that could run by themselves.24Hephaestus' twenty-three three legged tables have much of the same origin as Gasterocheires who built the Tiryns. The origin of the three-legged tables is that theyrepresent the three-season years, and they denote the length of his reign was twenty yearslong. LOVE AND MARRIAGEAccording to most myths, the reason Hephaestus and Aphrodite were married isbecause Hephaestus asked Zeus for her as a reward for reconciling his parents. Aphroditedidn't refuse.Some people think this marraige is appropriate because it is a union of inner andouter beauty. But many people do not agree because they have nothing in common--hersensual beauty differs from his ugliness; her playful spirit contrasted with his steady,serious temperament; her unfaithfulness and irresponsibility, and his workmanship ethics.Although these two were so different, Hephaestus loved Aphrodite. She didn'texactly feel the same way about him though. Instead, she had frequent affairs with manydifferent Gods.In one particular affair that Aphrodite had with Ares, Hephaestus set up a trap thatcaught them while they were making love. Hephaestus summoned all the gods together,in hope that he make Aphrodite the laughing stock of Olympus. His plan backfired on himthough, actually revealing himself as someone who was attempting to retain the love anddevotion from his wife.25Now that Hephaestus had embarrassed himself in front of all of the gods,Hephaestus became unhappy in his marriage to Aphrodite. He lost all interest in her andturned his attention to Athena who, like Aphrodite, was not in love with him. Hephaestusfell in love with Athena when she came to him for a spear. When he tried to initiateintercourse, she rejected him.26HEPHAESTUS AND APHRODITEBoth Hephaestus and Aphrodite are powerful and popular figures of Greekmythology. They did many great, and maybe not so great, things during their lifetimesthat are still remembered today. They were...
