Shrine of Vulcan

As a young god, Vulcan came between his parents, Jupiter and Juno, as they argued. Jupiter picked Vulcan up and threw him from the heavens. He crashed to the ground, leaving his leg badly deformed. After that, Vulcan shunned the company of the other gods and lived in the volcanic depths of Mount Etna. There he worked with the giant one-eyed Cyclopes forging weapons for gods and heroes alike. If Vulcan was not honoured he was given to stoking his forge too much, making Etna erupt! He was worshipped as the god of fire in both its destructive and useful forms. Those who wished to avoid harmful fires and those who used fire for work venerated the 'blacksmith of the gods'. In August, the most dangerous month for fires in and around Rome, live fish were thrown on fires lit along the River Tiber as part of the Vulcanalia. This was done to assuage Vulcan and protect the city. Often his fire temples were built outside the city because of his dangerous nature!