part 2

We read in Homer again, but now in the other famous epic poem, “Iliad” that Hephaestus, the God of Fire and Technology, had build and used androids to serve him, as well as the other Gods. Homer describe them as “ the golden female servants of Hephaestus who had logic, speech and judgment.” These structures were following Hephaestus, and would serve him on whatever he would ask for.

Later on we read in Appolonios the Rhodian, about the Argonautic Expedition, that Hephaestus constructed a gigantic android out of copper, 34 meters tall, and granded it as a gift to his brother King Minos of Crete, to protect the Island from invasions. This android, was able to run the whole perimeter of Crete, three times per day. Based on the fact that Crete's perimeter is approximately 980 kilometers (612 miles) the speed of the android was 245 km/hour (153 miles per hour). The name of the android was “TALOS”

We meet the same description of TALOS in Orpheus Argonautics. Also in Simonidis from Kos (7^th century B.C.)

There are several stories about Hephaestus. He was old, ugly, and lame. One leg missing altogether. Yet he was married with Goddess Aphrodite the Goddess of Beauty. They were spending most of the time at his Castle in Lemnos Island where it was also the workshop of Hephaestus. He was not a big fun of Olympus where was the home for the rest of the Gods. Aphrodite was naughty and in love with Ares (Mars) the God of war. Hephaestus, new that and he was complaining to Zeus for his wife's infidelity. Zeus asked for evidence, in order to bring the case to the Gods council. So Hephaestus constructed a very fine, almost invisible, yet very strong metallic net and he fastened it on the roof of their bed, connected to a very special mechanism. Then he announced to Aphrodite, that he is going to visit his brother Minos King of Crete. The moment he left the castle, Aphrodite asked Ares to come and they both ended on the bed. The mechanism, worked perfect and the couple was trapped in the net until all Gods, including Zeus were there to have the evidence of the infidelity.

As we read Iliad, we realize that the Gods involved in the Trojan War, either by the side of the Trojans or the side of Greeks, they were executing “miracles”. BUT, they had always to use a gadget to do so. For example: Athena (Minerva in Latin) she could be invisible but she needed the special belt to do so. Hermes (Mercury in Latin) could fly, but he needed the special shoes to do so. Isn't that strange?? Certainly does not coincide with the belief we have about Gods and Miracles!

It is also interesting to read in Iliad, the description of Olympus, where the Gods were living. It is strange to read that the construction of their place was metallic, probably copper, and looking out of the windows it was Dark, total dark. Strange for a view from a mountain in the sunny Greece as it is Olympus. Was Olympus a mountain after all??

to be continued......