Hephaestus

Hephaestus

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**__Quick Facts About Hephaestus__ 1. Ha-fes-tus 2. Son of Hera and Zues 3.  Hephaestus was the god of technology, blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals, metallurgy, fire and volcanoes 4. Created many of the god's magical items 5. Casted out of Olympus** **6. Was born weak and crippled 7.** =====

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** Hephaestus is known as the son of Hera and Zeus, although Zeus had nothing to do with the conception. Hephaestus was parthenogenetic, meaning he was conceived without male fertilization. Hephaestus was born weak and crippled and because of this he was forever known as the lame god. HIs mother Hera; displesed and disgusted by the look of her own son, she threw Hephaestus from Mount Olympus, and he fell for a whole day before landing in the sea below. Nymphs rescued Hephaestus and took him to Lemnos, where the peopole of the island cared for him, but other versions of the myth say that Zeus threw him form Mount Olympus after Hephaestus had sided with his mother in a fight. Hephaestus fell for nine days and nine nights, and he landed on the island of Lemnos. It was on this island where he built his palace under a volcano. Regardless, Hephaestus needed to gain revenge for his rejection by Hera. Hephaestus began to fashion a magic throne, which was presented to her on Mount Olympus. When Hera sat on the throne, it entrapped and imprisoned her. The gods on Mount Olympus pleaded with Hephaestus to return her, but he refused. The only way to get Hephaestus to give Hera back was to get Dionysus to give him god wine, when Hephaestus was intoxicated, Dionysus took him back to Mount Olympus slumped over the back of a mule. Hephaestus released Hera after being given the beautiful Aphrodite as his bride. Once back among his fellow gods on Mount Olympus, Hephaestus chose to live underground, where he could work as an artisan undisturbed. Hera grew to like her lame son, and felt very guilty for her previous vile conduct towards him. Also, Hephaestus was the one who split open the head of Zeus with an axe, when the King of the Olympians was suffering from a terrible headache. From the gaping head of Zeus emerged Athena. **   ** An Athenian founding myth tells us that Athena refused a union with Hephaestus because of his unsightly appearance. Eventually Hephaestus became forceful with Athena and caused her to run away and disappear from the bed; little did Hephaestus know, as a result of Athena leaving the bed his sperm landed on the earth, impregnating Gaia, who subsequently ended up gave birth to Erichthonius of Athens. ** =====

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 **Hephaestus** **was the god of technology, blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals, metallurgy, fire and volcanoes.** **His symbols in Greek mythology are fire, a hammer, and an axe.** **Even though Hephaestus was very versatile and omnipotent, he was sadly lame; meaning he moved with great pain and difficulty which gave him a eerie appearance within the eyes of the Greeks. Hephaestus served and worked as the blacksmith of the gods and was worshipped in the manufacturing and industrial centers of Greece, particularly in Athens.** =====

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 **It has been said that Hephaestus had crafted many of the other magnificent tools of the gods, almost all of the magical items that appear in Greek myths, is said to have been created by Hephaestus. Some of his works include Hermes' winged helmet and sandals, the Aegis breastplate, Aphrodite's famed girdle, Agamemnon's staff of office, Achilles' armor, Heracles' bronze clappers, Helios', and the shoulder of Pelops, Eros' bow and arrows. Hephaestus also worked with the help of the Chthonic Cyclopes while creating these mythical items. Hephaestus also created the gift that the gods gave to man, Pandora and her pithos. Each god helped create her by giving her unique gifts. Zeus ordered Hephaestus to mould her out of Earth.**   ===== 

"Hephaistos" by Ambrosios, circa 525 BC



Hephaestus Sculpture

Cyclops Aiding Hephaestus With His Welding

https://redmythology.wikispaces.com/Hephaestus-Vulcan -There is a nice little video of Hephaestus!

Websights used.http://www.pantheon.org/articles/h/hephaestus.html [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hephaestus] http://thanasis.com/hepha.htm 