Hephaestus was the god of fire and blacksmiths. He is the son of Zeus and Hera (some just credit Hera alone). Hephaestus started out with a very sad beginning. The moment he was born, Hera chucked him off of Mount Olympus because she thought he was ugly. Poor Hephaestus fell for an entire day until he hit the ocean and floated onto a small island. While on the island, he was rescued by two Nereids, Thetis and Eurynome who raised him.
Ancient myths tell us that when Hephaestus fell, he one of his legs, which therefore caused him to be lame. He lived with the beautiful Nereids for many years; when he was nine, he started to develop his incredible talent of crafting. He made numerous things, each one better than the one before. Not long after, Hera noticed Thetis wearing splendid jewelry out of gold. She knew that it could not have been any mortal who could have crafted such beautiful things, so she begged to know who it was. When Thetis revealed the craftsmen, Hephaestus, Hera was shocked and immediately demanded he return to Olympus.
Hephaestus was still extremely upset at Hera’s cruel actions at his birth and refused to return. After a while though, Hephaestus developed a cunning plan. He made a beautiful golden chair for Hera. When she sat it, the magical chair immediately wrapped invisible feathers around Hera’s hands and feet, causing her to become immobile. Hera begged to be freed, but Hephaestus refused until she would complete his demands. So she did, and Hephaestus moved to Mount Olympus. Hera grew quite fond of her son, and quickly forgot about his ugliness and lameness. He turned out to be her favorite son.
She gave him an enormous chamber to work in with the best tools and equipment. In return, Hephaestus would build Hera magnificent things. Hephaestus was even the god that made the twelve Olympian thrones! Hera still felt guilty though, so she gave Hephaestus the beautiful Aphrodite as a wife. Aphrodite was never very loyal, but Hephaestus still felt lucky anyway.
Many mortals looked up to the worker god, Hephaestus, because he showed how even a hard worker could still be noble. Hephaestus was always kind and solitude. There were two festivals held in his name every year-- the Vulcanalia, the Hephaestia.
Hephaestus was quick to split Zeus’s head open with an axe when he complained of a horrible headache—the birth of Athena. He was also the one who created the body of Pandora, the first woman. Hephaestus was always there when needed.
Famous Creations of Hephaestus
Magical golden girdle of Aphrodite
Artemis and Apollo’s bows and arrows
His robots that helped him in his chambers
The palace and homes of the gods
Shield of Achilles
Hercules’ golden breastplate
Necklace of Harmonia
Athena's spear
Apollo's chariot
Demeter's sickle
Scepter of Zeus
The golden bed of Helios
The armor of the gods in their war against the Titans
Various incredible golden jewelry
Zeus’s Aegis
The invisible silver net
**Zeus**
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**Poseidon**
**Hades**
**Hera**
**Apollo**
**Artemis**
**Athena**
**Aphrodite**
**Dionysus**
**Hermes**
**Demeter**
**Hestia**
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