Hephaestus is the god of fire and blacksmithing, an all-consuming flame and handicrafts, as well as the patron of metalworking, various crafts, carpentry and sculptures. He occupies his own special niche in the company of immortal Olympians. In Greece, the god of blacksmithing Hephaestus was the parthenogenetic child of Hera. He was expelled from Mount Olympus either by his mother because of his ugliness, or by Zeus.
God of blacksmithing
The blacksmith Hephaestus created most of the legendary metal artifacts on Olympus, including the weapons of the Olympians. In the literal sense of the word, he worked as an Olympic blacksmith, but, apparently, for nothing. He was worshiped in the manufacturing and industrial centers of Greece, especially in Athens. The cult of Hephaestus was founded in Lemnos. Symbols of Hephaestus are a hammer, iron tongs and a fire anvil.
The actions of the blacksmith
Greek myths and Homer's poems are full of stories that Hephaestus had a special power that could set in motion anything. He designed the golden animals at the entrance to the palace of Alkinoos so that they could attack the invaders and intruders. The ancient Greeks believed that in all the statues there is a spark of life thanks to this god. This type of art (the creation of statues) and animistic faith in their life goes back to the Minoan period, when Daedalus, the builder of the labyrinth, created sculptures that moved on their own. The statue of God, according to the Hellenes, was itself partially a deity, and the image on the grave of a person could cause his spirit.
The myth of exile
In one of the branches of Greek mythology, Hera threw Hephaestus from the solar firmament, because he "wrinkled from his feet." He fell into the ocean and was raised by Thetis (the mother of Achilles and one of the 50 Nereids) and Eurynome.
According to another version, Hephaestus, trying to save his mother from Zeus, was thrown from heaven by the Thunderer himself. Somehow, being overthrown, like Lucifer, he ended up on the island of Lemnos, where he was trained by the Sintians, an ancient tribe that lived in these parts. More recent authors describe his lameness as a consequence of his fall, while Homer makes him lame and weak from birth.
Hephaestus was one of the Olympians who returned to Olympus after exile.
Completion of the story
In archaic history, the god of blacksmithing Hephaestus took revenge on Hera for rejecting him by making her a magical golden throne from which it was impossible to rise. Other gods desperately asked the hero to return home to the heavenly mountain Olympus.
Finally, Dionysos intoxicated him with wine and took the obedient blacksmith back, and he did this, accompanied by revelers. In the painted scenes, the phallic-shaped dancers who make up the retinue of Dionysus say that the procession was part of the praises of the mysteries that preceded the satirical plays in Athens of the fifth century. This is the story of the most famous god of blacksmithing.
Conclusion
Hephaestus is one of the most mysterious gods in Greek mythology. Despite its mystery and a secondary role in mythology, his image is incredibly archetypal. The gods of blacksmithing are found in all religious and mythological concepts, but only among the Greeks did the history of Hephaestus gain an epic scale.
He plays his own important and irreplaceable role in the theater of divine life. He forged the zippers of Zeus, the weapons of Olympus warriors, the armor of his colleagues in the Olympic workshop. He communicated with Zeus, Hero, Dionysus and all other Immortals. He was worshiped by simple Hellenes, brought gifts, composed and performed hymns in his honor, sought (and, as they say, achieved) his forgiveness, blessing and protection. This blacksmithing god immortalized his name forever and ever, making him a synonym for skill, perseverance, hard work and boundless creative energy embodied in the figure of a craftsman.