The worship of Vulcan was well established, particularly in Egypt, at
Athens, and at Rome. It was customary to burn the whole victim to him and
not reserve part of it, as in the immolations to the remainder of the Gods.
He was represented as blowing with his nervous arm the fires of his forges.
His vast breast hairy, and his forehead blackened with smoke; while his
enormous shoulders seemed borrowed from the Cyclops. Some represent him
lame and deformed, holding a hammer in his hand, ready to strike; while
with the other, he turns a thunderbolt on his anvil, for which an eagle
waits by his side to carry it to Jupiter. {77}
He appears on some monuments with a long beard, dishevelled hair, half
naked, and a small round cap on his head, while he holds a hammer and
pincers in his hand.
"------The Vulcanean dome, eternal frame,
High, eminent, amidst the works divine,
Where Heavens far beaming mansions shine,
There the lame architect the goddess found
Obscure in smoke, his forges flaming round;
While bathed in sweat, from fire to fire he flew,
And puffing loud, the roaring bellows blew."