Hephaestus (deity)
Hephaestus is a prominent deity in ancient Greek mythology, recognized as one of the twelve Olympian gods. He is revered as the god of blacksmiths, artisans, fire, and metallurgy, showcasing exceptional skills in metalwork. In Roman mythology, he is known as Vulcan. The origins of Hephaestus are complex, with varying accounts of his parentage—some myths attribute him to Zeus and Hera, while others claim he was born solely from Hera through parthenogenesis.
Hephaestus is notable for his physical infirmity, often described as having a withered foot, which leads to his expulsion from Olympus, although he ultimately returns due to his remarkable craftsmanship. His creations include the armor of gods and heroes, as well as various magical artifacts, and he is linked to significant myths involving other deities, such as his tumultuous relationship with Aphrodite. Hephaestus is also associated with volcanic activity, particularly on the island of Lemnos, which is considered a center of his worship. Temples dedicated to him, such as the Hephaesteum in Athens, reflect his importance in the cultural and spiritual life of ancient Greece, particularly among craftsmen and artisans.
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Subject Terms
Hephaestus (deity)
Symbol: Hammer; anvil; tongs; quail
Culture: Greco-Roman
Mother: Juno/Hera
Father: Jupiter/Zeus
Siblings: Aphrodite; Apollo; Ares; Artemis; Athena; Dionysus; Eileithyia; Enyo; the Graces; Hebe; Helen of Troy; Heracles; Hermes; Minos; the Muses; Perseus
Children: Ardalos; Erikhthonios; Eukleia; Eupheme; Euthenia; the Kabeiroi; the Kaberides; Kaikalos; Kakos; Kerkyon; Olenos; Palamonios; the Palikoi; Periphetes; Philammon; Philottos; Philophrosyne; Pylios; Rhadamanthys; Servius Tullius; Spinther; Thaleia
Hephaestus is a major deity of ancient Greece, one of the twelve Olympian gods in Greek mythology. He is the god of blacksmiths, sculptors and artisans, metal and metallurgy, fire, and volcanoes. In the Roman pantheon he is called Vulcan, but in the mythology of Greece he has more than one name and a long list of epithets relating to his physical infirmity or his many skills.
Interestingly, his parentage is not absolutely settled in Greek mythology. In some versions of his story, his parents are Zeus and Hera, the king and queen of Olympus. But in other myths, Hephaestus is the son of Hera alone—she gave birth to him via parthenogenesis, without intercourse with Zeus or anyone else, because she was angry that Zeus had formed Athena from his own mind.
According to one myth, because Hephaestus was born with a withered foot or feet, Hera threw him from Olympus to earth. In another version, Hephaestus was trying to protect his mother from Zeus, and the king of the gods cast the boy down to earth. In either case, Hephaestus was ejected from heaven, and he was the only exiled Olympian to subsequently return to Mount Olympus. He was welcomed back to the home of the gods because of his incredible skill as a blacksmith and metallurgist. He fashioned all of the armor and weapons of the gods and for some mortal heroes as well, the thrones of the gods, and any other metalwork of particular cunning or magical power.
In Mythology
Hephaestus is an important character in many myths. In one version of his ejection from Olympus, he took his revenge on his mother by fashioning a beautiful golden throne for her. But when Hera sat on the throne, she could not stand again. Hephaestus refused to release her, saying, "I have no mother." Finally the god Dionysus plied Hephaestus with wine, coaxed the lame god back to Olympus, and convinced him to release Hera from the throne.
While one myth holds that Hera gave birth to Hephaestus in retaliation for Zeus creating Athena, in another myth Hephaestus actually wields his axe to release Athena from the skull of Zeus. Another inconsistency in the stories of Hephaestus involves the identity of his wife. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is often said to be Hephaestus’s serially unfaithful wife. Other myths name lesser deities as the smith’s consorts. He had many children from both immortal partners and human women.
In one story, Hephaestus caught Aphrodite in her affair with the god of war, Ares. Hephaestus trapped them with a metal net that, even though it was also too fine to be visible, was too strong for the lovers to break. Hephaestus then paraded them naked through Olympus, to the amusement of the other gods. Poseidon finally persuaded the enraged smith to free the pair in return for a fine from Ares and a refund of his bride price.
His skill with metal was unmatched. He designed the winged sandals and helmet worn by Hermes, the speedy messenger of the gods, the girdle worn by Aphrodite, and the chariot driven by Helios, god of the sun. He forged the thunderbolts thrown by Zeus and the scepter of his kingship. He made Athena’s shield. In his palace on Mount Olympus he had his anvil and twenty forges and Cyclopes as assistants. He built metal automatons that helped him as well.
He made the magnificent armor worn by Achilles because Achilles’s mother, Thetis, cared for Hephaestus after he was thrown from Olympus. He made the breastplates worn by Heracles. He made the bow and arrows used by Eros. In one myth, the fire Prometheus gave to humanity was stolen from Hephaestus, who subsequently fashioned the chain that attached Prometheus to the cliff where Zeus punished him forever.
Hephaestus was like Athena in the sense that his skills were so great that he taught humanity how to do many essential things. He was the god of stonework and sculpture because he taught these skills to men. And Hephaestus gave to mankind the gift of the woman Pandora, whom he created at the command of Zeus.
He is also associated with Athena in the founding myth of Athens. According to the story, he made unwelcome advances toward Athena, who rejected the deformed god. Instead, Hephaestus impregnated Gaia, the goddess of the earth, who gave birth to Erikhthonios, the founder of Athens.
Origins & Cults
Hephaestus is believed to have originated as a deity in Asia Minor and nearby islands. He was particularly worshipped on Lemnos and was associated with volcanoes there and with Mount Aetna in Sicily. Lemnos was where he was said to have recovered after being thrown from Mount Olympus, and in one version of his mythology, he learned his skills on Lemnos.
The cult of Hephaestus was centered on that island, but he was also important in Athens. The Temple of Hephaestus and Athena, known as the Hephaesteum or the Theseum, still stands in the city. The Doric-style temple was built in year 449 BCE. The Chalceia festival honored Hephaestus and Athena as the guardians of artisans and craftsmen.
Some researchers believe the cult of Hephaestus reached Athens around 600 BCE and then spread to Campania and Sicily soon thereafter. His cult is associated with volcanoes and other natural fires. These were his smithies. Centers of manufacturing and industry in Greece, Athens in particular, worshipped Hephaestus as an important patron, but his cult did not spread throughout the Greek mainland.
In art, especially on painted vases, he usually appears as an older bearded man, often working at his anvil in a short tunic without sleeves and a rough cap on his head. He often walks with the help of a stick.
Bibliography
Bonnefoy, Yves. Greek and Egyptian Mythologies. Trans. Wendy Doniger. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1992. Print.
Bullfinch, Thomas. Bullfinch’s Mythology. 1913. New York: Sterling, 2015. Print.
Dalton, Irvin. The Esoteric Codex: Deities of Forge and Smithing. Raleigh: Lulu, 2015. Print.
Jackson, Roy. Greek Mythology: Myths and Legends of the Gods, Titans, Zeus, Olympians, and More! Seattle: CreateSpace, 2015. Print.
Sears, Kathleen. Mythology 101: From Gods and Goddesses to Monsters and Mortals, Your Guide to Ancient Mythology. Avon: Adams Media, 2014. Print.