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Hephaestus is born to Zeus and Hera. When Hephaestus was born, Hera thought he was an ugly child and because of that, she threw him into the ocean. By falling into the ocean, he became crippled. Thetis and Eurynome raised him as if he was their own child. Growing up, he was a workman of immortals; making weapons and furnishings. He crafted armor for Achilles to wear in the Trojan War. He is known as the God of fire due to his metal crafting using his hammer and anvils of hot fires. When he was old enough, he came back to Olympus and threatened his mom to give him a spouse and Hera gave him Aprodite. However, Aprodite had an affair with his brother, Ares, and Hephaestus chained them together to humiliate them for all of Olympus to see.

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God of Fire and Metalworking

Son of Zeus and Hera

The only ugly god

He was cast out of heaven because he born deformed

He made arrows for Cupid armor for Achilles and Athena's shield

He was a kind and peace-loving god

Made homes, weapons, and furniture for the other gods

It is believed that he taught men the arts of metalworking

His Roman name is Vulcan

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Greek God of Fire and Metalworking

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.

He had his own palace on Olympus where he made many clever inventions and automatons of metal to work for him. Hephaestus's ugly appearance was the reason Zeus chose him to marry Aphrodite, but despite this she had many affairs with both gods and men.

In one story, Hephaestus builds a tricky invention which catches Aphrodite laying with the Ares, the god of war, trapping them both in the bed to be laughed at and ridiculed by the other gods.

He is similar to Athena in his giving skill and help to mortals - in his case artists. It was believed that Hephaestus taught men the arts alongside Athena. However, he was also considered far inferior to that of the goddess of wisdom.

Facts about Hephaestus

Hephaestus was known as the God of Fire.

In some accounts, he was said to be the son of Zeus and Hera; in others, he was the son of Hera alone, conceived in order to get back at Zeus for bringing forth Athena.

Hephaestus was the only ugly god among perfectly beautiful immortals.

Hephaestus was born deformed and was cast out of heaven by one or both of his parents when they noticed that he was imperfect.

He was the workman of the immortals: he made their dwellings, furnishings, and weapons.

In his workshop, Hephaestus had assistants who were made out of gold and who helped him with his work.

His forge or workshop was located under a volcano, and the work he did within it caused frequent eruptions.

In most accounts, Aphrodite is named as his wife, although she was unfaithful to him (with Ares, for one). Theirs was an arranged marriage.

Hephaestus was a patron of the arts.

He was a kind and peace-loving god.

In art, Hephaestus is usually depicted as bending over an anvil or walking with the assistance of a cane.

He was worshipped primarily in Athens, where he had a temple.

Hephaestus manufactured the aegis (or shield) that Athena is known for carrying.

The arrows of Eros (known also as Cupid) were fashioned by Hephaestus as well.

Hephaestus was the god of the ceremony when children were officially admitted to the city organization.

According to a story told both by Homer and Hesiod, Hephaestus married Aglaia, one of the three Graces.

Hephaestus was known for making a gold basket that Europa, daughter of the King of Sidon, used to gather flowers when she happened upon Zeus in the meadow.

Hephaestus crafted the armor that Achilles wore in the Trojan War. The same arms, despite their connection to divinity, brought about the death of Ajax.

Aphrodite gave Harmonia an extraordinary necklace made by Hephaestus. The piece of jewelry brought disaster to later generations.

Erichthonius was the son of Hephaestus: he was half man, half serpent.

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Hephaestus * Facts and Information on Greek God Hephaestus

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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.

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The symbols that represented Hephaestus were the fire, the axe, the pincers, and the hammer.