Hephaestus (he-FESS-tus or he-FEE-stus). Roman name Vulcan. See The Olympians for more information and another picture; also this picture. Lame god of fire and crafts or the two together, hence of blacksmiths, Hephaestus was the son of Zeus and Hera or, in some accounts, of Hera alone. He limped because he was born lame, which caused his mother to throw him off Mount Olympus. Or in other accounts he interceded in a fight between Zeus and Hera, and Zeus took him by the foot and threw him from Olympus to the earth far below.