Hera, the queen of the gods was furious when her husband, Zeus gave birth to Athene. Hera was angry that Zeus had gone through the whole birth without her. Hera was the goddess who helped women in childbirth, so this was seen as very offensive when Zeus gave birth without needing her. In revenge Hera decided to conceive Hephaistos without Zeus.

When Hephaistos was born, Hera was disgusted to see that he had a lame foot. In anger she threw him out of Olympos. Hephaistos fell into the sea and would have drowned if it had not been for the two sea goddesses Tethys and Eurynome. They saw the baby Hephaistos and took him back to their cave. They bought him up as though he was their own son.

Hephaistos soon showed an ability to make beautiful metal objects such as cups and armour. He had not forgotten what Hera had done to him when he was a baby however.

He decided to make a magnificent golden throne for her. However, he also made invisible golden chains with it. He then sent the throne as a present to Hera.

Hera was delighted at such a present and wasted no time in seating herself in it. No sooner had she done so than she realised that she was held fast in the throne. Try as she might, Hera could not get out of the throne. There was only one person who could possibly help her now, and that was Hephaistos. He was the only god with a key that could unlock the chains.

Hephaistos was called back to Olympos to set his mother free. As a reward he was given Aphrodite in marriage. She was the most beautiful of the gods. It was an interesting match considering that Hephaistos was believed to be the most ugly of the gods.