ical disability. Although he was ugly and deformed, Hephaestus was a kind, peace-loving god and he waspopular on Mt. Olympus. Hephaestus was a muscular man with a thick neck with a hairy chest. He had ashortened leg and a club foot, and both of his feet facing backwards. Because his legswere like this, he had to use a crutch to support himself. He had a beard, and he usuallydressed in a ragged sleeveless tunic and a wool hat.21 There is a myth that says Hephaestus was so weakly at birth that his mother, Hera,dropped him from the top of Mt. Olympus to rid herself of the embarrassment of an uglychild. He survived this, though, because he fell into the sea and Thetis and Eurynomesaved him. These goddesses took them into their care and he thanked them by makingthem all kinds of ornamental and useful items.After about nine years, Hera met Thetis who was wearing a jewel that Hephaestusmade. Hera asked her where she found the jewel. Thetis hesitated, but Hera forced thetruth out of her. When Hera found out that she got the jewel from Hephaestus, she immediatelybrought him back to Olympus where he could put his talent to a better use. Hera madehim work day and night and she made something of him.22 When Hephaestus moved back to Olympus, he was reconciled with Hera. WhenHera rebelled against Zeus, Hephaestus reproached Zeus for hanging her from the wristsfrom heaven. He should have kept silent though, because Zeus just became angry andthrew him from Mt. Olympus for a second time. It took a whole day to fall. He landed onthe island of Lemnos and broke both of his legs. When he went back to Olympus, hecould only walk with help of golden-leg supports.23Hephaestus was an ill-tempered, ugly god, but he had immense power in his armsand shoulders. One time, he made a set of golden mechanical women to help him in hiswork. The women could talk and complete very difficult tasks. He also made a set ofthree-legged tables with golden wheels...
