| “ | In the time before the Titans, before the Gods of Olympus, a great battle was waged. The wrath of the Primordials, the very beings who forged the Earth, raged out of control for an eternity. | ” |
–Gaia | ||
The Primordials were the first race of beings and deities that came into existence, predating the Olympian Gods and Titans. They were astronomical in size and their appearances were elemental and cosmic, and were similar to the Titans, though they bore a more humanoid appearance.
The in-fighting among the Primordial race resulted in the creation of the world and universe, and also caused the birth of the Furies.
Greek Mythology
In Greek Mythology, the Primordial deities, known as the Protogenoi, are the first entities or beings born into existence. They form the very fabric of the universe and as such are immortal. The Primordials included Calligo (Darkness/Nothingness), Chaos (Void), Aether (Light), Ananke (Necessity), Chronos (Time), Erebus (Darkness), Eros (Love), Gaia (Earth), Hemera (Day), Hydros (Primordial Waters), Nesoi (Islands), Nyx (Night), Ophion (Serpent), Ourea (Mountains), Phanes (Procreation), Pontus (Water), Tartarus (Torment/Water), Thalassa (Sea), Thesis (Reality), and Ouranos (Sky). These deities are a group of gods from which all the other gods descended. They preceded the Titans, the descendants of Gaia and Uranus. Most are the children of Chaos the Primordial void from which all of creation came from.
In the God of War Series
Greek Era
It's said that before the Titans and the Olympians, a war broke out between the Primordials, the beings who forged the Earth. Their war was so massive it caused many natural disasters which created the Earth and the Universe. From the rage and madness of their war, the Furies were born.
The best-known Primordials are Calligo, Chaos, Gaia, Ouranos, Erebus and Nyx. Morpheus, Charon, Thanatos and the Sisters of Fate would also be considered to be Primordial deities.
Norse Era
Ymir was said to be the first sentient being in the land of Norway preceded the Norse Gods themselves. Later he was killed by Odin and his brothers who later used his body parts to form the realm of Midgard. Surtr is also a Primordial since he was born not long after Ymir's rise to existence, he forged the stars and breathed warmth to the cosmos by his mere existence, he's fated to destroy Asgard in Ragnarok right before Odin and Thor managed to kill him with their combined force.
Powers & Abilities
Little detail is available about their history as well as the full extent of their powers in the series currently. Given the nature of their battles though, we can assume and speculate that the Primordials all possessed the following abilities:
- Immortality - The Primordials had the potential to live forever and could only be destroyed by beings of equal or greater power. They are personifications of the eternity of nature and the universe.
- Invulnerability - The Primordials were impervious to mortal harm and could only be harmed by one another or beings of greater power. They are beings of pure elements and cosmic, not bound by the weaknesses of flesh, blood, bone, energy, and soul.
- Vast Divine Powers - As the creators of the world and the entire universe, the Primordials possessed astronomical cosmic and elemental powers. Given the fact that they predate the Sisters of Fate, not even Fate itself holds sway over the Primordials. They are also older than The Furies, though it is unknown if the Furies could be of any challenge to the Primordials; although considering how Kratos, a mortal demigod, was able to single-handedly kill all three of the Furies, it's very likely that the Furies would be no match at all for the Primordials.
- Absolute Strength - Their size and mass contribute to their astronomical superhuman strength and durability, making them more likely to be superior to Titans, Olympians, and any other creature less than a Primordial. This makes them possibly the strongest beings in the God of War (Greek) universe.
- Unlimited Stamina - The Primordials are not subject to fatigue. They could wage war for centuries without rest or relent.
- Near-infinite Durability - The Primordials are beings of pure elemental and cosmic forces. They are flawlessly indestructible and are capable of withstanding powerful blows and colossal amounts of pain for billions of years without showing any signs of exhaustion.
Known Primordials
Greek
- Chaos: the Primordial Void.
- Gaia: the Primordial embodiment of Earth.
- Ouranos: the Primordial embodiment of Sky.
- Thalassa: the Primordial embodiment of Earth's Water.
- Ourea: the Primordial embodiment of Mountains.
- Erebus: the Primordial embodiment of Darkness.
- Nyx: the Primordial embodiment of Night.
- Thanatos: The embodiment of Death.
- Sisters of Fate: The Goddesses of Fate.
Norse
- Ymir: the First sentient being in existence.
- Surtr: the Primordial force of Fire.
- Nornir: The Goddesses of Fate.
Trivia
- The water Primordial seen is most likely Thalassa, as it is quite clear she's a female.
- The fallen Primordial that forms the mountain ranges might be one of the Ourea.
- Unlike the Olympian Gods, whose deaths cause natural disasters and calamities, when Primordials die, their deaths create natural landscapes and form new land, seas, and sky.
- The red female Primordial whose blood created the Furies may be Nemesis, goddess of vengeance and retribution. These titles make her the probable mother of the Furies.