# Decoding the Ancient Symbols of War in God of War Lore - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/decoding-the-ancient-symbols-of-war-in-god-of-war-lore/ - Published: 2023-11-02 - Author: Nelson Ayers - Categories: [Basic knowledge & Meaning](https://33rdsquare.com/category/games/meaning/) --- The God of War video game franchise is one of the most iconic in history, having sold over 51 million copies worldwide. As an avid gamer and mythology enthusiast, I‘ve always been fascinated by the cryptic war symbols that permeate the series. In this article, we‘ll analyze the history, meaning, and significance of the four mysterious God of War symbols – the Eye of Horus, Omega, Mitsudomoe, and Triskelion. We‘ll see how they represent concepts of war across diverse ancient mythologies and cultures. ## The Lore and Legends Behind the Symbols The four ancient symbols of the God of War series are: | Symbol | Mythology | Meaning | | --- | --- | --- | | | Egyptian | Protection, restoration, royalty | | | Greek | The end, completion, cycles | | | Japanese | Cycles, trinity, interplay | | | Celtic | Motion, competition, cycles | According to the legends within the God of War universe, these four symbols represent the different aspects of war across the mythologies and cultures they originated from. Let‘s examine the history and meaning behind each one: ### The Egyptian Eye of Horus The Eye of Horus has origins in the ancient Egyptian mythology surrounding Horus, the god of sky and war. After Horus‘ eye was damaged during battle and subsequently healed, the symbol came to represent restoration, healing, and protection. Horus‘ clashes with Set for the throne of Egypt also made the symbol emblematic of war and royal power. In God of War, the Eye of Horus stands for war‘s associations with divine kingship, combat, damage, and recovery in Egyptian culture. ### The Greek Omega Ω As the final letter in the Greek alphabet, Omega symbolized endings, completion, and the last phase of cosmic cycles in Greek philosophy. According to legends Zeus was fated to be overthrown just as he had overthrown his own father. This end that Omega represents is central to God of War‘s narrative of Kratos slaying the Greek pantheon after being betrayed. ### The Japanese Mitsudomoe This Buddhist symbol ties to Hachiman, the god of war and protector of Japan. Its three swirls are thought to represent the realms of mankind, earth, and heaven. The Mitsudomoe embodied war‘s interplay with human, earthly, and divine forces. Its balance and unity of three inverse forces reflects war‘s strategic components according to Japanese mythology. ### The Celtic Triskelion Prominent in Celtic designs and artifacts, this swirling symbol may have symbolized competition and reflected the Celtic emphasis on cyclicality. The rotational, continuous nature of the Triskelion connects to the Celts‘ cyclic spiritual worldview. It also references war‘s impermanence and constant regeneration in Celtic beliefs. ## The Symbols as Unifying Elements in God of War Across the God of War games, these four ancient symbols unify the varying mythologies and reinforce war‘s centrality. Let‘s analyze some notable symbol appearances: ### Architecture and Lore - In God of War II, the symbols appear together on a gateway representing the deadly Labyrinth, created by the gods to contain monsters. This depicts how war and these icons relate metaphorically to the imprisonment of dangerous forces across cultures. - At the gateway to Tyr‘s Vault in the latest God of War installment, the four symbols again appear together. Tyr was the Norse god of war known for his collection of relics from different worlds. - Lore notes indicate Tyr traveled between mythological realms, explaining the presence of items bearing the four symbols in Tyr‘s Vault. A mural shows Tyr acquiring these relics in distant lands. ### Kratos‘ Equipment and Arms - When Kratos became the new God of War in the Greek era, his trademark Blades of Chaos were forged featuring the four symbols, associating him with war across cultures. - The Godly Possessions in God of War III that temporarily empower Kratos in battle bear etchings of the four icons, further connecting them to dominion in war. - Kratos‘ armor pieces like his gauntlets also prominently display the four symbols, implying he carries the legacy of these diverse war cultures into combat. ### Enemies and Combat - Guardian enemies in God of War II visibly show the four symbols on armor. Their translated names reference war and battle as well. - Corrupted soldiers in God of War III display the Mitsudomoe after magical infection, directly linking the symbol to wartime alteration and monstrosity. - The Fates use magical abilities manifesting the Omega in battle, tying it to their powers over the cycles of life and death that govern even the gods. By examining the in-game lore and Kratos‘ own interpretations, we can decode how the symbols encapsulate how war was viewed by these ancient societies across history. ## The God of War Logo – Omega Symbolizes Kratos‘ Quest Possibly the most iconic use of these ancient war symbols is in the God of War logo itself. The logo highlights the Greek Omega against a background evoking Spartan warrior culture. ![God of War logo](https://1000logos.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/God-of-War-logo-768x432.png) The Omega icon was specially designed for God of War and does not originate from Greek alphabets or texts. The developers likely selected it due to Omega‘s associations with endings and the overthrow of the ruling gods by Kratos. Using the Omega implies Kratos is the prophesied end that will bring down Zeus and the Greek pantheon. The Spartan helmet shape further symbolizes Kratos‘ roots as a human warrior who rose to defy fate and destroy the gods who crossed him. Together, the logo neatly encapsulates the franchise‘s central themes using Omega from the four ancient symbols of war. ## The Symbols – An Omnipresent Reminder of War‘s Legacy After analyzing their history, meanings, and uses across God of War‘s lore, locales, powers, and equipment, it‘s clear the four symbols of war have great significance. They stand as omnipresent reminders of war‘s integral role in these ancient societies. The icons link the mythologies and reinforce war‘s timeless influence through their strategic, mystical, cosmological, and cyclical representations. By uniting these symbols from diverse cultures, the franchise emphasizes that war is a universally understood phenomenon that transcends history and civilizations. So the next time you notice the Eye of Horus, Omega, Mitsudomoe, or Triskelion while playing God of War, remember they‘re more than just cool decorative symbols! These ancient icons help tie the series together across settings and reflect how war has been an intrinsic part of humanity across the ages. --- Source: [Decoding the Ancient Symbols of War in God of War Lore](https://33rdsquare.com/decoding-the-ancient-symbols-of-war-in-god-of-war-lore/)