Mulciber, also known as Vulcan or Hephaestus, was the Greco-Roman god of fire, metalworking, stone masonry, forges, the art of sculpture, technology and blacksmiths.
He was the son of Jove and Juno, the chief gods of the Greco-Roman pantheon, who said to be thrown down Mount Olympus by his mother for being a cripple. He would save by the sea goddess Euronyme, who would bring him to an island of blacksmiths, under whom the young gods trained in the craft of the forge. He would eventually rejoin the the other gods and become one of the Twelve Olympians.
He would eventually join the Roman gods again, and he would be married to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. Despite being married, Venus would often cheat on Vulcan, notably with Mars, the god of war and agriculture. He also was the father of Cacus, a fire-breathing giant who was killed by the demigod Hercules, who was Vulcan's half brother from Jupiter's side.
His festival was called Vulcanalia and was the annual festival held August 23, and received a sacrifice in the form a red bull and calf. This made him one of the gods who received a bull-sacrifice, alongside Jove, Mars, Neptune and Apollo.
In John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost Mulciber is credited as the architect of Pandemonium, the Capital city of Hell.
References[]
- Davidson, Gustav. A Dictionary Of Angels.