Let's recall the course of Greek mythology in order to single out perhaps the most outstanding character from it. God Hephaestus, indeed, is very different from other representatives of the pantheon. Among the impeccably beautiful, divinely perfect Olympians, the deliberately ugly blacksmith stands apart. However, his strength lies in his creativity. The ability to create, and not the outer shell, made him the most worthy of the gods.
Greek god Hephaestus: birth
Hephaestus was born a Hero. But about the paternity of Zeus, opinions differ. According to some myths, Hera gave birth to an offspring without the participation of her husband. Thus, she took revenge on the latter for the birth of Athena, who, as you know, was born from the head of the Thunderer. But the version that Hephaestus is the son of Hera and Zeus is more popular.
But from birth, the baby did not differ in strength. He was ugly and weak. Hera was ashamed of such a son and got rid of him, throwing him from Olympus into the sea. But he was not destined to die, becauseThetis and Eurynome, who found him, were filled with pity for the unfortunate baby. They hid him in a deep grotto and looked after him for nine whole years. However, the future god of fire did not remain in debt. He created many wonderful decorations for his adoptive parents.
The return to Olympus took place after the reconciliation of Hephaestus with Hera. Dionysus himself accompanied him back.
The second fall, after which the divine blacksmith became lame, happened by the will of Zeus. The enraged ruler of Olympus overthrew him from heaven because, during a quarrel, he had the courage to stand up for Hera. It is believed that this fall was very long. God Hephaestus flew all day until he fell on the island of Lemnos at sunset.
Fire Release
The element of fire has always commanded respect mixed with fear. Fire is free to create, and free to destroy mercilessly. The flames escaping from the craters of volcanoes sweep away everything in their path. But the same flame is capable of melting metals, giving them the shape of weapons or utensils. Very often fire is perceived by people as a kind of purification. An element that can kill or revive.
The god of fire Hephaestus symbolizes the complex nature of the flame to the full. He himself has repeatedly gone through a complete fall to a new elevation. His lameness and ugliness is a consequence of belonging to such an indomitable element. The volcano (namely, the Romans called Hephaestus) often causes fear, it does not seem beautiful. But the bright flame that burns within him is the fire blazing in the forges. These are forged armor, swords, tools,vessels.
Place in the pantheon
Now it becomes clear why the Greeks, despite their reverence for physical perfection, revered the blacksmith from Olympus.
It was Hephaestus, the Greek god of fire, who taught people the skill. He is considered the patron saint of crafts. Mankind owes him the knowledge of taming metal. In some ways, he is close to Athena. Like the goddess of art, Hephaestus overshadows with his grace the artists working with fire. The same jewelers, creating their elegant products, use the element of fire to melt silver or gold. Yes, and blacksmiths sometimes forge true masterpieces. From under their hammer, intricate plexuses of stems, buds and flowers come to light. No wonder Venus got married to such an unusual god. The goddess of beauty next to a rough and ugly husband, whose hands created amazing things, emphasized the idea that true harmony is born in such a union.
Blacksmith God
God Hephaestus is one of those rare gods that did not shy away from labor and invention. Even the omnipotent inhabitants of Olympus sometimes resorted not to cunning or divine power, but went to the lame blacksmith for his wonderful "crafts". Hephaestus did not refuse a request to anyone. His hands created the scepter and aegis of Zeus, the shield of Hercules, the trident of Poseidon, the weapons of Achilles. On Olympus there was a palace made of bronze, in which a large forge was equipped. It was in it that Hephaestus created his intricate utensils.
Attributes of the Creator God
Each Olympian has his own personal attribute. This is hisa kind of personification of his strengths and personal qualities. The symbol of the god Hephaestus is the anvil and blacksmith's tools. It is they who convey the very essence of the deity.
In general, it is customary in art to portray Hephaestus as a very strong man with a powerful torso and hands of a hammer. At the same time, an egg-shaped cap often flaunts on his head, such as artisans wore in Greece. And Hephaestus always wears a short tunic. It is typical for workers who also left their right shoulder bare for convenience.
Rituals and worship
As mentioned above, the Greeks treated Hephaestus with great reverence. Especially his cult was strong in Sicily and in Campania. This fact is explained simply. Etna and Vesuvius located there have always plunged the locals into awe. It seemed as if the flames were constantly raging inside these mountains. And no one, except Hephaestus, is unable to tame him in time. It was also believed that the famous forges of God are located inside these volcanoes.
But even in Athens they paid tribute to Hephaestus. Ritual competitions with torches were held in his honor on major holidays. Young men participated in such races. Each of them was given a lit torch in their hands. And then the signal to start the competition sounded. All participants rushed to a pre-agreed goal. The winner was the one who reached the finish line with an unextinguished fire. It was he who got the prize.
In Rome, the cult of the fiery blacksmith has not died out. His temple was located on the Champ de Mars, not far from the Circus Flaminius. In honor of lame Vulcaneven special holidays were arranged, which were called so - Vulcanalia.
Artistic Heritage
God Hephaestus is familiar to us not only from the Greek frescoes that have come down to us, paintings on vases, sculptures. His powerful figure is easily recognizable in later Roman depictions.
Then came a short period of oblivion. It seemed that the Greek gods had left people's minds forever. They are forgotten and will not return. However, the Renaissance gave us a new rise of the Olympians. Zeus, Achilles, Venus, Ares - the celestials who were forgotten, shone again in all their glory. The artists also paid attention to the divine blacksmith. The fire flared in the forge again, strong hands raised the hammer again.
The plot is also played up by contemporary artists. Of course, their works are already very far from canon. But on the other hand, they perfectly convey the very essence of the fiery deity.
Creative Impulse
You can ask the question: "Why do we need knowledge about some ancient deity?" In fact, this deity, by his own example, proves the need for creative activity and inflexibility, even in conditions when everything is against you. Despite his physical handicaps, Hephaestus was able to become one of the Olympians. Despite the painful falls, he again took his place among the perfect celestials. His craving for creativity evoked well-deserved respect from both divine and human creatures.
One often hears lamentations that certain far-fetched obstacles interfere with self-expression. Failures make you sadown imperfection seems insurmountable. And the acquired injury puts an end to later life.
But on the example of Hephaestus, one can observe how indomitable inner fire and strength are able to raise from any abyss. For creativity, it doesn't matter how perfect you are. What matters is your desire to create.
