Hephaisteion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hephaistos.temple.AC.01.jpg

 

 

The Temple of Hephaestus, also known as the Hephaisteion or earlier as the Theseion, is a well-preserved Greek temple; it remains standing largely as built. It is a Doric peripteral temple, and is located at the north-west side of the Agora of Athens, on top of the Agoraios Kolonos hill. From the 7th century until 1834, it served as the Greek Orthodox church of St. George Akamates.

Hephaestus was the patron god of metal working and craftsmanship. There were numerous potters' workshops and metal-working shops in the vicinity of the temple, as befits the temple's honoree. Archaeological evidence suggests that there was no earlier building on the site except for a small sanctuary that was burned when the Persians occupied Athens in 480 BC. The name Theseion or Temple of Theseus was attributed to the monument under the assumption it housed the remains of the Athenian hero Theseus, brought back to the city from the island of Skyros by Kimon in 475 BC, but refuted after inscriptions from within the temple associated it firmly with Hephaestus. 

Hephaestus Had a Club Foot

The ancient Greek God, Hephaestus was born deformed.  He was the son of Hera and Zeus and said to be crippled and required a cane to walk.  In all probability, he was born with a clubfoot.  He became a great craftsman and was married to the beautiful Aphrodite who did not stay faithful to him.  He also was in love with Athena.  His other name was Vulcan in Rome.


Here is a passage from Nonnos describing his foot and describing him as hobbling (an old term used to describe those with a club foot):

 

 

 

 

Man with club foot

Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_foot

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hephaestus