In Greek mythology Hephaestus, Ἥφαιστος,” was the son of Zeus and Hera.  He was the Greek god of blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals, metallurgy, fire and volcanoes.  His Roman equivalent was Vulcan.

These mythic references must come to mind upon looking at a truly fantastic photograph from the EPA this past week showing Mount Slamet spewing ash, lava, and fire into the night sky above central Java in Indonesia. Need-less-to-say, it brings to mind the great eruption of Krakatoa, believed to be the loudest volcanic explosion in the history of the world.  It was reported to have been heard 3000 miles away and the event was recorded on barographs in Greenwich.

The photograph captures all the terrifying beauty of volcanic eruption. It connects us not only with events of human history like the eruption of Mount Vesusius that buried Pompei and Herculeneum in 79 CE, but also pyroclastic events that literally forged our geological world, which is still a fragile lithospheric layer floating upon volcanic magma. There is the image of the human soul being like the flame of a candle.  Here the volcano’s flame is the soul of the Earth.  It truly represents the anvil of the gods.

“Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,
For the lesson thou hast taught!
Thus at the flaming forge of life
Our fortunes must be wrought;
Thus on its sounding anvil shaped
Each burning deed and thought.”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow “The Village Blacksmith,” 1842.

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