Hephaestus

Hephaestus (Ancient Greek: Ἥφαιστος, Hḗphaistos) is the Greek god of craftsmanship, fire, and metalworking. He was particularly revered as the divine patron of blacksmiths, sculptors, carpenters, and other artisans. His name is pronounced as "hif-EE-stəs" in British English and "hif-EST-əs" in American English.

In Greek mythology, Hephaestus was born to Hera, either through parthenogenesis or by Zeus. The god was known for his lameness, which according to different myths was either present from birth or resulted from being thrown from Mount Olympus. In one version, Hera cast him down due to his congenital impairment, while another account claims Zeus threw him off for defending Hera.

As the celestial craftsman, Hephaestus forged all the weapons used by the Olympian gods in his divine workshop. He was especially worshipped in Greece's manufacturing centers, with Athens being a primary location of his cult. The island of Lemnos served as his main cult center. His Roman equivalent is Vulcan, and his iconic symbols include the smith's hammer, anvil, and tongs.