Facts about Hephaestus
In an unrelated tradition, Hephaestus is thought to be married to Charis, the youngest of the Graces.
Regardless of which goddess was seen as his wife, Hephaestus did not have any children that played a large role in the mythic corpus.
Hephaestus (IPA pronunciation: or ; Greek ???????? Hкphaistos) was the Greek god of fire, metals and metallurgy, and technology, including specifically blacksmiths, artisans, and sculptors.
More specifically, the goddess of beauty, disliking the idea of being married to unsightly Hephaestus, began an affair with Ares, the god of war.
Of all the second generation Olympians (Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Athena, Dionysus, Hephaestus, and Hermes), only two, Ares and Hephaestus, are children of the Hera.
Hephaestus is somewhat notable among the Greek gods for his definitively non-Hellenic origins, as his association with the indigenous fire cults of Lemnos is well attested by both mythic accounts and archaeological records.
In all cases, Hephaestus is described as malformed, crippled, or lame (or some combination of the three traits).
Springing to his mother's aid, Ares offered to force the smith god to release her, but was driven away from Hephaestus's home by the clever god's flaming arrows.
Outside Attica, Hephaestus was somehow connected with the archaic, pre-Hellenic Phrygian and Thracian mystery cult of the Kabeiroi, who were also called the Hephaistoi "(the Hephaestus-men)," in Lemnos.
In Attica, Hephaestus and Athena Ergane (Athena as patroness of craftsmen and artisans), were honored at a festival called Chalceia on the 30th day of Pyanepsion.
Appalled at the sight of her grotesque offspring, Hera promptly threw Hephaestus from Mount Olympus.
According to Homer's epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey, he was the son of Zeus and Hera. However, Hesiod informs us that Hera bore Hephaestus alone. According to an account, after Hephaestus was born, Hera threw him from Olympus because he was crippled; he fell into the ocean and was raised by Thetis and Eurynome.
Though married to Hephaestus, Aphrodite had an affair with Ares, the god of war. Eventually, Hephaestus discovered Aphrodite's affair through Helios, the all-seeing Sun, and planned a trap during one of their trysts.
And insecure he is. His looks caused his mom, Hera, to toss him off of Mount Olympus when he was born, they caused Athena to reject his advances, and they cause his ultra-gorgeous wife, Aphrodite, to constantly cheat on him. Hephaestus may not be good looking, but he's famous for making beautiful and fabulous things.
Definition of Hephaestus. : the Greek god of fire and metalworking — compare vulcan. First Known Use: 1678.
Hephaestus was the son of Zeus and Hera or, in some accounts, of Hera alone. He limped because he was born lame, which caused his mother to throw him off Mount Olympus. Or in other accounts he interceded in a fight between Zeus and Hera, and Zeus took him by the foot and threw him from Olympus to the earth far below.
Latinized form of Greek 'Ηφαιστος (Hephaistos), meaning unknown. It probably shares its origin with the Minoan city of Φαιστος (Phaistos), which is of Pre-Greek origin. In Greek mythology Hephaestus was the god of fire and forging, the husband of the unfaithful Aphrodite.
Hephaestus was the god of fire, metalworking, stone masonry, forges and the art of sculpture. He was the son of Zeus and Hera and married to Aphrodite by Zeus to prevent a war of the gods fighting for her hand. He was a smithing god, making all of the weapons for Olympus and acting as a blacksmith for the gods.
What Did Hephaestus Create?his robotic helpersHera's fettered throneAphrodite's golden girdleApollo's chariotHades' cap of invisibilityDemeter's sickleAchilles' shield (Iliad 18:514-660)Agamemnon's scepter18 more rows
In Greek mythology, Hephaestus was the son of Zeus and Hera, the King and Queen of the Gods. As a smithing god, Hephaestus made all the weapons of the gods in Olympus. He served as the blacksmith of the gods, and was worshipped in the manufacturing and industrial centres of Greece, particularly Athens.