SMITE: Demigods, Deities and Gods Explained is a column dedicated to introducing prospective players of SMITE to its massive back story of lore. From the Greek to Hindu, each week we’ll look at two characters from a major pantheon and provide a quick recap of their history and in what capacity their digital incarnation will represent on the field of Hi-Rez Studios’ new MOBA.
Lore: Here we go again. Another test of your Roman versus Greek mythological knowledge. Bellona is the undoubtable a god of war, but which people worshiped her as such? Yes, you’re correct it was the ancient Romans. Tied with her brother Mars, also a god of war, Bellona was earlier known as Duellona. Named so for being associated with the term “battle.” The designation and divinity was so far reaching, so important to Roman culture and conquest that the Roman Senate met in the Templum of Bellonae when discoursing of matters of military strategy pertaining to foreign war.
Given the penchant for outright cribbing of Greek creativity Bellona has few distinctions from her counterpart. No, not Athena, but Enyo. Both were sisters of the male god of war. The pair being born of the same parents, yet often described as wed to one another. In Bellona’s case the holy matrimony is less ironclad. Nerio, a personification of valor, may hold that honor. She does stand out in the contemporary art of the time. Seen with breastplate, shield, sword and other weapons of battle she was seldom unadorned by her military helmet no matter how much the rest of her may have been exposed.
In-Game: Skirting the Guardian assignment the design group at Hi-Rez Studios stripped Bellona of her military helmet and morphed the Goddess of War into a fierce high sustain warrior. Her native high sustain makes her a formidable warrior for any squishy to stand toe-to-toe with, especially when maximizing damage and mixing additional personal protections. Her ever-changing weaponry makes her a more difficult god to handle. Mastering one of the most complicated stance dancers in SMITE will win kills, assists and the general love of your team.
Well equipped for every occasion that requires damage to be dealt Bellona unleashes her fury all around her while ignoring or returning that which is directed at her. Optimizing the Goddess of War requires clutch weapon switches mixed with your favored items to maximize each ability. Physical power is a basic need but don’t ignore items that offer synergy with personal defense and power. Runeforged Hammer and Stone of Gaia will ensure you remain in the fight. Mix in the likes of Jotunn’s Wrath and Titan’s Bane to secure kills or farm hard. Don’t overlook her passive, which grants movement speed, as a boon to movement based items.
Further reading:
- Bellona on Wikipedia
- Roman Mythology on Wikipedia
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Head over to SMITE: Demigods, Deities and Gods Explained for details on all of the playable characters.