Greek Mythology : Hephaestus

My favorite Greek myth is that of Hephaestus. In Roman mythology Hephaestus' equivalent is Vulcan.

Hephaestus is the God of fire and volcanoes, of technology and manufacturing, of blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals and metallurgy. He created all the thrones in the Palace of Olympus. He crafted the magnificent equipment of the gods; he built beautiful automatons of metal to work for him.

Hephaestus was an alchemist. Hephaestus had special powers to produce motion.

His story is sad and beautiful .

Hephaestus was the son of Zeus and Hera, the king and queen of the gods. It is said that he was Hera's parthenogenous child; rejected by his own mother because of a deformity in his face, he was thrown off the Mount Olympus by her.

As he landed, Hephaestus fell down and unfortunately, one of his legs broke and never developed properly again.

Hephaestus gained revenge on his mother by forging for her a magical golden throne. When she sat on it, it did not allow her to stand up. The more she shrieked and struggled the more firmly the throne gripped her.

Everyone begged Hephaestus to release his mother. He refused, saying "I have no mother".

He later released her (in exchange for marrying Aphrodite) and even was an obedient and kind son.

Aphrodite

Hephaestus’s ugly appearance was the reason Zeus chose him to marry Aphrodite; however, she was always unfaithful to him. This was an arranged marriage.

Athena

Athena was the goddess of wisdom. Hephaestus, who was deserted by his wife, tried to enter her, but she did not like him. So as he ejaculated, his semen fell on the goddess of earth, Gaea, who was accidentally impregnated and bore a son Erichthonius.

Athena felt a certain responsibility for this child and raised it as her own.

Aglaea

Hephaestus found his happy ending with Aglaea (goddess of charm) after his divorce from Aphrodite, and produced four kids.

The annual festival Vulcanalia was held on August 23rd ( Which is also My Birthday Date)