Hephaestus:

 One whose hands fuse iron and fire into one.

In Roman Mythology he is known as Vulcan

Introduction:

      The great Hephaestus is one of the most prominent and renowned gods in Greek Mythology. He was the god of fire, swordsmanship and craftsmanship, and other jobs relating to the use of metals. Also, he was the smith of the Olympian gods. His ability to create beautiful objects with his own to hands surpassed that of many gods. If any certain weapon was needed by the gods, Hephaestus was the one they would call first.

Birth:

      Despite the gods' dependence on this smith for weapons, he wasn't so celebrated like other heavenly beings when he came into exsitence. This great craftsman was shunned from the heavens from the moment he was born. Hephaestus was the child of the king and the queen of the heavens, Zeus and Hera. After a long and painful birth, (Some writers imply that he was born from Hera's thigh), Hera was extremely displeased to have given birth to a lame, ugly, and crippled club feet baby. Her goal was to have a son whose glory would surpass beyond her unfaithful husband Zeus.  Unhappy and aggravated by the result, she thought the newbron as an embarrasment and she instantly commanded for him to be sent out of heaven immediatly. 

Growing Up and Myth:

       After Hephaestus was expelled, he spent many years living in the volcano of Aetna, in Italy, though others sources state that he was brought to an island named Lemnos and raised by inhabiting maidens.  There he shaped many creations, such as swords, jewlery, and other goods for the gods, including his father's great lightning bolts. One of the most famous creations of Hephaestus was the throne he made for his mother. He seeked revenge from his mother, for casting him out of heaven. He designed the chair so that his mother would be eager to sit on it. And when that occured, the chair would entrap her, so that she cannot escape the chair's clutches, unless Hephaestus wishes to let her go. Like he had predicted, his mother had done exaclty so. After some time and pleading from his mother, he deicieded to free her. In return, she apologized and granted her son to live in heaven among the other gods.

     Hephaestus is a very muscular god, though even as a adult he had crippled and backwards feet and often had to travel with a stick or cane for support. Despite the malicious deed towards his mother, he was a very kind being at heart. Though, due to his physical appearance, not many goddesses were eager to marry him. Zeus, as a gift for freeing Hera and making his powerful scepture, arranged a marriage between Aphrodite, the godess of beauty and love, although he originally wanted to marry Athena. As surprising as it may seem, Aphrodite did not have any rejections. Though, as time passed, she proved to be a very unfaithful spouse and would often have affairs with other gods.

Symbols:

     There are many symbols that represent this smith. His symbols often include fire, scraps of iron, and a hammer. He was exceptionally popular among the working people of Athens, where swords and weapons were the crux for a powerful and successful civilization.

Lessons Learned:

    The life and story of Hephaestus shows that despite one's disabilities, one can still achieve great accomplishments in life.

^[1]