Hephaestus (Vulcan) was the son Zeus and Hera, god of fire and forge. Unlike the
other gods, he avoided Olympus, preferring to remain in his forge. He had once adored his
mother, even trying to console her when Zeus ignored her. One day Zeus, to punish Hera for
her fits of jealousy, hung her out of heaven, bound by a golden chain. Hephaestus tried to
help her by drawing her up and freeing her, but Zeus interrupted him. Angry at his
son’s interference, Zeus threw Hephaestus out of heaven. Even though the long fall to
earth was not fatal, it injured one of his legs and Hephaestus was lame and slightly
deformed for the rest of his life. Even though he had risked himself for her, Hera never
tried to help him or find out if he was safe. Hurt by her indifference, Hephaestus vowed
never to return to Olympus. Instead he lived and worked at his forge in the depths of Mt
Aetna.
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