If we talk about friendly characters in video games, Kratos is almost certainly God of War would top the list… from the bottom. The Spartan has proven for almost two decades that he is not the most approachable, empathetic and pleasant person in the world, although it is also fair to say that he has proven to be much more human in his Nordic facet, God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök.
Age, Faye and Atreus (wife and son) and his friendship with Mimir, Freyja, Brok and Sindri have helped Kratos become a more sociable being. This new side has developed over the last two installments (and will continue to do so) and at the beginning of the first one could still see bits of the narrow and moody version of him.
Do you remember the scene of God of War (2018) in which Sindri throws an apple at Kratos after a fight? The Spartan uses his ax to cut it in the air and waste the gift. Although he seems ungrateful, he has reasons to do it… although, as always, his forms fail him. Beyond the humorous tone, the scene has a special meaning.
Kratos is from Sparta, which was a polis in Ancient Greece. The Greek people shared many aspects such as culture and religion, despite their differences, and a very popular custom was to throw an apple at another person. This was a declaration of love. If the other person caught it, then it was reciprocated.
This custom owes its origin to a story about gods: Eris, goddess of discord, was upset at not receiving an invitation to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, so she left a golden apple at the party with the inscription “For the most beautiful.” . Hera, Athena and Aphrodite claimed the fruit. The person in charge of delivering it was Paris, son of Troy. The goddesses tried to bribe him. He gave in to Aphrodite’s promise: the love of Helen of Sparta. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Sindri’s intention was never to declare romantic love for Kratos, since she is unaware of the traditions of Greece. In Norse culture, (golden) apples are related to the goddess Idun, grant immortality and are often related to youth and knowledge. We assume that Sindri’s intention was establish a bond of friendship. However, Kratos knew very well what he meant and decided to decline the offer in the best way he could think of: cutting her in the air with his axe. The magic of cultural perspectives!
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