Hephaestus / Vulcan : God of Fire, Forging, and Crafting

Author: Robin Price

Birth

The birth of Hephaestus is disputed between two theories.

Hephaestus at the Forge - Guillaume Coustou the Younger

One states that both Zeus and Hera are the parents (Appolodorus).
Another states that Hera, jealous of Zeus’s birth of Athena,

chose to bear alone. (Theogony, Homer)

Children

- Immortal

Euklia
Eupheme
Euthenia
Kabeiroi
Kabeirides
Palkoi
Philophrosyne
Thaleia

- Mortal

Ardalos
Erikhthonios
Kaikalos
Kakos
Kerkyons
Olenos

Palaimonios

Vulcano forjando los rayos de Júpiter (siglo XVII) - Peter Paul Rubens

Periphrtrs
Philammon
Philottos
Pylios
Rhadamanthys
Servius Tullius
Spinter

Symbols

Tongs
Hammer
Anvil
Donkey

Physical Attributes

Lame (Crippled)
Ugly, detested by the other gods

Friends/Enemies

Enemy

Aphrodite
Ares

Allies

None

Vase Depicting the Return of Hephaestus

Story

First Fall from Olympus

Hera was disgusted at the lameness of her son, Hephaestus. Out of this hatred, she threw him from Olympus into the seas

below. There he was caught by Thetis and Eurynome, who cared for him in a grotto for seven years.After spending some
time with Thetis and Eurynome, he returned to Olympus to confront his mother. He constructed a special throne that would
restrict anyone who sat in it. He then proceeded to give this chair to Hera. After sitting in it, she was forced to tell Hephestus
who his true parents were. After the tribunal, Hephaestus was allowed to return to Olympus.

Trojan War

· Saved Akhilleus from the river-god Skamandros
· Praised by both Greek and Trojans
o Preferred Greeks

Links

Theoi.com - Hephaestus