Is Hephaestus Really the Imperfect God? You Might Want to Think Again.

Learning about Greek Mythology from Ms. White was so amazing. What made it better was how knowledgeable she was on the subject and how much she loved teaching it to us. I wouldn’t have wanted to learn about it from anybody else because she made it such a fun and interesting experience for us applicants. Ms. White, if you’re reading this, thank you. 

           

As we did research on Greek Mythology I saw Hephaestus as the most interesting of the Gods, because although he was imperfect in his features he was a master of craft and was possibly the sanest of his counterparts. Hephaestus was the god of the smith, fire, craft, sculpt, and of volcanoes. He was also considered the “Lame God”, becau
se of his clubfoot and disfigured face. The other Gods often would laugh at Hephaestus for his handicaps, but Hephaestus was a God who always bettered himself. In a couple accounts of vase paintings Hephaestus is seen in a winged chariot, and it is said that Hephaestus built that chariot to prove to the other Gods that his ailments could not overcome him and that their laughter only helped to encourage him. I really enjoy this aspect of Hephaestus, because it makes for a good moral lesson on how challenges can always be overcome.

            Hephaestus was also a very clever god when it came to getting revenge on someone he had a grudge against. Hephaestus tricked his mother Hera into sitting upon a golden throne which had an enchantment that caused the person that sat in it not to be able to stand up. Hephaestus did this because his mother exiled him from the heavens, because she hated his disfigured body. In another myth Hephaestus traps his cheating wife Aphrodite and her mister Ares. He then put them on display in front of the court of Gods, but the Gods ended up laughing at him and persuading him to let them go.

            I’m really thankful for being in this scholarship to Italy, because even if I am not chosen I will have left with amazing knowledge. Greek Mythology has me very intrigued now, and all I’ve wanted to do lately is read about Greek Myths and learn about the half human Descendants of the gods.

-Jake Brazier