Vulcan {God of the Week}

[Agaliha]

Time for Vulcan, no not the Star Trek kind :lol:
http://img469.imageshack.us/img469/9430/vulcan7jw.jpg
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The Roman god of fire, especially destructive fire, and craftsmanship. His forge is located beneath Mount Etna. It is here that he, together with his helpers, forges weapons for gods and heroes. Vulcanus is closely associated with Bona Dea with whom he shared the Volcanalia, observed on August 23. This festival took place during the height of the Mediterranean drought and the period of highest risk of fire. On the banks of the river Tiber, fires were lighted on which living fish were sacrificed. His temples were usually located outside the cities, due to the dangerous nature of fire. In 215 BCE his temple on the Circus Flaminius was inaugurated. In Ostia he was the chief god as the protector against fire in the grain storages.
He is identified with the Greek Hephaestus.
FROM: Pantheon.org "Vulcan" (http://www.pantheon.org/articles/v/vulcan.html)

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Vulcan, in Roman mythology, is the son of Jupiter and Juno, and husband of Maia and Venus. He was god of fire and volcanoes, and the manufacturer of art, arms, iron, and armor for gods and heroes. Vulcan's analogue in Greek mythology is the god Hephaestus. He is also called Mulciber ("softener") in Roman mythology and Sethlans in Etruscan mythology.
His smithy was believed to be situated underneath Mount Aetna in Sicily. At the Vulcanalia festival, which was held on August 23, fish and small animals were thrown into a fire.
Vulcan's shrine in the Forum Romanum, called the Volcanal, appears to have played an important role in the civic rituals of the archaic Roman Kingdom.
Vulcan was the father of Caeculus.
A statue of Vulcan located in Birmingham, Alabama is the largest cast iron statue in the world.
To punish mankind for stealing the secrets of fire, Zeus, ordered the other gods to make a poisoned gift for man. Vulcan’s contribution to the beautiful and foolish Pandora, was to mold her from clay and to give her form. He also made the thrones for the other gods on Mt. Olympus.
FROM: Wikipedia "Vulcan" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcan_(god))

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The word 'volcano' comes from the little island of Vulcano in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily. Centuries ago, the people living in this area believed that Vulcano was the chimney of the forge of Vulcan - the blacksmith of the Roman gods. They thought that the hot lava fragments and clouds of dust erupting form Vulcano came from Vulcan's forge as he beat out thunderbolts for Jupiter, king of the gods, and weapons for Mars, the god of war. In Roman mythology, Vulcan, the god of fire, was said to have made tools and weapons for the other gods in his workshop at Olympus. Throughout history, volcanoes have frequently been identified with Vulcan and other mythological figures. Scientists now know that the "smoke" from volcanoes, once attributed by poets to be from Vulcan's forge, is actually volcanic gas naturally released from both active and many inactive volcanoes.
FROM: Volcano Mythology (http://www.crystalinks.com/volcanomyth.html)
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Invocation of the God – Vulcan
Vulcan, master artisan, God of Fire,
We call upon you to join our rite this night.
We seek the flames of enthusiasm and strength,
That we might renew and strengthen our lives.
We kindle the sacred fires of creation,
Forging our tools with your guidance.
O blazing fiery Lord, bless this sacred rite.
FROM: A Fire Ritual (http://www.geocities.com/canadianwitchcraft/fireritual.html)
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Hymn to Vulcan:
STRONG, mighty Vulcan, bearing splendid light,
Unweary'd fire, with flaming torrents bright:
Strong-handed, deathless, and of art divine,
Pure element, a portion of the world is thine:
All-taming artist, all-diffusive pow'r,
'Tis thine supreme, all substance to devour:
Æther, Sun, Moon, and Stars, light pure and clear,
For these thy lucid parts to men appear.
To thee, all dwellings, cities, tribes belong,
Diffus'd thro' mortal bodies bright and strong.
Hear, blessed power, to holy rites incline,
And all propitious on the incense shine:
Suppress the rage of fires unweary'd frame,
And still preserve our nature's vital flame.
FROM: Orpheus
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Links:
VULCAN, GOD OF FIRE AND IRON (http://home.wnm.net/~tonysca/Mythology/mythology.html)

...seems like there is more info for the Greek Hephaestus than the Roman Vulcan....
:strike:

[Poledra]

The Roman god of fire, especially destructive fire, and craftsmanship.

I find it particularly interesting when destruction and creativity (craftmanship) are paired together like this. It reminds us that life and death, creation and destruction always go hand in hand. No matter what it is, when we make something, something else is destroyed.

Poledra

[Agaliha]

I find it particularly interesting when destruction and creativity (craftmanship) are paired together like this. It reminds us that life and death, creation and destruction always go hand in hand. No matter what it is, when we make something, something else is destroyed.


Oh, that is true. I've noticed that as well. Creativity linked to destruction, often in the same diety. Like a goddess that presides over birth and midwifery also persiding over death and war.
So like you said, creation and destruction are linked.

[ObsessedFae86]

...seems like there is more info for the Greek Hephaestus than the Roman Vulcan....
:strike:

I almost always find more about the Greek deities than Roman. I think they are just more familiar because of schools teaching mythology and using the Greek pantheon. I don't know.._inabox_

Also thanks for the info..He sounds cool :)

[BrigidMoon]

Time for Vulcan, no not the Star Trek kind :lol:

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The Roman god of fire, especially destructive fire, and craftsmanship. His forge is located beneath Mount Etna. It is here that he, together with his helpers, forges weapons for gods and heroes. Vulcanus is closely associated with Bona Dea with whom he shared the Volcanalia, observed on August 23. This festival took place during the height of the Mediterranean drought and the period of highest risk of fire. On the banks of the river Tiber, fires were lighted on which living fish were sacrificed. His temples were usually located outside the cities, due to the dangerous nature of fire. In 215 BCE his temple on the Circus Flaminius was inaugurated. In Ostia he was the chief god as the protector against fire in the grain storages.
He is identified with the Greek Hephaestus.
FROM: Pantheon.org "Vulcan" (http://www.pantheon.org/articles/v/vulcan.html)

___

Vulcan, in Roman mythology, is the son of Jupiter and Juno, and husband of Maia and Venus. He was god of fire and volcanoes, and the manufacturer of art, arms, iron, and armor for gods and heroes. Vulcan's analogue in Greek mythology is the god Hephaestus. He is also called Mulciber ("softener") in Roman mythology and Sethlans in Etruscan mythology.
His smithy was believed to be situated underneath Mount Aetna in Sicily. At the Vulcanalia festival, which was held on August 23, fish and small animals were thrown into a fire.
Vulcan's shrine in the Forum Romanum, called the Volcanal, appears to have played an important role in the civic rituals of the archaic Roman Kingdom.
Vulcan was the father of Caeculus.
A statue of Vulcan located in Birmingham, Alabama is the largest cast iron statue in the world.
To punish mankind for stealing the secrets of fire, Zeus, ordered the other gods to make a poisoned gift for man. Vulcan’s contribution to the beautiful and foolish Pandora, was to mold her from clay and to give her form. He also made the thrones for the other gods on Mt. Olympus.
FROM: Wikipedia "Vulcan" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcan_(god))

___

The word 'volcano' comes from the little island of Vulcano in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily. Centuries ago, the people living in this area believed that Vulcano was the chimney of the forge of Vulcan - the blacksmith of the Roman gods. They thought that the hot lava fragments and clouds of dust erupting form Vulcano came from Vulcan's forge as he beat out thunderbolts for Jupiter, king of the gods, and weapons for Mars, the god of war. In Roman mythology, Vulcan, the god of fire, was said to have made tools and weapons for the other gods in his workshop at Olympus. Throughout history, volcanoes have frequently been identified with Vulcan and other mythological figures. Scientists now know that the "smoke" from volcanoes, once attributed by poets to be from Vulcan's forge, is actually volcanic gas naturally released from both active and many inactive volcanoes.
FROM: Volcano Mythology (http://www.crystalinks.com/volcanomyth.html)
___

Invocation of the God – Vulcan
Vulcan, master artisan, God of Fire,
We call upon you to join our rite this night.
We seek the flames of enthusiasm and strength,
That we might renew and strengthen our lives.
We kindle the sacred fires of creation,
Forging our tools with your guidance.
O blazing fiery Lord, bless this sacred rite.
FROM: A Fire Ritual (http://www.geocities.com/canadianwitchcraft/fireritual.html)
___

Hymn to Vulcan:
STRONG, mighty Vulcan, bearing splendid light,
Unweary'd fire, with flaming torrents bright:
Strong-handed, deathless, and of art divine,
Pure element, a portion of the world is thine:
All-taming artist, all-diffusive pow'r,
'Tis thine supreme, all substance to devour:
Æther, Sun, Moon, and Stars, light pure and clear,
For these thy lucid parts to men appear.
To thee, all dwellings, cities, tribes belong,
Diffus'd thro' mortal bodies bright and strong.
Hear, blessed power, to holy rites incline,
And all propitious on the incense shine:
Suppress the rage of fires unweary'd frame,
And still preserve our nature's vital flame.
FROM: Orpheus
____

Links:
VULCAN, GOD OF FIRE AND IRON (http://home.wnm.net/~tonysca/Mythology/mythology.html)

...seems like there is more info for the Greek Hephaestus than the Roman Vulcan....
:strike:

Doesn't Vulcan have to do with Virgos? :)

[Mercedes]

I almost always find more about the Greek deities than Roman. I think they are just more familiar because of schools teaching mythology and using the Greek pantheon. I don't know.._inabox_

Also thanks for the info..He sounds cool :)

I find information on the Roman ones, but they're generally "adulterated" with all kinds of Greek influences. One of the "cleanest" sources of information one can get on Roman religion and the Roman Gods is Ovid's Fasti. If you also read epics and various Roman written works, you may find many instances where Gods are alluded to for various reasons. That takes some work, but I'd say it's worth it, if you are genuinely interested by the Roman pantheon.

Anyway, I was watchin this show on Pompeii on the History Channel or something, and they mentioned that Latin has no actual word for "volcano," but it totally makes sense how "volcano" was derived from Vulcan(us). I had no idea that they believed Vulcan's forge was beneath Mt. Etna. I love that little factoid. :)

I myself have never worked with Vulcan, but when I was working on a PowerPoint presentation for a lesson for my Latin teacher, I was able to look up pictures and read a little bit on Vulcan, and I found Him rather intriguing. He seems like such the epitome of a hard-worker, though I feel He's a little underappreciated. He's created all kinds of wonders, and He is capable of so many things.