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Hephaestus: The God of Fire, Metalworking and Craftsmanship

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Hephaestus: The God of Fire, Metalworking and Craftsmanship

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Maybe...some say he was born only of Hera

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He was known for his deformity he received when his mother threw him off the mountain.

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It is said that his mother threw him from this mountain because he was UGLY!

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His wife. It was an unhappy marriage with no children.

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A lover with whom he had 4 children, Eucleia, Euthenia, Philophrosyne, and Eupheme.

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Another lover from whom he had twins known collectively as the Palici.

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ANOTHER lover he had a male child named Periphetes .

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He had an "accidental" son with her!

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Hephaestus in his workshop. Mostly seen with a hammer in his hands.

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Hephaestus was known for making powerful weapons, including Zeus' Thunderbolt!

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Built by Hephaestus, it is the shield of Zeus or Athena

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Hephaestus also built the armor for Achilles!

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He is closely associated with volcanoes and fire, since fire is essential in forging metals!

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He is known for being inventive, hard-working and kind

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There are a few symbols that relate with Hephaestus. They are.....

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Being a god of fire and metalworking, his hammer is an iconic symbol.

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You might have guessed....the anvil is another ideal symbol for Hephaestus.

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An erupting volcano is also a classical symbol for Hephaestus.

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His forge was said to be beneath volcanoes, where the fire and heat were strong enough for a god’s workshop. The ancient Greeks often linked volcanic eruptions and lava flows to Hephaestus hard at work.

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Hephaestus is associated with a donkey as well. It symbolizes his laborious nature and steadfastness. He often rode side-saddle due to his disability.

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This was another sacred animal in his eyes. This represented his creative and constructive abilities.

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Despite being disabled, he rose to become one of the most powerful and respected gods.

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Hephaestus was a smart god. He represented the idea that skill and creativity can surpass brute strength.

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A symbol representing Hephaestus is tongs (seen in the left hand pictured above). This tool is paramount in handling molten metal.

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The Greeks and later Romans believed this is the volcano that he was working under.

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Hephaestus will forever be hard at work making weapons/armor for the gods. 

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Hephaestus will forever be hard at work making weapons/armor for the gods. 

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Hephaestus lives on eternally at his forge, hammering away under the volcanoes.

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Constructed golden, self-moving maidens and other mechanical wonders to assist him in his forge....like early robots!!

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Overall, his purpose was to be the creator, builder, and inventor of the gods’ world. He turned fire and metal into tools of power. He also symbolized the dignity of craftsmanship and the idea that even those who are imperfect can be indispensable.