My father?" Callisto then said that they didn't have much time and his brother doesn't have much time. She tells Kratos that Deimos lives and is trapped in torment at [[Domain of Death|Death's Domain]] and it would be perilious journey to get there.
+As [[Kratos]] traversed [[Atlantis]] he came to the [[Temple of Poseidon]], erected by the people of Atlantis in honor of their god. Once Kratos entered the temple, he succumbed to a vision of him and his brother training with a spear and shield, as their mother reminded them their "battle" was done, and they followed her back into their home. When awakening from the vision, Kratos comes across his mother lying on a bed, weakened and frail. Callisto tells her approaching son that she has missed him. At first, Kratos assumes it was a trick by the gods due to thinking his mother to be dead, but she assured him that it was truly her. After closely examining her, he realizes that it is indeed his mother to which he is shocked. She said that his father had brought her there. Confused, Kratos asks "My father?" Callisto then said that they didn't have much time and his brother doesn't have much time. She tells Kratos that Deimos lives and is trapped in torment at [[Domain of Death|Death's Domain]] and it would be perilious journey to get there.
 Angered at this revealation, Kratos asks why she did not tell him this only for her to which she apologizes as Kratos' father forbade her. Kratos, enraged, asks her who his father is. As she was about to reveal the name of Kratos' father, she transformed into a hideous beast whom Kratos was forced to fight. After having defeated his mother in battle, Kratos then takes her into his arms as she uses her dying moments to thank him for setting her free, and encouraging him to pursue Deimos in Sparta and she slowly dies. When she takes her last breath kratos proclaims "Mother! " while holding his dead mother in his arms and asks himself  "What have I done?!" as his mother's body slowly disintergrates leaving Kratos enraged at the Gods for taking another member of his family and more determined to save his brother.