Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera, the King and Queen of the Gods. He was the god of craftsmen, metallurgy, technology, fire and volcanoes. Although he was one of the twelve Olympian gods, Hephaestus was not held in as high esteem as the other gods were. He was pictured grotesque, a plain blacksmith holding an axe. His genius in craftsmanship however was acknowledged by all. He was the blacksmith of the gods and worshiped by men.
During a fight between Zeus and Hera, Hephaestus came to Hera’s rescue. Zeus in his fury flung him off of mount Olympus. Hephaestus fell for a day until he finally landed in the island of Lemnos where he was rescued and cared for. He was taught the art of craftsmanship by the Sintians. It is said that his fall was the cause of his ugly appearance. On the island of Lemnos, his companion was the sea nymph Cabeiro. He had two children with her who both became metalworking gods named the Cabeiri. Lemnos was considered to be the location of Hephaestus’s workshop.
Hephaestus was also the most unfaltering of the gods and the only god to return to Olympus after being exiled. He was Aphrodite’s companion but she, appalled by his unsightly look was hardly faithful to him. She was the goddess of beauty after all...
Most of the finely-shaped metalwork imbued with powers in Greek mythology is said to have been forged by Hephaestus. Notable examples are Hermes' sandals and helmet, Aphrodite's famed belt, Achilles' armor, Heracles' bronze clappers and Helios' chariot.
The worship of Apollo is the most widely diffused. His birth was adventurous as his mother, Leto, was chased by the serpent Python (Hera's intrigue); he grew up miraculously fast (in seven months he assumed the appearance of a grown man)
Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera and one of the Twelve Olympian Gods. His birthplace and true home was placed far away, among the barbarous and hostile Thracians.
Artemis is special among the other goddesses of Olympus. She was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and twin sister to Apollo.
Athena was the daughter of Zeus and Metis, the Titan and goddess of cunningness and wisdom. According to the myth Zeus received a prophecy that one of his off springs would bring the end to his reign.
Atlas was a Titan, the son of Iapetus and Asia. He was well-known to everyone because his task was no less than to support the sky and the heavens over the earth.
Zagori is an area of great natural beauty and unique architecture in the Pindus Mountains in Epirus in Northwestern Greece. The area is of about 1.000 square kilometers and contains 46 villages. Zagoria villages is called by Greeks “Zagorochoria” meaning the villages behind the mountain.
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In 1989, Professor of Byzantine Studies, Helen Ahrweiler is appointed Chairman of the Cultural Centre Pompidou in Paris