Hephaestus, or Vulcan as he was known to the Romans, was known for being the only Olympian to be unattractive in his physical appearance. In many versions of myth, he was cast down from Olympus by his own mother, Hera, due to her horror at his appearance and at his physical disabilities. For years he honed his skills as a blacksmith and metalworker, finally being welcomed home to Olympus where he married Aphrodite and set to work building the palaces of the gods and the armor of heroes. While Hephaestus may have been less physically attractive than the other gods and goddesses, he more than made up for this with his cleverness and creativity. A master of invention and design, it was Hephaestus to whom both gods and mortals went when they wanted the finest jewelry, weapons, and homes. A god of fire, Hephaestus spent most of his time in his forge, often creating new inventions that dazzled and perplexed mortals and immortals alike. 

In this course, we will put the spotlight on Hephaestus, and we'll discuss his birth and origins, his powers, and some of the many stories about him. We'll also discuss some of his many famous buildings and inventions, as well as his worship by the ancient Greeks and Romans. 

This course is the eleventh in a series designed to spotlight each of the twelve major Olympian gods (the first and second being about Zeus and Hera, respectively, the third being about Athena, the fourth being about Aphrodite, the fifth being about Artemis, the sixth being about Apollo, the seventh being about Hermes, the eighth being about Poseidon, the ninth being about Demeter, and the tenth being about Ares). Such courses are meant to go beyond the basics to give learners a deeper understanding of each of the twelve major gods in the ancient Greek (and Roman!) pantheon. This course follows the format of my traditional symposium classes, and there is no prerequisite for this course.

As with my other symposium-style courses, this course is designed to feature some of the hallmarks of a true classical symposium. I may read excerpts from ancient Greek or Latin poetry, in keeping with the tradition of poetry recitation (please note:  any such readings are so that students can hear the language; this is not a language course, so language learning is not part of the class). Together as a class, we'll also read some short passages in English. From there, via around-the-campfire style storytelling, I will weave the larger stories around our topic of the day:  Hephaestus. This course will make use of slides to introduce new material and to provide visual representations of art and literature. Ongoing dialogue and conversation, questions directed to students from the teacher (and from students to the teacher!), and reading aloud are all part of this course (please note that students are free to listen OR to join in the reading; it is their choice, and there is no pressure to participate in this way); discussion and questions are not just welcomed, but encouraged! 

As food and drink were an important part of a symposium, we'll seek to recreate that with traditional symposium snacks (please see the supply list for more details!), and while the traditional wine isn't age appropriate, a more appropriate drink like water or juice is a suitable replacement. (Please note that students should not feel obligated to eat or drink if they do not wish to; the food is meant to enhance the experience, but it's far from necessary.)

A symposium was an occasion for people to gather together for entertainment and learning. This course is one of many symposium-style courses, with each course designed to feature a different topic. This course has no prerequisites, and it is ideal for learners who love mythology, who have a curiosity about the classical world, or who enjoy good stories. Let's sit down to a symposium together!