These tools were used to work with iron and bronze, but Hephaestus also made masterworks of precious metals and unbreakable materials. Most common, however, were the hammer and tongs of a smith. Thus, while the god was most often depicted with tools of metalworking, images in some contexts referred to other crafts. Carpenters, masons, and inventors looked to Hephaestus just as those who worked with metal did. While usually associated with blacksmiths and metalworkers, Hephaestus was the god of all craftsmen. Hephaestus was the smith god, and his symbols reflected his work. Among them, he looked like an average commoner instead of a fellow god. Holding a hammer and tongs and riding on the back of a braying donkey, Hephaestus stood out among the regal and rich gods of Olympus. While other gods had powerful or impressive symbols and animals, Hephaestus was shown like a true smith.Įven his clothing was more simple, a common tunic instead of the intricately draped robes of Zeus or Poseidon. Images of Hephaestus reflected his unusual status on Olympus through more than just his personal appearance. He was also unique for his identification with a real-world profession held by the working class instead of the nobility. Hephaestus was unique among the gods as being physically disabled and not particularly attractive.
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