Hephaestus caring for Erichthonius
It’s an anomaly.
“ANTIPATER OF SIDON
Just when thou hadst become the mother, swallow, of a new-born brood, just when thou first wast warming thy children under thy wings, a many-coiled serpent, darting into the nest where lay thy young, robbed thee of the fruit of thy womb. Then when with all his might he came to slay thee, too, as thou wast lamenting them, he fell into the greedy breath of the hearth-fire. So died he the deed undone. See how Hephaestus succoured and saved the race of his son Erichthonius.” [Emphasis by me]
- Greek Anthology Book 7
“When Themis, who knows what the future holds, had uttered these prophetic words, the gods muttered various complaints, wondering why the selfsame gift could not be given to other mortals, too. Goddess Aurora, daughter of the Titan Pallas, grumbled about her husband, who was getting old, gentle Ceres complained that Iasion now had white hair, Mulciber [Hephaestus] demanded a renewal of life for Erichthonius, and Venus, too, affected by concerns for what would happen in the future, wished to bargain over Anchises’ life and make him young again.”
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 9.424
Only in the visual record: Hephaestus present during the birth of Erichthonius
