Hephaestus

__Hephaestus: God of Technology, Metallurgy, and Fire__



Hephaestus was the god of technology, blacksmiths, craftsman, artisans, sculptors, fire, and volcanoes. His symbols are those of blacksmiths: hammer, anvil, tongs, axe, etc. He was worshipped primarily in Athens. Hephaestus was the son of Zeus and Hera (perhaps only Hera, it is possible that she could get pregnant without insemination). Hephaestus is known as the lame god, because he was born weak and crippled.  One version of the most famous story about Hephaestus says that Hera was angry that he had been born so weak and threw him off of Mount Olympus. The god fell for an entire day before landing in the sea, where he was rescued by nymphs and taken to the island of Lemnos (a part of Lesbos).  Another version, however, states that Hephaestus sided with Hera in an argument against Zeus. Because of this, Zeus threw Hephaestus off of Mount Olympus. In this story, he fell for nine days and nights before landing on Lemnos.  Either way, Hephaestus built his palace and forges under a volcano on the island of Lemnos and lived there instead of on Mount Olympus with the rest of the gods. He built great things there with the help of his assistants, the Cyclopes. These included Zeus’ lightning bolts and scepter, Athena’s shield, Eros’ arrows, Helios’ golden chariot, and Achilles’ indestructible armor.  One story says that Hephaestus was angry at Hera for rejecting him, and so built a great throne for her, which entrapped her when she sat in it. The other gods on Mount Olympus begged Hephaestus to come and release Hera, but he refused. The legend says that Dionysus gave Hephaestus wine and got him drunk, then took him back to Mount Olympus on a mule. There, Hephaestus released Hera from her bonds in exchange for being given Aphrodite as his bride.

__Sources__ "Hephaestus." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. 30 Dec. 2010. 31 Dec. 2010. . Leadbetter, Ron. "Hephaestus." //Encyclopedia Mythica//. 2 Feb. 2006. 31 Dec. 2010. .