Automatons; The Greek Mythology

Hephaestus

I have always been fascinated with mythology from all corners of the world. When my son saw my new sculpture piece he said it looked like the God Hermes from Greek mythology. Being intrigued with the idea, partially because I had thought of Zeus as a name for my piece but I kept that tucked away, I immediately started comparing imagery and the mythology of both to decide what name it should take on. I like to title my pieces in Spanish, mainly because the words flow better together, it evokes a certain sensuality within my work, and because I just like to hear the titles in Spanish. 

Zeus

But then I got side tracked and started looking at the creatures and monsters in mythology and I found that Hephaestus created automatons which are the earliest known versions of robots, and he created Pandora. This was truly fascinating because they are also considered creatures or monsters in Greek Mythology. Totally forgetting that I was looking up Gods and Goddesses, not to say they aren't worthy, but this was more interesting because there is not a lot out there about these automatons. At least not in mythology. This myth starts with Zeus and eventually becomes the story Hephaestus which is just as equally interesting. I know Greek Mythology has been harped on for decades, so there's nothing new here. However, this story maybe one that's less popular and not as well known. Plus, I like to see how many degrees of separation is between Zeus and the other Gods, Goddesses and creatures known in Greek mythology.

Automatons were creatures crafted out of metal. They animated men, animals and monsters in order to perform various tasks. In other words, they were self-operating machines or robots. Hephaestus, the divine smith created quite a few, but some were made by the famous Greek inventor Daedalus who used quicksilver to install a voice in his statues.  Here are the automatons that were created by Hephaestus and what purpose they served.

THE HIPPOI ATHANATOI were the immortal horses of the gods. The majority of these divine steeds were offspring of the four Wind-Gods who themselves were said to draw the chariot of Zeus in the shape of horses.

THE HIPPOI KABEIRIKOI were four horse-shaped automatons crafted by the god Hephaestus out of bronze to draw the adamantine chariot of his two sons, the Kabeiroi.

Fire breathing Steeds

The Kabeirikol rode in a car of adamant; a pair of colts beat the dust with rattling hooves of brass, and they sent out a dry whinnying from their throats. These father Hephaestus had made with his inimitable art, breathing defiant fire between their teeth, like the pair of brazen footed bulls which he made for Aietes the redoubtable ruler of the Kolkhians, with hot collars and burning pole. Eurymedon [one of the Kabeirikol] drove and guided the fiery mouths of the iron foot steeds with a fiery bridle.

THE AETOS KAUKASIOS (or Caucasian Eagle) was a gigantic eagle sent by Zeus to feed on the ever-regenerating liver of the Titan Prometheus, after he was chained to the peak of Mount Caucasus as punishment for stealing fire from the gods.

The eagle was variously described as a bronze automaton constructed by the god Hephaestus, or as a member of the brood of fell creatures spawned by the daemon Echidna. Its siblings included the Nemean Lion and the Hydra. 

When Heracles set out to free Prometheus from his bonds, he shot down the eagle with a volley of arrows. Afterwards the Eagle, the Titan and the Arrow were placed all among the stars in the form of the constellations Aquila, the Kneeler and Saggita.

THE KELEDONES (CELE′DONES) were magical singers crafted of gold by Hephaestus for the the second mythical temple of the god Apollo at Delphi. These Automatons (living statues) had the shape of either beautiful women, wry neck birds, or a combination of the two--Siren-like bird women. The soothing goddesses, were frequently represented by the ancients ill works of art, and were believed to be endowed, like the Sirens, with a magic power of song. For this reason, they are compared to the Iynges. Hephaestus was said to have made their golden images on the ceiling of the temple at Delphi. 

Other forged golden women, the Kourai Khryseai, were personal attendants of the god Hephaestus.

"Hephaestus left his bellows took up a heavy stick in his hand, and went to the doorway limping. And in support of their master moved his attendants. These are golden, and in appearance like living young women. There is intelligence in their hearts, and there is speech in them and strength, and from the immortal gods they have learned how to do things. These stirred nimbly in support of their master." 

TALOS was a giant, bronze automaton or living statue forged by the divine smith Hephaestus. Zeus presented him to his lover Europa, as her personal protector, after delivering her to the island of Krete (Crete). Others imagined him as a bronze bull or the last of the bronze race of men. 

Talos was given the task of patrolling the island, circling it three times in a day, and driving pirates from the shore with volleys of rocks or a fiery death-embrace. He was eventually destroyed by Poeas or the Dioskouroi twins with the aid of the magic of the witch Medea, when he tried to prevent the Argonauts from the landing on the island.

In the genealogy of the epic poet Cinaethon, Talos was apparently the Cretan sun-god, a son of Kres (that is, the island of Crete), and the father of the fire-god Hephaestus. He was probably also the father of King Minos's wife, the Cretan moon-goddess Pasiphae. Talos' name means "the sun" in the Cretan dialect, and "cut down" or "hewn" in Greek.

Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, www.Greek Gods.org.

Hephaestus

Hephaestus had his own palace on Olympus, containing his workshop with anvil and twenty bellows that worked at his bidding. Hephaestus crafted much of the magnificent equipment of the gods, and almost any finely-wrought metalwork imbued with powers that appears in Greek myth is said to have been forged by Hephaestus. He designed Hermes' winged helmet and sandals, the Aegis breastplate, Aphrodite's famed girdle, Agamemnon's staff of office, Achilles' armor, Heracles' bronze clappers, Helios' chariot, the shoulder of Pelops, and Eros' bow and arrows. In later accounts, Hephaestus worked with the help of the chthonic Cyclopes—among them his assistants in the forge, Brontes, Steropes and Pyracmon.

Hephaestus also built automatons of metal to work for him. This included tripods that walked to and from Mount Olympus. He gave to the blinded Orion his apprentice Cedalion as a guide. Prometheus stole the fire that he gave to man from Hephaestus's forge. Hephaestus also created the gift that the gods gave to man, the woman Pandora and her pithos. Being a skilled blacksmith, Hephaestus created all the thrones in the Palace of Olympus.

Hephaestus forging revenge

According to Hesiod`s Theogony, Hephaestus was the son of Hera alone. Several sources confirm this story, while others claim that he was the offspring of the kingly marriage of Zeus and Hera. Anyway, he is often described as lame, imperfect and not appreciated by parent or parents and dropped in the ocean, where Thetis and Eurynome received him. Vulcanus forging revenge, He dwelt with them for nine years in a grotto, surrounded by Oceanus. He improved his skills over those years and in a myth of his return, he built a golden chair with invisible fetters and sent it to Olympus as a gift for his mother. When Hera sat on the chair, she had triggered a trap which bounded her to the chair. The gods were unable to release her and therefore asked Hephaestus to free his mother. But he refused the request stating that he had been treated like a boy without mother. He wouldn't listen to any of them except Dionysus who had full trust from Hephaestus. However, Dionysus was only going to talk to him on the condition that they would let him back to Olympus. Thereafter, he went to Hephaestus and offered him wine during the debate. When Hephaestus was drunk enough, he brought him before the council at Olympus. Zeus offered him anything, if he was to release Hera. Hephaestus, who was drunk enough, asked for Aphrodite to be married with him. Zeus had no choice, but to grant his wish and Hera was finally released.

Hepahestus captures Aphrodite

But this marriage couldn't work out in any way, as Aphrodite had her eyes already on Ares and the love was mutual. They had an affair and were taking action right there in the palace of Hephaestus. However, this affair has not gone unnoticed, because Helios, the Titan god of sun, randomly spied one day on the couple and immediately reported to Hephaestus, when found out of their affair. Hephaestus in fury went to his workshop brooding revenge. He made a magical net in his plan to trap the couple in action. He placed the invisible net on the bed and all around it, even on the roof wall. Then, after he departed, Ares came to make love with Aphrodite. When they had lain in bed, the net of magical chains enveloped them and they could not escape. In the meantime, Helios was reporting everything to Hephaestus and the god of craftsmanship was already on his way home, frustrated and angered. He also called all the gods to come and see this infidelity. Because of this adultery, Ares was banished from Olympus.

Shortly after Ares was banished from Olympus, Aphrodite took revenge on Hephaestus by casting a spell on him. Clouded by the love spell, Hephaestus fell in love with Athena, when she came to him with desire for fashioning her arms. He began to pursue her in order to embrace her, but she didn't submit to him. When he got close, he tried to enter her by force, but Athena was able to prevent him and therefore he dripped his seed on her leg. Disgusted by his act, she wiped the seed with wool and threw it on the ground. And from the earth Erikhthonios, the giant serpent, was born. Some sources claim that it was Gaea who made this birth possible and make her the mother of the serpent, while others simply say that Athena is the mother.

Hephaestus, yet with another of his crafty inventions, chained Prometheus to Mount Caucasus, when he was punished by Zeus for stealing back fire for mankind.  The most famous of his creation is Pandora who he created by order of Zeus to punish mankind. He made her out of earth and clay, filled with water, and infused her with human voice and vigor and make her face like immortal goddess. Other gods were instructed to fill her with their gifts. Athena also clothed her with silvery raiment and embroidered veil. They gave her name Pandora and married her to Epimethius.

PANDORA was the very first woman who was formed out of clay by the gods. The Titan Prometheus had originally been assigned with the task of creating man. But because he was displeased with their lot, stole fire from heaven. Zeus was angered, and commanded Hephaestus and the other gods to create a woman, Pandora, and endow her with the beauty and cunning. He then delivered her to Epimethius, the foolish younger brother of Prometheus, for a bride. When he had received her into his house, Pandora opened the pithos (storage jar) which Zeus had given her as a wedding present, and released the swarm of evil spirits trapped within. They would ever afterwards plague mankind. Only Elpis (Hope) remained behind, a single blessing to succor mankind in their suffering.

Temple of Hephaestus

The early Greek experiments with automatons are believed to have been produced as 'fancies', gadgets, and on occasion for temple adornment. While it is true that ancient Greece never entered an 'industrial' phase in the modern sense, they were very close as can be seen in the adaptation of the principles of these mechanical 'toys' into weapons of war, systems of irrigation, and scientific objects such as the Antykithera object, now believed to have been built as an astrolabe.

Da Vinci Inventions

The next accounts of automatons are in Renaissance and Early Modern Europe. Leonardo Da Vinci is credited with creating the first humanoid automaton in 1495. In the 1500's, several automatons were produced primarily as decorative pieces for the wealthy. They were similar to design in clocks, consisting of several gears and axles. Automata remained a minor popularity (more specifically a curiosity) in Europe until the 1800's.


This turned out to be an interesting story. As I write this, the show "Clash of the Gods" is on the History Channel. They have talked about Zeus, Medusa, and now Thor. Could my timing be any more appropriate? This hasn't resolved the title of my piece, however, but I love a good story and Greek Mythology always provides stories of interest. The automatons are what peeked my curiosity.  Next post, I will explore more about Da Vinci and his automaton inventions. I see a Steam Punk connection here and I want to see where they meet.

Source: Automatons- Greek Gods, Mythology of Ancient Greece.

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