In Mythic Odysseys of Theros, it is mentioned that the gods are a vague family. While their exact relationship is intentionally left ambiguous, I think we have enough clues to create a semi-accurate family tree. After all, “Some tales describe these as actual generations, suggesting (for example) that the storm god, Keranos, is the literal son of Thassa, god of the sea, and Purphoros, god of the forge.”
The first generation of “gods”, the Titans, aren’t given enough detail to be relevant.
The second generation of gods is the first that is described. Kruphix and Klothys make up this generation.
The third generation of gods (Heliod, Atheros, Nylea, Thassa, and Purphoros) are implied to be the offspring of Kruphix and Klothys, though they don’t seem to regard the pair as parents.
The fourth generation of gods is where things get tricky, and this is where we have to start getting into Magic: The Gathering’s color system. Essentially, Magic the Gathering has five elemental colors (White, Red, Green, Blue, Black), each representing a vague philosophy and power set. What the colors represent is unimportant for this explanation. In Theros, the major gods, who make up the third generation, are each represented by a single color. The other gods, including the second and fourth generations, are minor gods, represented by the pairing of two colors. (The second generation’s power has faded from a lack of worship.)
Keep that in your mind as we analyze the fourth generation. Atheros and Phenax are easy; they are both directly described as mortals who ascended to divinity, and thus are not related to the other gods. And Mogis and Iroas came from a single war god who split himself in two. That leaves six gods: Ephara, an unnamed war god, Karametra, Keranos, and Pharika.
The book suggests twice that Keranos was the child of Thassa and Purphoros. This makes sense; Thassa is represented by blue, Purphoros by red, and Keranos by both. This implies that generally, second-generation deities are the children of the gods who represent their two component colors. It just so happens that this rule allows for exclusively biologically possible male-female parentage: Ephara is the child of Heliod and Thassa, Karametra is the child of Heliod and Nylea, and Pharika is the child of Nylea and Erebos. That leaves one mystery: The War God.
The War God is likely represented by the color red, the only color Iroas and Mogis share. This color is shared by Purphoros. So I think the most likely explanation is that Purphoros created the war god somehow. Perhaps that is why Purphoros later tried to forge a twin for himself.
So here’s our final family tree: Heliod, Erebos, Purphoros, Nylea, and Thassa are the children of Kruphix and Klothys. Iroas and Mogis are the two halves of a war god created by Purphoros. Keranos is the son of Purphoros and Thassa. Karametra is the daughter of Nylea and Heliod. Pharika is the daughter of Nylea and Erebos. Ephara is the daughter of Heliod and Thassa. Finally, Phenax and Athereos are mortals who ascended to divinity.
It would make sense that Pharika is the daughter of Nylea and Erebos. The book says the Pharika adores Nylea and would often curse any that Nylea also had a grudge against. She is clearly a mama's girl while feeling like she is undermined by her father.
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In Mythic Odysseys of Theros, it is mentioned that the gods are a vague family. While their exact relationship is intentionally left ambiguous, I think we have enough clues to create a semi-accurate family tree. After all, “Some tales describe these as actual generations, suggesting (for example) that the storm god, Keranos, is the literal son of Thassa, god of the sea, and Purphoros, god of the forge.”
The first generation of “gods”, the Titans, aren’t given enough detail to be relevant.
The second generation of gods is the first that is described. Kruphix and Klothys make up this generation.
The third generation of gods (Heliod, Atheros, Nylea, Thassa, and Purphoros) are implied to be the offspring of Kruphix and Klothys, though they don’t seem to regard the pair as parents.
The fourth generation of gods is where things get tricky, and this is where we have to start getting into Magic: The Gathering’s color system. Essentially, Magic the Gathering has five elemental colors (White, Red, Green, Blue, Black), each representing a vague philosophy and power set. What the colors represent is unimportant for this explanation. In Theros, the major gods, who make up the third generation, are each represented by a single color. The other gods, including the second and fourth generations, are minor gods, represented by the pairing of two colors. (The second generation’s power has faded from a lack of worship.)
Keep that in your mind as we analyze the fourth generation. Atheros and Phenax are easy; they are both directly described as mortals who ascended to divinity, and thus are not related to the other gods. And Mogis and Iroas came from a single war god who split himself in two. That leaves six gods: Ephara, an unnamed war god, Karametra, Keranos, and Pharika.
The book suggests twice that Keranos was the child of Thassa and Purphoros. This makes sense; Thassa is represented by blue, Purphoros by red, and Keranos by both. This implies that generally, second-generation deities are the children of the gods who represent their two component colors. It just so happens that this rule allows for exclusively biologically possible male-female parentage: Ephara is the child of Heliod and Thassa, Karametra is the child of Heliod and Nylea, and Pharika is the child of Nylea and Erebos. That leaves one mystery: The War God.
The War God is likely represented by the color red, the only color Iroas and Mogis share. This color is shared by Purphoros. So I think the most likely explanation is that Purphoros created the war god somehow. Perhaps that is why Purphoros later tried to forge a twin for himself.
So here’s our final family tree: Heliod, Erebos, Purphoros, Nylea, and Thassa are the children of Kruphix and Klothys. Iroas and Mogis are the two halves of a war god created by Purphoros. Keranos is the son of Purphoros and Thassa. Karametra is the daughter of Nylea and Heliod. Pharika is the daughter of Nylea and Erebos. Ephara is the daughter of Heliod and Thassa. Finally, Phenax and Athereos are mortals who ascended to divinity.
It would make sense that Pharika is the daughter of Nylea and Erebos. The book says the Pharika adores Nylea and would often curse any that Nylea also had a grudge against. She is clearly a mama's girl while feeling like she is undermined by her father.