Hephaestus
Hephaestus,Greek god of fire, of blacksmiths, and of artisans. The name, of uncertain etymology, has no certain attestation in Linear B, though there is the possibility of reading a theophoric name in Minoan Cnossus.
In Homer, Hephaestus is so closely connected with fire that earlier scholars felt tempted to derive the god from the element: he owns the fire (e.g. Iliad 9. 468) and helps fight Scamandrus with it (Iliad 21. 328–82); in a formula, his name is metonymically used for fire (Iliad 2. 426 etc.). On the other hand, he is the divine master-artisan who fabricates Achilles' shield and miraculous automata, self-moving tripods (Iliad 18. 373–9), golden servant maidens (ibid. 417–21), or watchdogs for king Alcinous (Odyssey 7. 91–4, after oriental models). In the divine society of Homer, he is an outsider: he works, even sweats (Iliad 18. 372); he is...
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