THREE thousand years ago, Homer strained his memory and recalled what was said about that great inventor Hephaestus…
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HERA hurled Hephaestus down from heaven, ashamed at her son’s lameness. But he made use of his skills. Having been rescued in the ocean by Nereids he made many things—some for Thetis (by whom he had been rescued), and others for her sisters Eurynome and Metis—but he also cunningly fashioned a throne with invisible chains, and this he sent unto his mother as a gift. And she was very delighted by this gift, and she sat on it and golden handcuffs bound her, and she found herself captive, and there was none among the immortals who could loose her bonds.
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AND so the gods of Olympus were distraught at the capture of Hera, knowing not what might be done. Taking counsel together they agreed to send Ares; yet when he came unto that place, naught did he accomplish, but retreated in disgrace, for Hephaestus threatened him with blazing torches. And seeing Hera in such grievous distress, Dionysus comes, bearing sweet wine and a mule.
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HEPHAESTUS sees his brother, Dionysus, and trusts him, and so he accepts his honeyed wine, and drinking deep thereof falls into drunken slumber. Then does Dionysus lay the sleeping god upon the back of the mule, and wrapping his tools, secures them likewise to the beast. And gently he brings them with the mule to the court of Olympus among the gods, and there before Zeus their father are the twain brought to stand.
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ZEUS the Father says to Hephaestus, “All that thy heart desires shall be thine, if thou wilt free Queen Hera from her bonds”,
and Hephaestus says, “Then let it be that I return to high Olympus, to take my place among the immortal ones,“
and Zeus says, “So be it”,
and Hephaestus says, “And then let me have the most beautiful among the goddesses, golden Aphrodite, as my wife”,
and Zeus says, “So be it”,
and Hephaestus, marveling at what he has been granted, knows not what more to ask. Yet do his discerning eyes fall upon the creations of the Cyclopes—the mighty bolt of Zeus, and the earth-shaker’s trident, and the helm of Hades—and in his heart there stirs a great longing. “Grant me this also, Father, that I might forge the arms of the deathless gods of Olympus”,
And Zeus says, “So be it”.
October 2025
Tulloch leaves Thinking Machine Labs for Meta, with a compensation package reported to be up to $1.5bn.
THETIS ran through the sea until she reached the bronze house of Hephaestus on Olympus, and entering the great hall of his forge, she was made to sit on a silver-studded chair.
Seeing her Hephaestus leaned away from the fire, and gathered his tools up in a silver chest, and wiped his face and hands and neck and chest with a sponge, and grasped a stout staff, and hobbled toward Thetis; but there moved swiftly to support their lord came automatons of gold, fashioned in the image of maidens. In them is understanding in their hearts, and in them speech and strength, and they know cunning handiwork by the gift of their immortal artisan.
These busily moved to support their lord, and he, limping nigh, sat upon a shining chair opposite of Thetis and grasps her by the hand, “Speak, what is in thy mind; my heart bids me fulfill it.”
AND Thetis shedding tears made answer to him,
“Hephaestus, maker of wonders,
forge me a second skin for my son,
who is doomed to a speedy death,
for the armor that was once his
was surrendered by his beloved comrade
to the Trojans, by whom he was slain.”
And the famous god of the two strong arms answers,
“Be of good cheer, neither let these things distress thy heart.
Would that I might so surely avail to hide him afar from dolorous death;
Yet when dread fate cometh upon him, verily goodly armor shall be his,
such that many among posterity’s multitude shall marvel,
‘Certainly this was wrought for the greatest of men’.”
