Hephaestus is the Greek god of Blacksmiths and of fire. The Romans called him Vulcan - giving rise to the word "vulcano" - a mountain that brings forth fire.

He became lame after a family row in which Zeus picked him up by his foot and threw him off Mount Olympus.

Hephaestus is not known for his good looks. His wife, Aphrodite, liked the war-god Ares a bit too much, and Hephaestus caught them both in an unbreakable golden net.

He works as a blacksmith and crafts all the armaments of the gods. The weapons he makes include Zeus's lightening bolts. He is also good at designing locks that no mortal can unpick.

Filed under Who's Who of the Greek Gods.