Hephaestus, known in latin term as Vulcan

APOLLONIUS RHODIUS, ARGONAUTICA, Book 3, translated by R. C. SEATON

[36] So she said, and starting forth they came to the mighty palace of Cypris, which her husband, the halt-footed god, had built for her when first he brought her from Zeus to be his wife. And entering the court they stood beneath the gallery of the chamber where the goddess prepared the couch of Hephaestus. But he had gone early to his forge and anvils to a broad cavern in a floating island where with the blast of flame he wrought all manner of curious work; and she all alone was sitting within, on an inlaid seat facing the door.

[130] Come, be ready to perform for me the task I will tell thee of, and I will give thee Zeus' all-beauteous plaything -- the one which his dear nurse Adrasteia made for him, while he still lived a child, with childish ways, in the Idaean cave -- a well-rounded ball; no better toy wilt thou get from the hands of Hephaestus. All of gold are its zones, and round each double seams run in a circle; but the stitches are hidden, and a dark blue spiral overlays them all. But if thou shouldst cast it with thy hands, lo, like a star, it sends a flaming track through the sky.

[213] But soon when from the plain they came to the city and Aeetes' palace, then again Hera dispersed the mist. And they stood at the entrance, marvelling at the king's courts and the wide gates and columns which rose in ordered lines round the walls; and high up on the palace a coping of stone rested on brazen triglyphs. And silently they crossed the threshold. And close by garden vines covered with green foliage were in full bloom, lifted high in air. And beneath them ran four fountains, ever-flowing, which Hephaestus had delved out. One was gushing with milk, one with wine, while the third flowed with fragrant oil; and the fourth ran with water, which grew warm at the setting of the Pleiads, and in turn at their rising bubbled forth from the hollow rock, cold as crystal. Such then were the wondrous works that the craftsman-god Hephaestus had fashioned in the palace of Cytaean Aeetes. And he wrought for him bulls with feet of bronze, and their mouths were of bronze, and from them they breathed out a terrible flame of fire; moreover he forged a plough of unbending adamant, all in one piece, in payment of thanks to Helios, who had taken the god up in his chariot when faint from the Phlegraean fight.

APOLLONIUS RHODIUS, ARGONAUTICA, Book 4, translated by R. C. SEATON

[755] For Hera had bidden her watch what time they should come to the ship; so again she urged her and spake: "Dear Iris, now come, if ever thou hast fulfilled my bidding, hie thee away on light pinions, and bid Thetis arise from the sea and come hither. For need of her is come upon me. Then go to the sea-beaches where the bronze anvils of Hephaestus are smitten by sturdy hammers, and tell him to still the blasts of fire until Argo pass by them.

[773] And she came to Thetis first and, by the promptings of Hera, told her tale and roused her to go to the goddess. Next she came to Hephaestus, and quickly made him cease from the clang of his iron hammers; and the smoke-grimed bellows were stayed from their blast.

CALLIMACHUS, Hymn to Artemis, translated by A. W. MAIR

[46] And straightway she went to visit the Cyclopes. Them she found in the isle of Lipara – Lipara in later days, but at the at time its name was Meligunis – at the anvils of Hephaestus, standing round a molten mass of iron. For a great work was being hastened on: they fashioned a horse-trough for Poseidon. And the nymphs were affrighted when they saw the terrible monsters like unto the crags of Ossa: all had single eyes beneath their brows, like a shield of fourfold hide for size, glaring terribly from under; and when they heard the din of the anvil echoing loudly, and the great blast of the bellows and the heavy groaning of the Cyclopes themselves. For Aetna cried aloud, and Trinacia cried, the seat of the Sicanians, cried too their neighbour Italy, and Cyrnos therewithal uttered a mighty noise, when they lifted their hammers above their shoulders and smote with rhythmic swing the bronze glowing from the furnace or iron, labouring greatly. Wherefore the daughters of Oceanus could not untroubled look upon them face to face nor endure the din in their ears. No shame to them! On those not even the daughters of the Blessed look without shuddering.

CLAUDIAN, GIGANTOMACHIA, translated by M. PLATNAUER

[85] Mimas ran forward to avenge his brother. He had torn Lemnos and with it Vulcan’s fiery house from out the foaming main, and was on the point of hurling it when Mars’ javelin prevented him, scattering the brain from his shattered skull.

DIODORUS SICULUS, LIBRARY OF HISTORY, Book 4, translated by C. H. OLDFATHER

[4.14.3] It would also not be right to overlook the gifts which were bestowed upon Heracles by the gods because of his high achievements. For instance, when he returned from the wars to devote himself to both relaxations and festivals, as well as to feasts and contests, each on of the gods honoured him with appropriate gifts; Athena with a robe, Hephaestus with a war-club and coat of mail, these two gods vying with one another in accordance with the arts they practised, the one with an eye to the enjoyment and delight afford in times of peace, the other looking to his safety amid the perils of war.

DIODORUS SICULUS, LIBRARY OF HISTORY, Book 5, translated by C. H. OLDFATHER

[5.72.5] To Zeus also were born, they say, the goddesses Aphroditê and the Graces, Eileithyia and her helper Artemis, the Hours, as they are called, Eunomia and Dikê and Eirenê, and Athena and the Muses, and the gods Hephaestus and Ares and Apollo, and Hermes and Dionysus and Heracles.

[5.74.2] Hephaestus, we are told, was the discoverer of every manner of working iron and copper and gold and silver and everything else which requires fire for working, and he also discovered all the other uses to be made of fire and turned them over both to the workers in the crafts and to all other men as well.

[5.74.3] Consequently the workmen who are skilled in these crafts offer up prayers and sacrifices to this god before all others, and both they and all mankind as well call the fire “Hephaestus,” handing down in this way to eternal remembrance and honour the benefaction which was bestowed in the beginning upon man’s social life.

HESIOD, THEOGONY, translated by H. G. EVELYN-WHITE

[568] Forthwith he made an evil thing for men as the price of fire; for the very famous Limping God formed of earth the likeness of a shy maiden(Pandora) as the son of Cronos willed.

[859] But when Zeus had conquered him and lashed him with strokes, Typhoeus was hurled down, a maimed wreck, so that the huge earth groaned. And flame shot forth from the thunder- stricken lord in the dim rugged glens of the mount, when he was smitten. A great part of huge earth was scorched by the terrible vapour and melted as tin melts when heated by men's art in channelled crucibles; or as iron, which is hardest of all things, is softened by glowing fire in mountain glens and melts in the divine earth through the strength of Hephaestus. Even so, then, the earth melted in the glow of the blazing fire. And in the bitterness of his anger Zeus cast him into wide Tartarus.

[924] But Zeus himself gave birth from his own head to bright-eyed Tritogeneia(Athena), the awful, the strife-stirring, the host-leader, the unwearying, the queen, who delights in tumults and wars and battles. But Hera without union with Zeus -- for she was very angry and quarrelled with her mate -- bare famous Hephaestus, who is skilled in crafts more than all the sons of Heaven.

[929a-t] But Hera was very angry and quarrelled with her mate. And because of this strife she bare without union with Zeus who holds the aegis a glorious son, Hephaestus, who excelled all the sons of Heaven in crafts.

[945] And Hephaestus, the famous Lame One, made Aglaea, youngest of the Graces, hisbuxom wife.

HESIOD, WORKS AND DAYS, translated by H. G. EVELYN-WHITE

[60] So said the father of men and gods, and laughed aloud. And he bade famous Hephaestus make haste and mix earth with water and to put in it the voice and strength of human kind, and fashion a sweet, lovely maiden-shape, like to the immortal goddesses in face.

[69] So he ordered. And they obeyed the lord Zeus the son of Cronos. Forthwith the famous Lame God moulded clay in the likeness of a modest maid, as the son of Cronos purposed.

HOMER, THE ILIAD, Book 1, translated by IAN JOHNSTON

[641] In Zeus' home the Olympian gods began to quarrel. Then that famous artisan, Hephaestus, concerned about his mother, white-armed Hera, spoke to them: “A troublesome matter this will prove— unendurable—if you two start fighting over mortal men like this, inciting gods to quarrel. If we start bickering, we can't enjoy the meal, our excellent banquet. So I'm urging mother, though she's more than willing, to humour Zeus, our dear father, so he won't get angry once again, disturb the feast for us. For if Zeus, the Olympian lord of lightning, was of a mind to hurl us from our seats, his strength's too great. But if you talk to him with soothing words, at once Olympian Zeus will treat us well.” Hephaestus spoke, then stood up, passed a double goblet across to his dear mother, saying: “Stay calm, mother, even though you are upset. If not, then, as beloved as you are, I may see you beaten up before my eyes, with me incapable of helping out, though the sight would make me most unhappy. It's hard to take a stand opposing Zeus. Once, when I was eager to assist you, Zeus seized me by the feet and threw me out, down from heaven's heights. The entire day I fell and then, right at sunset, dropped on Lemnos, almost dead. After that fall, men of Sintes helped me to recover.”

[670] As he spoke, the white-armed goddess Hera smiled. She reached for her son's goblet. He poured the drink, going from right to left, for all the other gods, drawing off sweet nectar from the mixing bowl. Then their laughter broke out irrepressibly, as the sacred gods saw Hephaestus bustling around, concerned about the feast. All that day they dined, until sunset. No one's heart went unsatisfied. All feasted equally. They heard exquisite music, from Apollo's lyre and the Muses' beautiful song and counter-song. When the sun's bright light had set, the gods all went to their own homes. Hephaestus, the famous lame god, with his resourceful skill, had made each god a place to live.

HOMER, THE ILIAD, Book 2, translated by IAN JOHNSTON

[116] King Agamemnon stood up, hands gripping his staff, one fashioned by Hephaestus' careful craftsmanship. That god had given it to lord Zeus, son of Cronos. Later Zeus had presented it to Hermes, the guide, killer of Argus. Hermes, in his turn, gave it to king Pelops, the chariot racer, who passed the staff to Atreus, the people's leader. This man, as he lay dying, left it for Thyestes, who owned many flocks. Thyestes, in his turn, passed it onto Agamemnon, who held it as ruler of all Argos and many islands.

HOMER, THE ILIAD, Book 5, translated by IAN JOHNSTON

[10] Among the Trojans was a rich and honorable man called Dares, priest of Hephaestus. He had two sons—Phegeus and Idaios—both very skilled in all aspects of war...Tydeus' son then threw his spear. The weapon did not leave his hand and miss the target. It hit Phegeus right between the nipples and knocked him from his splendid chariot. Idaios jumped out and ran off from his horses. He didn't dare protect his slaughtered brother's corpse. Even so, he wouldn't have escaped black doom, but Hephaestus saved him with a dark cloud cover, so his aged father wouldn't waste away with grief.

HOMER, THE ILIAD, Book 8, translated by IAN JOHNSTON

[220] Come on then, go after them with speed, so we may capture Nestor's shield, whose fame extends right up to heaven—it's all gold— the shield itself, cross braces, too. From horse-taming Diomedes' shoulders we'll strip the decorated body armour, a work created by Hephaestus.

HOMER, THE ILIAD, Book 14, translated by IAN JOHNSTON

[194] So ox-eyed queen Hera then began considering how she might deceive the mind of aegis-bearing Zeus. In her heart the best course of action seemed to be to make herself look most attractive, go to Ida, then see if Zeus would want to lie down with her, embrace her, and make love. Then she could pour out on his eyelids and his crafty mind a deep warm sleep. She went off to her bedroom, which Hephaestus, her dear son, had made for her, with close-fitting doors set against their posts, secured with a secret lock, which no other god could open.

HOMER, THE ILIAD, Book 15, translated by IAN JOHNSTON

[364] Trojans charged in a mass assault, led by Hector, moving with huge strides. Phoebus Apollo marched in front of Hector, his shoulders covered up in clouds, holding the fearful aegis, with its double fringe glittering ominously. The smith Hephaestus had given it to Zeus to make men run from war. Apollo now held this aegis in his hands, as he lead on the army.

HOMER, THE ILIAD, Book 18, translated by IAN JOHNSTON

[172] Saying this, Thetis turned away from her own son to address her ocean sisters: “Now you must plunge into the broad lap of Ocean and go find the Old Man of the Sea in our father's house. Tell him everything. I'll go to high Olympus, to that famous artisan Hephaestus, to see if he is willing to give my son some splendid glittering armour.”

[458] Meanwhile, silver-footed Thetis reached Hephaestus' home. Made of eternal bronze and gleaming like a star, it stood out among the homes of the immortals. The crippled god had constructed it himself. She found him working with his bellows, moving round, sweating in his eager haste. He was forging twenty tripods in all, to stand along the walls of his well-built house. Under the legs of each one he had fitted golden wheels, so every tripod might move all on its own into a gathering of the gods at his command and then return to his own house. They were wonderful to look at. His work on them had reached the stage where finely crafted handles had still not been attached. He was making these, forging the rivets. As he was working on them with his great skill, silver-footed goddess Thetis approached more closely.

[474] Noticing her, Charis, lovely goddess with the splendid veil, came forward— she was wife to the celebrated crippled god. Taking Thetis by the hand, she called her name, and said: “Long-robed Thetis, why visit our house now? You're a welcome and respected guest, but to this point you haven't come by very much. Do step inside. Let me show you our hospitality.” With these words, the goddess led her inside the house. She asked Thetis to sit in a silver-studded chair, beautifully finished, with a footstool under it.

[485] Then she called the famous artisan Hephaestus: “Come here, Hephaestus. Thetis needs to see you.” The celebrated lame god then replied to Charis: “Here's a fearful honoured goddess in my home, the one who saved me when I was in pain, after my great fall, thanks to my mother, that shameless one, eager to conceal me, because I was a cripple. At that time, I would have suffered heartfelt agonies, if Thetis and Eurynome, daughter of circling Ocean stream, had not taken me into their hearts. With those two, for nine years I made many lovely things—brooches, spiral bracelets, earrings, necklaces— inside their hollow cave. The Ocean stream flowed round me, always with the roar of surf. No one else knew, neither god nor mortal man. But Thetis and Eurynome—the ones who rescued me—they knew. And now Thetis has come into my home. So I must give her full recompense—fair-haired Thetis saved my life. But Charis, show her now our hospitality. I'll put away my bellows and my tools.”

[509] Huge god Hephaestus got up from the anvil block with laboured breathing. He was lame, but his thin legs moved quickly under him. He placed his bellows far from the fire and collected all his work tools, then stored them in a silver chest. With a sponge, he wiped his face, both hands, thick neck, and hairy chest. Then he pulled on a tunic and came limping out, gripping a sturdy staff. At once he was helped along by female servants made of gold, who moved to him. They look like living servant girls, possessing minds, hearts with intelligence, vocal chords, and strength. They learned to work from the immortal gods. These women served to give their master detailed help. Hephaestus come limping up to Thetis and sat down in a shining chair. Then, clasping her hand, he spoke: “Long-robed Thetis, why have you come here, to our house, an honoured welcome guest? To this point, you haven't come here often. But say what's on your mind. My heart tells me I shall do it, if I can accomplish it, if it's something that can be carried out.”

[576] The famous crippled god then answered Thetis: “Cheer up. Don't let these things afflict your heart. I wish I could hide him from distressful death, when his cruel fate arrives, as surely as I know there'll be fine armour for him— such splendid armour that it will astound all the many men who chance to see it.” With these words, Hephaestus left her there, going to start his bellows. He directed them right at the fire, then told them to start working. So the bellows, twenty in all, started blowing on the crucibles, each one emitting just the right amount of air, sometimes blowing hard to help when he was busy, sometimes gently, whatever way Hephaestus wished, so his work could go ahead. He threw on the fire enduring bronze and tin, precious gold and silver. Next, he placed the great anvil on its block, took up a massive hammer in one hand and in the other his tongs.

[594] The first thing he created was a huge and sturdy shield, all wonderfully crafted. Around its outer edge, he fixed a triple rim, glittering in the light, attaching to it a silver carrying strap. The shield had five layers. On the outer one, with his great skill he fashioned many rich designs. There he hammered out the earth, the heavens, the sea, the untiring sun, the moon at the full, along with every constellation which crowns the heavens— the Pleiades, the Hyades, mighty Orion, and the Bear, which some people call the Wain, always circling in the same position, watching Orion, the only stars that never bathe in Ocean stream.

[608] Then he created two splendid cities of mortal men. In one, there were feasts and weddings. By the light of blazing torches, people were leading the brides out from their homes and through the town to loud music of the bridal song. There were young lads dancing, whirling to the constant tunes of flutes and lyres, while all the women stood beside their doors, staring in admiration. Then the people gathered in the assembly, for a dispute had taken place. Two men were arguing about blood-money owed for a murdered man. One claimed he'd paid in full, setting out his case before the people, but the other was refusing any compensation. Both were keen to get the judgment from an arbitration. The crowd there cheered them on, some supporting one, some the other, while heralds kept the throng controlled. Meanwhile, elders were sitting there on polished stones in the sacred circle, holding in their hands the staffs they'd taken from the clear-voiced heralds. With those they'd stand up there and render judgment, each in his turn. In the centre lay two golden talents, to be awarded to the one among them all who delivered the most righteous verdict. The second city was surrounded by two armies, soldiers with glittering weapons. They were discussing two alternatives, each one pleasing some of them— whether to attack that city and plunder it, or to accept as payment half of all the goods contained in that fair town. But those under siege who disagreed were arming for a secret ambush. Their dear wives and children stood up on the walls as a defence, along with those too old to fight. The rest were leaving, led on by Pallas Athena and Ares, both made of gold, dressed in golden clothes, large, beautiful, and armed—as is suitable for gods. They stood out above the smaller people with them. When the soldiers reached a spot which seemed all right for ambush, a place beside a river where the cattle came to drink, they stopped there, covered in shining bronze. Two scouts were stationed some distance from that army, waiting to catch sight of sheep and short-horned cattle. These soon appeared, followed by two herdsmen playing their flutes and not anticipating any danger. But those lying in ambush saw them and rushed out, quickly cutting off the herds of cattle and fine flocks of white-fleeced sheep, killing the herdsmen with them. When the besiegers sitting in their meeting place heard the great commotion coming from the cattle, they quickly climbed up behind their prancing horses and set out. They soon caught up with those attackers. Then they organized themselves for battle and fought along the river banks, men hitting one another with bronze-tipped spears. Strife and Confusion joined the fight, along with cruel Death, who seized one wounded man while still alive and then another man without a wound, while pulling the feet of one more corpse out from the fight. The clothes Death wore around her shoulders were dyed red with human blood. They even joined the slaughter as living mortals, fighting there and hauling off the bodies of dead men which each of them had killed.

[667] On that shield Hephaestus next set a soft and fallow field, fertile spacious farmland, which had been ploughed three times. Many labourers were wheeling ploughs across it, moving back and forth. As they reached the field's edge, they turned, and a man came up to offer them a cup of wine as sweet as honey. Then they'd turn back, down the furrow, eager to move through that deep soil and reach the field's edge once again. The land behind them was black, looking as though it had just been ploughed, though it was made of gold—an amazing piece of work!

[677] Then he pictured on the shield a king's landed estate, where harvesters were reaping corn, using sharp sickles. Armfuls of corn were falling on the ground in rows, one after the other. Binders were tying them up in sheaves with twisted straw. Three binders stood there. Behind the reapers, boys were gathering the crop, bringing it to sheaf-binders, keeping them occupied. Among them stood the king, a sceptre in his hand, there by the stubble, saying nothing, but with pleasure in his heart. Some distance off, under an oak tree, heralds were setting up a feast, dressing a huge ox which they'd just killed. Women were sprinkling white barley on the meat in large amounts for the workers' meal.

[690] Next, Hephaestus placed on that shield a vineyard, full of grapes made of splendid gold. The grapes were black, the poles supporting vines throughout were silver. Around it, he made a ditch of blue enamel, around that, a fence of tin. A single path led in, where the grape pickers came and went at harvest time. Young girls and carefree lads with wicker baskets were carrying off a crop as sweet as honey. In the middle of them all, a boy with a clear-toned lyre played pleasant music, singing the Song of Linos, in his delicate fine voice. His comrades kept time, beating the ground behind him, singing and dancing.

[702] Then he set on the shield a herd of straight-horned cattle, with cows crafted out of gold and tin. They were lowing as they hurried out from farm to pasture land, beside a rippling river lined with waving reeds. The herdsmen walking by the cattle, four of them, were also made of gold. Nine swift-footed dogs ran on behind. But there, at the front of the herd, two fearful lions had seized a bellowing bull. They were dragging him off, as he roared aloud. The dogs and young men were chasing after them. The lions, after ripping open the great ox's hide, The song of Linos is a traditional harvest song. were gorging on its entrails, on its black blood, as herdsmen kept trying in vain to chase them off, setting their swift dogs on them. But, fearing the lions, the dogs kept turning back before they nipped them, and stood there barking, close by but out of reach.

[718] Then the famous crippled god created there a pasture in a lovely valley bottom, an open ground for white-fleeced sheep, sheep folds, roofed huts, and pens. Next on that shield, the celebrated lame god made an elaborately crafted dancing floor, like the one Daedalus created long ago in spacious Cnossus, for Ariadne with the lovely hair. On that floor, young men and women whose bride price would require many cattle were dancing, holding onto one another by the wrists. The girls wore fine linen dresses, the men lightly rubbed with oil wore woven tunics. On their heads the girls had lovely flower garlands. The men were carrying gold daggers on silver straps. They turned with such a graceful ease on skillful feet, just as a potter sits with a wheel between his hands, testing it, to make sure that it runs smoothly. Then they would line up and run towards each other. A large crowd stood around, enjoying the dancing magic, as in the middle two acrobats led on the dance, springing, and whirling, and tumbling.

[738] On that shield, Hephaestus then depicted Ocean, the mighty river, flowing all around the outer edge. When he'd created that great and sturdy shield, he fashioned body armour brighter than blazing fire, a heavy helmet shaped to fit Achilles' temples, beautiful and finely worked, with a gold crest on top. Then he made him leg guards of finely hammered tin. When the famous lame god had made all the armour, he took it and set it there before Achilles' mother. Then, like a hawk, she sped down from Olympus, carrying the gleaming armour of Hephaestus.

HOMER, THE ILIAD, Book 20, translated by IAN JOHNSTON

[4] At that very moment, from the summit of many-ridged Olympus, Zeus told Themis to summon gods to an assembly. She raced around, calling them to Zeus' home. None of the rivers was left out, except Oceanus, nor any nymph. All those who live in lovely woods, river springs, and grassy meadows came together at cloud-gatherer Zeus' home, seating themselves on porticoes of polished stone, built there by Hephaestus' cunning arts for his father Zeus.

[40] The gods charged off to battle, their hearts divided in two groups. Hera went to the assembled ships, with Pallas Athena and Poseidon, who shakes the earth. Helper Hermes accompanied them as well, the god with the most cunning mind of all. Hephaestus also went along with them, exulting in his power. Though he was lame, his feet moved quickly under him. Ares with the shining helmet joined the Trojans, taking with him long-haired Phoebus, archer Artemis, Leto, Xanthus, and laughter-loving Aphrodite.

[84] Strong Helper Hermes was opposed by Leto, and Hephaestus by that huge and swirling river the gods call Xanthus, but all men name Scamander.

[320] So the mighty spear of warrior Aeneas did not break the shield, stopped by the golden armour, a present from the god. It drove on through two layers, but there were still three more, for crippled god Hephaestus had hammered out five layers, two made of bronze, two inner ones of tin, with a gold one in between. The gold one stopped that ash spear from Aeneas.

HOMER, THE ILIAD, Book 21, translated by IAN JOHNSTON

[390] Saying this, Scamander crested high against Achilles, then charged, seething with foam and blood and corpses. The dark wave of the heaven-fed river rose, towering above Achilles, about to overwhelm him. But Hera, afraid for Achilles, cried out, fearing the great, deep, swirling river would sweep him off. She called out to Hephaestus, her dear son: “Rouse yourself, my crippled child. We think that you're a match for swirling Xanthus in a fight. Come quickly. Help Achilles with a giant outburst of your flames. I'll stir up some winds— West Wind's harsh sea blasts and white South Wind— to whip on your destructive fires, so they may burn dead Trojans and their weapons. You must go along the river banks, burning trees, attacking river Xanthus with your flames. Don't let him slow you down in any way, not with gentle words or making threats. Don't check your fury till I tell you to. I'll give you a shout. Then you can pull back your inexhaustible fire.” Hera spoke. Hephaestus then prepared a prodigious blaze. First it burned up all the plain, incinerating corpses, the many bodies of men slaughtered by Achilles scattered everywhere. The entire plain dried up. The shimmering river waters were held back. Just as at harvest time North Wind quickly dries well-watered orchards, to the farmer's great delight, that's how the whole plain then grew dry, as Hephaestus burned up the dead. Then he turned his blazing flames against the river, burning elms, willows, tamarisks, clover, rushes, sedge, all growing in abundance along that lovely stream. In the river pools, eels and fish were much distressed—they jumped everywhere in that fine river, suffering the fiery blasts prepared by that resourceful god Hephaestus. The river, too, was burned.

[452] White-armed goddess Hera, as soon as she'd heard this, spoke to Hephaestus, her dear son: “Hold off, Hephaestus, splendid child. It's not right to hurt a deathless god like this, just for the sake of mortal men.” When Hera spoke, Hephaestus extinguished his stupendous fire at once. The river's stream flowed once more in its channel. When the fighting spirit in Xanthus had been broken, the two gods fought no longer. Hera had stopped them, though she was still enraged.

HOMER, THE ODYSSEY, Book 4, translated by IAN JOHNSTON

[823] Then the great war-shouter Menelaus smiled, patted Telemachus with his hand, and said: “My lad, the way you've spoken out proclaims your noble blood. So I'll exchange those gifts. That I can do. Of all the things stored up here in my home, I'll give you the finest, the most expensive one. I'll offer you a beautifully crafted mixing bowl. It's all silver, with rims of hammered gold. Hephaestus made it.

HOMER, THE ODYSSEY, Book 7, translated by IAN JOHNSTON

[97] Odysseus moved towards Alcinous's splendid home. He stood there, his heart thinking over many things before he came up to the threshold made of bronze. Above the high-vaulted home of brave Alcinous there was a radiance, as if from sun or moon. Bronze walls extended out beyond the threshold in various directions to the inner rooms. They had a blue enamel cornice. Golden doors blocked the way into the well-constructed palace. The bronze threshold had silver doorposts set inside and a silver lintel. The handles were of gold. On both sides of the door stood gold and silver dogs, immortal creatures who would never age, created by Hephaestus's matchless artistry, to guard the palace of great-hearted Alcinous. On either side within, seats were set against the wall, from the doorway right through to the inner room, with soft rugs covering them, elegantly woven women's handiwork. On these, Phaeacian leaders would sit to eat and drink from their abundant stores. Gold statues of young men stood on sturdy pedestals, holding torches in their hands to give light at night for people feasting in the hall.

HOMER, THE ODYSSEY, Book 8, translated by IAN JOHNSTON

[340] The minstrel struck the opening chords to his sweet song— how Ares loved the fair-crowned Aphrodite, how in Hephaestus' house they first had sex in secret, and how Ares gave her many gifts, while he disgraced the bed of lord Hephaestus. But sun god Helios observed them making love and came at once to tell Hephaestus. Once he'd heard the unwelcome news, Hephaestus went into his forge, pondering some nasty scheme deep in his heart. He set up his massive anvil on its block, then forged a net no one could break or loosen, so they'd have to stay immobile where they were. When, in his rage, he'd made that snare for Ares, he went into the room which housed his marriage bed, anchored the netting all around the bed posts, and then hung loops of it from roof beams high above, fine as spiders' webs, impossible to see, even for a blessed god—that's how skillfully he made that net. Once he'd organized the snare around the bed, he announced a trip to Lemnos, that well-built citadel, his favourite place by far of all the lands on earth.

[361] Ares of the Golden Reins, who maintained a constant watch, saw Hephaestus, the celebrated master artisan, leaving home, and went running over to Hephaestus' house, eager to have sex with fair-crowned Aphrodite. She'd just left the presence of her father Zeus, mighty son of Cronos, and was sitting down. Ares charged inside the house, clutched her hand, then spoke, saying these words to her: “Come, my love, let's get into bed—make love together. Hephaestus is not home. No doubt he's gone to visit Lemnos and the Sintians, those men who speak like such barbarians.”

[374] Ares spoke. To Aphrodite having sex with him seemed quite delightful. So they went off to bed and lay down there together. But then the crafty net made by Hephaestus' ingenuity fell round them, so they couldn't move their limbs or lift their bodies. After a while, they realized they could not get out. Then the famous crippled god came back to them— he'd turned round before he'd reached the land of Lemnos. Helios had stayed on watch and gave him a report. With a grieving heart, Hephaestus went up to his home, stood at the front door, where a cruel anger gripped him.

[385] He made a dreadful cry, calling out to all the gods: “Father Zeus, all you other sacred gods who live forever, come here, so you can see something disgusting and ridiculous— Aphrodite, Zeus's daughter, scorns me and lusts after Ares, the destroyer, because he's beautiful, with healthy limbs, while I was born deformed. I'm not to blame. My parents are! I wish they'd never borne me! See how these two have gone to my own bed and are lying there, having sex together, while I look on in pain. But I don't think they want to stay lying down like this for long, no matter how much they may be in love. They'll both soon lose the urge to stay in bed. But this binding snare will confine them here, until her father gives back all those presents, courting gifts I gave him for that shameless bitch— a lovely daughter but a sex-crazed wife.”

[404] Hephaestus finished. Gods gathered at the bronze-floored house. Earthshaker Poseidon came, and Hermes, too, the god of luck. And archer lord Apollo came. But female goddesses were all far too ashamed and stayed at home. So the gods, givers of good things, stood in the doorway, looking at the artful work of ingenious Hephaestus. They began to laugh— an irrepressible laughter then pealed out among the blessed gods. Glancing at his neighbour, one of them would say: “Bad deeds don't pay. The slow one overtakes the swift—just as Hephaestus, though slow, has now caught Ares, although of all the gods who hold Olympus he's the fastest one there is. Yes, he's lame, but he's a crafty one. So Ares now must pay a fine for his adultery.”

[420] That's how the gods then talked to one another. But lord Apollo, son of Zeus, questioned Hermes: “Hermes, son of Zeus, you messenger and giver of good things, how would you like to lie in bed by golden Aphrodite, even though a strong net tied you down?” The messenger god, killer of Argus, then said in his reply: “Far-shooting lord Apollo, I wish there were three times as many nets, impossible to break, and all you gods were looking on, if I could like down there, alongside golden Aphrodite.” At Hermes' words, laughter arose from the immortal deities.

[433] But Poseidon did not laugh. He kept requesting Hephaestus, the celebrated master artisan, to set Ares free. When he talked to him, his words had wings: “Set him loose. I promise he will pay you everything, as you are asking, all he truly owes, in the presence of immortal gods.” The famous lame god then replied: “Poseidon, Shaker of the Earth, do not ask me this. It's a nasty thing to accept a pledge made for a nasty rogue. What if Ares escapes his chains, avoids the debt, and leaves— how then among all these immortal gods do I hold you in chains?” Earthshaker Poseidon then answered him and said: “Hephaestus, if indeed Ares does not discharge his debt and runs away, I'll pay you in person.” Then the celebrated crippled god replied: “It would be inappropriate for me to refuse to take your word.” After saying this, powerful Hephaestus then untied the netting. Once they'd been released from their strong chains, both gods jumped up immediately—Ares went off to Thrace, and laughter-loving Aphrodite left for Paphos, in Cyprus, where she has her sanctuary, her sacred altar.

HOMER, THE ODYSSEY, Book 15, translated by IAN JOHNSTON

[148] Fair-haired Menelaus then spoke to him: “Telemachus, may Zeus, Hera's loud-thundering husband, accomplish your return, as your heart desires. Of all the treasured gifts stored in my home, I'll give you the one with highest value and the loveliest—I'll present to you this finely crafted mixing bowl. It's made entirely of silver and its rims are plated gold. Hephaestus crafted it...“

HOMER, THE ODYSSEY, Book 24, translated by IAN JOHNSTON

[93] And then, Achilles, once Hephaestus' flame was finished with you, we set your white bones in unmixed wine and oil. Your mother gave a two-handled jar of gold. She said it was a gift from Dionysus, something made by illustrious Hephaestus. In this jar, glorious Achilles, lie your white bones, mixed in with those of dead Patroclus, son of Menoetius.

HOMERIC HYMNS, Hymn to Hephaestus, translated by H. G. EVELYN-WHITE

[1] Sing, clear-voiced Muses, of Hephaestus famed for inventions. With bright-eyed Athene he taught men glorious gifts throughout the world, -- men who before used to dwell in caves in the mountains like wild beasts. But now that they have learned crafts through Hephaestus the famed worker, easily they live a peaceful life in their own houses the whole year round. Be gracious, Hephaestus, and grant me success and prosperity!

HYGINUS, ASTRONOMICA, Book 2, translated by MARY GRANT

[2.12.1] PERSEUS: He is said to have come to the stars because of his nobility and the unusual nature of his conception. When sent by Polydectes, son of Magnes, to the Gorgons, he received from Mercury, who is thought to have loved him, talaria and petasus, and, in addition, a helmet which kept its wearer from being seen by an enemy. So the Greeks have called it the helmet of Haides [the Unseen One], though Perseus did not, as some ignorant people interpret it, wear the helmet of Orcus himself, for no educated person could believe that. He is said, too, to have received from Vulcan a knife made of adamant, with which he killed Medusa the Gorgon...

[2.13.1] CHARIOTEER: In Latin we call him "auriga" — Erichthonius by name, as Eratosthenes shows. Jupiter seeing that he first among men yoked horses in four-horse chariots, admired the genius of a man who could rival the invention of Sol, who first among the gods made use of the quadriga. Erichthonius first invented the four-horse chariot, as we said before, and also first established sacrifices to Minerva, and a temple on the citadel of the Athenians. Euripides gives the following account of his birth. Vulcan, inflamed by Minerva's beauty, begged her to marry him, but was refused. She hid herself in the place called Hephaestius, on account of the love of Vulcan. They say that Vulcan, following her there, tried to force her, and when, full of passion he tried to embrace her, he was repulsed, and some of his seed fell to the ground. Minerva overcome by shame, with her foot spread dust over it. From this the snake Erichthonius was born, who derives his name from the earth and their struggle. Minerva is said to have hidden him, like a cult-object, in a chest. She brought the chest to the daughters of Erechtheus and gave it to them to guard, forbidding them to open it. But man is by nature so curious, that the oftener he is forbidden to do something, the more he desired to do it. So the girls opened the chest and saw the snake. As a result they were driven mad by Minerva, and threw themselves from the Acropolis. But the snake fled to the shield of Minerva, and was reared by her.

[2.13.5] CHARIOTEER: ...On his left shoulder (the goat) Capra stands, and in his left hand the Kids seem to be placed. They tell this story about him. A certain Olenus, son of Vulcan, had two daughters, the nymphs Aex and Helice, who were nurses of Jove...

[2.15.3] ARROW: ...In return for this deed, Jupiter, to confer a like favour on men, gave a woman to them, fashioned by Vulcan, and endowed with all kinds of gifts by the will of the gods. For this reason she was called Pandora. But Prometheus he bound with an iron chain to a mountain in Scythia named Caucasus for thirty thousand years, as Aeschylus, writer of tragedies, says. Then, too, he sent an eagle to him to eat out his liver which was constantly renewed at night. Some have said that this eagle was born from Typhon and Echidna, other from Terra and Tartarus, but many point out it was made by the hands of Vulcan and given life by Jove.

[2.23.4] CRAB: ...According to Eratosthenes, another story is told about the Asses. After Jupiter had declared war on the Giants, he summoned all the gods to combat them, and Father Liber, Vulcan, the Satyrs, and the Sileni came riding on asses. Since they were not far from the enemy, the asses were terrified, and individually let out a braying such as the Giants had never heard. At the noise the enemy took hastily to flight, and thus were defeated.

[2.34.3] ORION: ...He is said to have come from Thebes to Chios, and when his passions were excited by wine, he attacked Merope, the daughter of Oinopion. For this he was blinded by Oinopion and cast out of the island. But he came to Lemnos and Vulcan, and received from him a guide named Cedalion...

[2.42.3] PLANETS: The third star is that of Mars, though others say it belongs to Hercules. The star of Mars follows that of Venus, as Eratosthenes says, for the following reason: When Vulcan had married Venus, and on account of his careful watch, Mars had no opportunity to see her, Mars obtained nothing from Venus except that his star should follow hers. Since she inflamed him violently with love, she called the star Pyroeis, indicating this fact.

HYGINUS, FABULAE, translated by MARY GRANT

[p.19] From Neptune and Amphitrite, Triton. From Dione and Jove, Venus. From Jove and Juno, Mars. From Jove's head, Minerva. From Juno without father, Vulcan. From Jove and Eurynome, Graces. Again from Jove and Juno, Youth, Liberty. From Jove and Themis, the Horae. From Jove and Ceres, Proserpina. From Jove and Moneta, the Muses. From Jove and Luna, Pandia. From Venus and Mars, Harmonia, and Formido.

[38] LABORS OF THESEUS: ...He killed by force of arms Cercyon, son of Vulcan.

[106] RANSOM OF HECTOR: ...When Achilles was reconciled to Agamemnon, and Briseis was returned to him, then, since he was going out against Hector unarmed, Thetis his mother secured armor for him from Vulcan...

[140] PYTHON: ...There Latona, clinging to an olive tree, bore Apollo and Diana, to whom Vulcan gave arrows as gifts...

[142] PANDORA: Prometheus, son of Iapetus, first fashioned men from clay. Later Vulcan, at Jove's command, made a woman's form from clay. Minerva gave it life, and the rest of the gods each gave come other gift. Because of this they named her Pandora. She was given in marriage to Prometheus' brother Epimetheus. Pyrrha was her daughter, and was said to be the first mortal born.

[148] VULCAN: When Vulcanus knew that Venus was secretly lying with Mars, and that he could not oppose his strength, he made a chain of adamant and put it around the bed to catch Mars by cleverness. When Mars came to the rendezvous, the together with Venus fell into the snare so that he could not extricate himself. When Sol reported this to Vulcan, he saw them lying there naked, and summoned all the gods . . . who saw. As a result, shame frightened Mars so that he did not do this. From their embrace Harmonia was born, and to her Minerva and Vulcan gave a robe "dipped in crimes" as a gift. Because of this, their descendants are clearly marked as ill-fated. To Sol's progeny, however, Venus, because of his disclosure, was always hostile.

[158] SONS OF VULCAN: Philammon. Cecrops. Erichthonius. Corynetes. Cercyon. Philottus. Spinther.

[166] ERICHTHONIUS: When Vulcan had made [golden sandals] for Jove and for the other gods, he made one of adamant [for Juno? ], and as soon as she sat down she suddenly found herself hanging in the air. When Vulcan was summoned to free his mother whom he had bound, in anger because he had been thrown from Heaven, he denied that he had a mother. When Father Liber had brought him back drunk to the council of the gods, he could not refuse (this) filial duty. Then he obtained freedom of choice from Jove, to gain whatever he sought from them. Therefore Neptune, because he was hostile to Minerva, urged Vulcan to ask for Minerva in marriage. This was granted, but Minerva, when he entered her chamber, defended her virginity with arms. As they struggled, some of his seed fell to earth, and from it a boy was born, the lower part of whose body was snake-formed. They named him Erichthonius, because eris in Greek means "strife", and khthon means "earth". When Minerva was secretly caring for him, she gave him in a chest to Aglaurus, Pandrosus, and Herse, daughters of Cecrops, to guard. A crow gave the secrete away when the girls opened the chest, and they, driven made by Minerva, threw themselves into the sea."

OVID, METAMORPHOSES, Book 2, translated by BROOKES MORE

[103] So were all his admonitions said, availing naught; for Phaethon resisted his advice, and urged again his claim, and eagerly burned to use the chariot. Wherefore, Phoebus long delaying and reluctant, took the youth to view the spacious chariot, gift of Vulcan.—gold was the axle and the beam was gold, the great Wheel had a golden tire and spokes of silver; chrysolites and diamonds reflected from the spangled yoke the light of Phoebus. While aspiring Phaethon admired the glittering chariot and its workmanship, the vigilant Aurora opened forth her purple portals from the ruddy east, disclosing halls replete with roses. All the stars took flight, while Lucifer, the last to quit his vigil, gathered that great host and disappeared from his celestial watch.

OVID, METAMORPHOSES, Book 4, translated by BROOKES MORE

[167] So ended she; at once Leuconoe took the narrator's thread; and as she spoke her sisters all were silent. “Even the Sun that rules the world was captive made of Love. My theme shall be a love-song of the Sun. 'Tis said the Lord of Day, whose wakeful eye beholds at once whatever may transpire, witnessed the loves of Mars and Venus. Grieved to know the wrong, he called the son of Juno, Vulcan, and gave full knowledge of the deed, showing how Mars and Venus shamed his love, as they defiled his bed. Vulcan amazed,—the nimble-thoughted Vulcan lost his wits, so that he dropped the work his right hand held. But turning from all else at once he set to file out chains of brass, delicate, fine, from which to fashion nets invisible, filmy of mesh and airy as the thread of insect-web, that from the rafter swings.—Implicit woven that they yielded soft the slightest movement or the gentlest touch, with cunning skill he drew them round the bed where they were sure to dally. Presently appeared the faithless wife, and on the couch lay down to languish with her paramour.—Meshed in the chains they could not thence arise, nor could they else but lie in strict embrace,—cunningly thus entrapped by Vulcan's wit.—At once the Lemnian cuckold opened wide the folding ivory doors and called the Gods,—to witness. There they lay disgraced and bound. I wot were many of the lighter Gods who wished themselves in like disgraceful bonds.—The Gods were moved to laughter: and the tale was long most noted in the courts of Heaven.

OVID, METAMORPHOSES, Book 13, translated by BROOKES MORE

[313] “Nor am I to be blamed, if Vulcan's isle of Lemnos has become the residence of Philoctetes...

PAUSANIAS, DESCRIPTION OF GREECE, Book 1, translated by W. H. S. JONES

[1.2.6] ... Men say that Erichthonius had no human father, but that his parents were Hephaestus and Earth.

[1.20.3] The oldest sanctuary of Dionysus is near the theater. Within the precincts are two temples and two statues of Dionysus, the Eleuthereus (Deliverer) and the one Alcamenes made of ivory and gold. There are paintings here – Dionysus bringing Hephaestus up to heaven. One of the Greek legends is that Hephaestus, when he was born, was thrown down by Hera. In revenge he sent as a gift a golden chair with invisible fetters. When Hera sat down she was held fast, and Hephaestus refused to listen to any other of the gods save Dionysus – in him he reposed the fullest trust – and after making him drunk Dionysus brought him to heaven.

PAUSANIAS, DESCRIPTION OF GREECE, Book 2, translated by W. H. S. JONES

[2.1.4] ... For Theseus rid of evildoers the road from Troezen to Athens, killing those whom I have enumerated and, in sacred Epidaurus, Periphetes, thought to be the son of Hephaestus, who used to fight with a bronze club.

[2.31.3] ...Not far off is a sanctuary of the Muses, made, they told me, by Ardalus, son of Hephaestus...

PAUSANIAS, DESCRIPTION OF GREECE, Book 3, translated by W. H. S. JONES

[3.18.13] Hera is gazing at Io, the daughter of Inachus, who is already a cow, and Athena is running away from Hephaestus, who chases her...

PAUSANIAS, DESCRIPTION OF GREECE, Book 5, translated by W. H. S. JONES

[5.19.8] Next come two-horse chariots with women standing in them. The horses have golden wings, and a man is giving armour to one of the women. I conjecture that this scene refers to the death of Patroclus; the women in the chariots, I take it, are Nereids, and Thetis is receiving the armour from Hephaestus. And moreover, he who is giving the armour is not strong upon his feet, and a slave follows him behind, holding a pair of fire-tongs.

PAUSANIAS, DESCRIPTION OF GREECE, Book 7, translated by W. H. S. JONES

[7.19.6] ...When Troy was captured, and the Greeks divided the spoils, Eurypylus the son of Euaemon got a chest. In it was an image of Dionysus, the work, so they say, of Hephaestus, and given as a gift by Zeus to Dardanus.

PAUSANIAS, DESCRIPTION OF GREECE, Book 9, translated by W. H. S. JONES

[9.29.7] ...Of the Greek poets, Homer shows that he knew that the sufferings of Linus were the theme of a Greek song when he says that Hephaestus, among the other scenes he worked upon the shield of Achilles, represented a boy harpist singing the Linus...

[9.35.4] Pamphos was the first we know of to sing about the Graces, but his poetry contains no information either as to their number or about their names. Homer (he too refers to the Graces) makes one the wife of Hephaestus, giving her the name of Grace...

[9.40.11] Of the gods, the people of Chaeroneia honor most the scepter which Homer says Hephaestus made for Zeus, Hermes received from Zeus and gave to Pelops, Pelops left to Atreus, Atreus to Thyestes, and Agamemnon had from Thyestes. This scepter, then, they worship, calling it Spear. That there is something peculiarly divine about this scepter is most clearly shown by the fame it brings to the Chaeroneans.

[9.41.1] XLI. Poets have sung, and the tradition of men has followed them, that Hephaestus made many works of art, but none is authentic except only the scepter of Agamemnon. However, the Lycians in Patara show a bronze bowl in their temple of Apollo, saying that Telephus dedicated it and Hephaestus made it, apparently in ignorance of the fact that the first to melt bronze were the Samians Theodorus and Rhoecus.

[9.41.2] The Achaeans of Patrae assert indeed that Hephaestus made the chest brought by Eurypylus from Troy, but they do not actually exhibit it to view. In Cyprus is a city Amathus, in which is an old sanctuary of Adonis and Aphrodite. Here they say is dedicated a necklace given originally to Harmonia, but called the necklace of Eriphyle, because it was the bribe she took to betray her husband. It was dedicated at Delphi by the sons of Phegeus (how they got it I have already related in my history of Arcadia), but it was carried off by the tyrants of Phocis.

[9.41.3] However, I do not think that it is in the sanctuary of Adonis at Amathus. For the necklace at Amathus is composed of green stones held together by gold, but the necklace given to Eriphyle was made entirely of gold, according to Homer, who says in the Odyssey:– "Who received precious gold, the price of her own husband." Hom. Od. 11.327 - Not that Homer was unaware of necklaces made of various materials.

[9.41.4] For example, in the speech of Eumaeus to Odysseus before Telemachus reaches the court from Pylus, he says: "There came a cunning man to the home of my father, With a necklace of gold strung with amber in between." Hom. Od. 15.459

[9.41.5] Again, in the passage called the gifts of Penelope, for he represents the wooers, Eurymachus among them, offering her gifts, he says: "And Eurymachus straightway brought a necklace of varied materials, Of gold strung with pieces of amber, like the sun." Hom. Od. 18.295 - But Homer does not say that the necklace given to Eriphyle was of gold varied with stones. So probably the scepter is the only work of Hephaestus.

PAUSANIAS, DESCRIPTION OF GREECE, Book 10, translated by W. H. S. JONES

[10.5.11] It is no wonder that the third temple was made of bronze, seeing that Acrisius made a bedchamber of bronze for his daughter, the Lacedaemonians still possess a sanctuary of Athena of the Bronze House, and the Roman forum, a marvel for its size and style, possesses a roof of bronze. So it would not be unlikely that a temple of bronze was made for Apollo.

[10.5.12] The rest of the story I cannot believe, either that the temple was the work of Hephaestus, or the legend about the golden singers, referred to by Pindar in his verses about this bronze temple:–"Above the pediment sang Golden Charmers. Pindar, work unknown" These words, it seems to me, are but an imitation of Homer's account of the Sirens. Neither did I find the accounts agree of the way this temple disappeared. Some say that it fell into a chasm in the earth, others that it was melted by fire.

QUNITUS SMYRNAEUS, FALL OF TROY, Book 2, translated by A. S. WAY

[182] Then in his hands a chalice deep and wide he raised, and Memnon in all love he pledged in that huge golden cup, a gift of Gods; for this the cunning God-smith brought to Zeus, his masterpiece, what time the Mighty in Power to Hephaestus gave for bride the Cyprian Queen; and Zeus on Dardanus his godlike son bestowed it, he on Erichthonius; Erichthonius to Tros the great of heart gave it, and he with all his treasure-store bequeathed it unto Ilus, and he gave that wonder to Laomedon, and he to Priam, who had thought to leave the same to his own son. Fate ordered otherwise. And Memnon clasped his hands about that cup so peerless-beautiful, and all his heart marvelled