Hephaestus Facts & Worksheets

Hephaestus is the blacksmith and fire deity. He was known as “the celestial artificer,” and he was associated with various craftsmen (sculptors, carpenters, metalworkers) and volcanoes, as evidenced by the name of his Roman counterpart Vulcan. Despite being an ugly god cursed by his mother, he married none other than Aphrodite herself.

See the fact file below for more information on Hephaestus, or you can download our 29-page Hephaestus worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

PARENTAGE AND BIRTH

• According to Homer, Hephaestus was the son of Zeus and Hera. He is unsure whether he was born lame or if he became lame when his father threw him from Olympus for intervening on his mother’s side during a dispute between Zeus and Hera.
• On the other hand, Hesiod argues that Hephaestus is entirely Hera’s kid and that she gave birth to him through parthenogenesis to retaliate against her husband, who had done the same to Athena.
• In one version of the narrative, Hera, after bringing Hephaestus into the world, was so disgusted with his appearance and ashamed of his disability that she was the one who cast him out. 
• Hephaestus was gravely injured in the fall, but he was saved by Thetis and Eurynome, who took care of him in a cave beneath the ocean for the next nine years.
• Hephaestus eventually had his revenge. He created a magnificent golden throne, which Hera immediately accepted. 
• However, the moment she sat on it, she was entangled by the innumerable carefully crafted cables unseen to anyone save their creator’s eyes. 
• Many gods pleaded with Hephaestus to release Hera, giving him a spot on Olympus. He was, however, unremorseful and only released his mother after Dionysus got him intoxicated.

ETYMOLOGY AND SYMBOLISM

• The meaning of the name Hephaestus has yet to be discovered. However, because it is identical to a few pre-Greek toponyms (Phaistos), it is assumed that Hephaestus is an ancient divinity.
• Hephaestus’ most prevalent epithets are far from flattering: “the lame one” and “the halting.” 
• He is also occasionally described as “shrewd” and “Aetnaean” because his workshop was considered beneath Mount Aetna.
• He is undoubtedly a unique Olympian Pantheon member. He is bearded and ugly, stocky and bland. 
• He lacks the physical perfection of the other gods and the appropriate respect. He is sometimes pictured wearing an oval headgear and almost usually holding a hammer and an anvil.

MYTHOLOGY

• Hephaestus possessed an extraordinary talent: he could create anything imagined. He was the deity of fire, forging, craftsmanship, and creation. 
• Without him, the gods would lack even their most powerful symbols of power. 
• Zeus, the gods’ monarch, would not have the tremendous lightning bolt. 
• The divine twins, Apollo and Artemis, would be without their amazing archery equipment. 
• Athena, the goddess of wisdom and combat, refused to give up her infamous spear. 
• Hermes, the god of travelers, would not be without his winged helmet and sandals, allowing him to move quickly.
• Hephaestus was also the manager of the Cyclopes’ Forge. This is typically shown as occurring within a volcano, where hot lava is employed. 
• The Cyclopes directed the creation of even more wonders for the gods. This included the terrifying shield known as Aegis, which Zeus and Athena alternated using. 
• The face of a gorgon — some say Medusa, the eternal Gorgon herself — was placed in the center of this shield. 
• Fear would strike the enemy’s hearts, and they would flee if they saw the eyes.
• Hephaestus was also responsible for the shield and armor of Achilles. Achilles was a mortal hero who fought for the Greeks in the Trojan War. He was such a fearsome combatant that he was dubbed “the best of the Achaeans (Greeks).”
• Thetis, Achilles’ mother, begged Hephaestus to make the most magnificent armor for her son, better than any ever produced. 
• The Artist’s depictions of the shield describe a moving image on its surface, indicating that this work was ahead of its time. Moving pictures, or animation, would be invented thousands of years later.
• The images on the shield portrayed diverse aspects of life and the world as the ancient Greeks knew it: battle and peace, creation and chaos, civilization and wilderness, and so on. 
• In Roman mythology, Virgil wrote a scene similar to this in the Aeneid, where Hephaestus constructs marvelous armor for Aeneas, Venus‘s son.

HEPHAESTUS AND THETIS

• Hephaestus had consented to Thetis’ request for the armor since she had been sympathetic to him when others, particularly his mother, Hera, had turned their backs on him. 
• Hera threw Hephaestus from Olympus when he was born because he possessed a deformity.
• Hephaestus tells his wife the story in the Iliad:
• “She [Thetis] saved me when I suffered much at the time of my great fall through the will of my own brazen-faced mother, who wanted to hide me for being lame. Then my soul would have taken much suffering had not Eurynome and Thetis caught me and held me, […] With them I worked nine years as a smith, and wrought many intricate things; pins that bend back, curved clasps, cups, necklaces, working there in the hollow of the cave, […] No other among the gods or among mortal men knew about us except Eurynome and Thetis. They knew since they saved me.”
• (Homer, Iliad, Book 18.136)
• This verse highlights Hephaestus’ loneliness due to his mother’s rejection. He worked alone, away from the other gods, on his inventions. 
• Only visits from Eurynome and Thetis would relieve his loneliness.

CONSORTS AND CHILDREN

• His wife is generally supposed to have been Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty herself. 
• She was unfaithful to him, though, sleeping with Ares behind his back. Hephaestus eventually grabbed the lovers and confined them in a finely made chain net, after which he summoned the other gods to laugh at their shame. 
• Poseidon encouraged him to release the adulterers, but Hephaestus refused.
• When Ares and Aphrodite’s daughter Harmonia married Cadmus, he gave her a magical necklace that would bring her and everyone who wore it a disaster.
• Other authors claim that Hephaestus tied the knot to Aglaea, the youngest among the Graces. 
• She produced four children: Eucleia, Euthenia, Eupheme, and Philophrosyne.
• Hephaestus once tried to impose himself on Athena. Because Athena escaped in time, Hephaestus’ seed fell to the earth. It fertilized Gaea, who later had Erichthonius, an early ruler of Athens.

HEPHAESTUS’ CRAFTS

• Nobody else could have built the gorgeous, durable bronze houses where the other Olympians dwelt. 
• He was crafty and ingenious, adding a unique aspect here and there, such as the tight doors of Hera’s chamber that only she could access.

Hephaestus’ Automata 

• In the “Iliad,” Homer tells us something even more intriguing. Hephaestus had created gold handmaidens who could understand, communicate, and serve him. 
• They weren’t the only ones of their kind. Hephaestus carved golden dogs to defend Alcinous’ palace and Talos, a colossal bronze man, to safeguard Crete, among other automata. 
• Some even claim he carved Pandora, the first mortal woman, at Zeus’ request.

Hephaestus’ Arms and Armor

• Finally, Hephaestus designed some of the most beautiful military weaponry ever seen. 
• Most famously, he constructed the shield of Achilles as a favor to Thetis, whose five bronze layers he brilliantly carved with scenes covering practically every facet of life. 
• But he was also the creator of Agamemnon’s scepter, Diomedes’ breastplate, and Peleus’ sword.

Hephaestus Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Greek god Hephaestus across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Hephaestus. He was known as “the celestial artificer,” and he was associated with various craftsmen (sculptors, carpenters, metalworkers) and volcanoes, as evidenced by the name of his Roman counterpart Vulcan.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Hephaestus Facts
2. The Blacksmith 
3. Godly Match-Up
4. Forging Hephaestus
5. Pandora’s Box
6. The Mighty Symbols
7. Inventor’s Showcase
8. Craftsmen Gods
9. Mapping the Family Tree
10. Visual Legacy
11. Forging Own Creation

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Hephaestus in Greek mythology?

Hephaestus is a major Olympian god in Greek mythology, known as the divine blacksmith and craftsman. He is the son of Zeus and Hera, though different myths attribute his birth to Hera alone.

What are Hephaestus’ symbols and attributes?

Hephaestus is often depicted with a hammer and tongs, symbolizing his role as a blacksmith. Other attributes include an anvil, forge, and various metalworking tools. He is also associated with fire due to his connection with the forge.

What is the story behind Hephaestus’ physical disability?

According to some myths, Hephaestus was born with a physical disability; he was either lame in one or both legs. In one version of the myth, Hera, being displeased with his appearance, threw him from Mount Olympus, causing his physical impairment.

What notable creations is Hephaestus credited with in Greek mythology?

Hephaestus is renowned for crafting numerous divine and mythical items. Some of his most famous creations include the armor of Achilles, the Aegis shield for Zeus, Hermes’ winged sandals, and the famous golden throne of the gods on Mount Olympus.

How does Hephaestus relate to other gods and goddesses in Greek mythology?

Hephaestus was married to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. Despite being physically disabled, he was known for his unparalleled skills and was highly respected by other gods for his craftsmanship. His workshop on Mount Olympus was a center of divine artistry and ingenuity.

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