5 Things You Didn't Know About Hephaestus, The Greek God of Fire

Hephaestus is the Greek god of fire, and was worshiped as a reliable and prolific source of heat and light. As a result of his fiery nature, Hephaestus is typically associated with smithing and metals more broadly.

However, he’s also linked to volcanoes, earthquakes, hot springs, geysers and other natural phenomena that involve fire and water. Read on for more facts about this fascinating deity…

Hephaestus’ early life

Hephaestus was the son of Zeus and Hera, one of the most powerful couples in Greek mythology. Although a god himself, Hephaestus was born with a disability in both arms, meaning he was unable to wield a weapon on the battlefield.

This made him an outcast among the other Olympian gods, and he spent most of his time in a workshop where he forged armour and weapons for the other gods. When Hephaestus was a child, he was tricked by the god Dionysus into climbing into a wine cask.

Dionysus then tied the cask to the back of an eagle, which carried the boy high into the air, and then tried to drop him onto the rocks below. Thankfully, the other gods were able to rescue Hephaestus, and the incident ensured he would always be associated with the home, domesticity, and fire.

Why is Hephaestus lame?

As the son of a goddess, Hephaestus had an enchanted birth, whereby he was cast out of his mother’s womb fully grown. He was initially incredibly handsome, as befitted a god, but as he approached his mother’s lap, he caught his foot in his swaddling bands and fell to the ground, shattering one of his legs.

He was crippled as a result of this, and was forever after lame. This mythological story is similar to the account of Sargon of Akkad, who was also cast out of his mother’s womb fully grown and crippled as a result.

Sargon was one of the earliest known kings of the Akkadian Empire, and his story provides a fascinating parallel to Hephaestus’ myth.

Where did Hephaestus live?

Hephaestus made his home in a cavern located beneath Mount Etna in Sicily, where he forged the weapons of the other gods. The smoke from his forge could be seen rising up from the mouth of the volcano, providing a constant reminder of his presence.

According to myth, Hephaestus lived here with his wife, Aphrodite, and their eight children, the Charites, who were the goddesses of beauty. Interestingly, Hephaestus’ home was believed to be the deepest place in the world.

This meant it was located beneath the water that surrounds the earth, and the earth itself, making it a truly subterranean dwelling.

The relationship between Hephaestus and Athena

There is a longstanding tradition of Hephaestus and Athena being romantically linked. Hephaestus and Athena are both associated with crafts and the home, which may explain why this mythological thread developed.

Hephaestus and Athena were actually siblings, which may have helped to make the story even more believable, although this doesn’t explain why they weren’t actually married. Along with Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty,

Hephaestus and Athena were often depicted as attendants of the gods, especially Hera, goddess of marriage. They are also both linked to the cuckoo bird, which is deeply associated with springtime, love and the coming change in season.

Other interesting facts about this god of fire

Because Hephaestus was associated with fire, he was also sometimes linked to volcanoes, which are the earth’s natural source of lava and fire. He was thought to have given the volcanoes on Sicily their fiery nature, which is why Mount Etna is still active to this day.

Hephaestus was also the god of geysers, which is a naturally occurring phenomenon where water heated by magma erupts through the surface of the earth as a fountain. Hot springs are also a sign of volcanic activity, and are occasionally linked to Hephaestus’ presence.

Other natural phenomena linked to Hephaestus include earthquakes, which are caused by shifts in the earth’s crust, and the gales that can follow when this occurs. The winds are thought to have been caused by the god’s forge, which was underground.

Final words: Celebrating Hephaestu’s role in the ancient world

As the god of fire, Hephaestus was a useful deity, and one that was often celebrated in the ancient world. Hot springs, geysers, and other natural phenomena that are linked to him were seen as beneficial, and were sometimes used to heal people from ills and ailments.

Hephaestus’ fiery nature also made him a useful deity in times of war, when soldiers needed armour and weaponry. Perhaps most interestingly, the fact that Hephaestus’ home was under the ground helped to explain volcanoes and earthquakes.

It may seem strange to those of us who live above the ground that these natural events should be associated with the home, but such is the power of myth.