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With its ability to generate heat, create light, cook food, sterilise water, transform materials and more, fire is a resource that humans have relied on for millennia. Throughout this time, humans have developed a relationship with fire that extends into myth and religion, with a variety of fire gods and goddesses being created by countless cultures as symbols of its importance. Just like the collective of through world history, fire gods exist across a spectrum of creation, destruction, protection and war.

They represent the importance of fire to human life – and death. Naturally, then, their legends vary greatly depending on what culture and time they belong to. If you're curious about this fiery pantheon, delve into the fascinating world of fire gods and goddesses; explore their roles, origins, and the cultures that forged and worshipped them.



Hephaestus – the Olympian god of fire, metalworking and craftsmanship – cut a unique figure among the pantheon. He was born with a physical disability, characterised generally as ‘lameness’ and possibly bilateral congenital clubfeet. Different myths explain how this shaped his life; some suggest that he was the son of Zeus and Hera, cast away from Mount Olympus by his mother upon seeing his physical form.

Others claim he was born from Hera alone through asexual reproduction – a defiant act against Zeus. Regardless of his origin, Hephaestus established his base in the mortal world on the Aegean island of Lemnos and, embrac.

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