Hephaestus

Hephaestus was the Greek god of blacksmiths, sculptors, metallurgy, fire and volcanoes; thus, he is symbolised with a hammer, an anvil and a pair of tongs.

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.

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.

http://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/hephaestus/