“Those who labor
The sweaty forge, who edge the crooked scythe,
Bend stubborn steel, and harden gleaming armor,
Acknowledge Vulcan’s aid.”
--_Prior._
Vulcan, the son of Jupiter, was born lame. He was flung from Olympus
by his mother, Juno, who hated him for his deformity, and he fell
into the sea, where the mother of Achilles found him. He made for her
son a shield, which was a wonderfully clever piece of handiwork. Many
celebrated pieces of metal work were ascribed to Vulcan. In revenge for
his mother’s cruel treatment of him, he fashioned a cunningly devised
throne which held her by invisible bonds against her will. The thunder
bolts of Jupiter, the trident of Neptune and the girdle of Venus all
came from his workshop.