HEPHAESTOS (Roman name: VULCAN)

Hephaestus, was the god of fire and is usually depicted as a blacksmith.  Hephaestus was the only physically ugly god; he was born deformed. Because of this, Hera, Hephaestus's mother, expelled him from the home of the gods, Mount Olympus.  The mountain was so big Hephaestus fell for a day, and when he landed in the sea he was lame.  Nymphs rescued him and took him to the Island of Lemnos where the people cared for him.  It was Lemnos where Hephaestus built his palace and forges.  Hephaestus built the armor and weapons for the gods.  By making lightning bolts for his father, Zeus, Hephaestus was rewarded with the hand in marriage of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and the most beautiful goddess of them all.   The Cyclopes' were Hephaestus's assistants and workmen.  To get revenge on Hera for his rejection, Hephaestus made a throne which was presented to her on Mount Olympus.  When Hera sat in the throne, it trapped her.  The gods on Mount Olympus pleaded for Hephaestus to let her go, but Hephaestus refused. Dionysus gave Hephaestus wine, and when he was intoxicated, Dionysus took him back to Mount Olympus on a mule.  This scene is a favorite in Greek art. Hephaestus wished to marry Athena, but Athena turned him down.