The Golden Net: Hephaestus, Aphrodite,& Ares

Known as the lame god, Hephaestus was born weak and crippled. Displeased by the sight of her son, Hera threw Hephaestus from Mount Olympus, and he fell for a whole day before landing in the sea. Nymphs rescued him and took him to Lemnos, where the people of the island cared for him.

It was on Lemnos where he built his palace and his forges under a volcano. To gain revenge for his rejection by Hera, Hephaestus fashioned a magic throne, which was presented to her on Mount Olympus. When Hera sat on the throne, it entrapped her, making her a prisoner.

The gods on Mount Olympus pleaded with Hephaestus to release Hera, but he refused. Dionysus tricked Hephaestus into drinking wine. After Hephaestus became drunk, Dionysus took him back to Mount Olympus slumped over the back of a mule. Hephaestus released Hera after being given the beautiful Aphrodite as his bride.

From the aphros ("sea foam") arose Aphrodite, and the sea carried her to either the island of Cyprus or Cythera. The poet Homer calls her a daughter of Zeus and Dione.

Hephaestus could hardly believe his good luck and used all his skills to make the most lavish jewels for her. He made her a girdle of finely wrought gold and wove magic into the filigree work. That was not very wise of him, for when she wore her magic girdle no one could resist her, and she was all too irresistible already. She loved gaiety and glamour and was not at all pleased at being the wife of sooty, hard-working Hephaestus. Aphrodite loved and was loved by many gods and mortals, especially Ares, the god of war.

Ares is the Greek god of war and battle and the instigator of violence, a son of Zeus and Hera. Because of his cruel and war-like nature he was despised by all the gods; even his own father disliked him. Ares could be bloody, merciless, fearful and cowardly and possessed no moral attributes. He was, however, unable to resist the loveliness of Aphrodite, who became his lover.

Ares was of giant stature and had a loud voice, and surpassed the other gods in speed. He usually fought on foot, but could sometimes be found riding a chariot. On the battlefield Ares was accompanied by Phobos ("Fear") and Deimos ("Terror"), two lesser divinities who are sometimes given as his sons. He was furthermore attended by the goddesses Eris ("Strife") and Enyo ("Horror").

Hephaestus became suspicious that Aphrodite had been committing adultery. To catch her being unfaithful he fashioned an extraordinary chain-link net, so fine and strong no one could escape from it. Then one day he surprised Aphrodite and the war god Ares as they lay together in bed. He threw his magic net over them and hauled them before the Olympian gods and exhibited them as they were, naked and wrapped in each others arms. Hephaestus asked the assembled gods for just retribution, but they did the total opposite. The gods roared with laughter at the sight of the naked lovers, after which they allowed the couple to go free.

Works Cited mlhttp:// ml html#Aphroditehttp:// html#Aphrodite

Please write in your notes: Hephaestus: God of Fire/forge (blacksmith); symbols = forge, tongs, hammer Ares: God of War (quarrelsome, cowardly Symbols = vulture, dog, shield, helmet Aphrodite: Goddess of Love and Beauty; married to Hephaestus Symbols: shell, dove, swan, roses