Editing Hephaestus (section)

==== Automatons ====
According to [[Homer]], Hephaestus built [[automaton]]s of metal to work for him or others. This included tripods with golden wheels, able to move at his wish in and out the assembly hall of the celestials;<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'', 18. 373–379</ref> and "handmaidens wrought of gold in the semblance of living maids", who had "understanding in their hearts, and speech and strength", as a gift of the gods. They moved to support Hephaestus while walking.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'', 18. 417–421</ref> And he put golden and silver lions and dogs at the entrance of the palace of [[Alkinoos]] in such a way that they could bite the invaders; these guard dogs didn't age nor perish.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Odyssey]]'', 7. 91–4</ref>

A similar golden dog (''Κυων Χρυσεος'') was set by Rhea to guard the infant Zeus and his nurse, the goat [[Amalthea (mythology)|Amaltheia]], on the island of Krete. Later [[Tantalus]] was said to have stolen the automaton when it guarded Zeus's temple, or to have persuaded [[Pandareus|Pandareos]] to steal it for him. Later texts attempt to replace the automaton with the idea that the golden dog was actually [[Rhea (mythology)|Rhea]], transformed by Hephaestus.<ref>Antoninus Liberalis, ''Metamorphoses'', 11 and 36.</ref>