The son of
Zeus and
Hera, the king and queen and of the Olympians, Hephaestus was born deformed and thrown from the top of Mount Olympus by his mother, mortified by his appearance. He fell for nine days and nights, permanently crippling his left leg upon hitting the ocean; he was rescued and adopted by the sea nymphs Eurynome and Thetis. Hephaestus began inventing in the volcanic caves under Lemons. When Hera saw Thetis wearing Hephaestus’ broach, she realized her son had survived and was an inventive genius. Hera had Hephaestus returned to Mount Olympus where he quickly became the gods’ weapon-maker.