Greek Vases - At the heart of each Roman Mystery there is at least one Greek vase...

(from The Secrets of Vesuvius)

'What about Thetis?' asked Miriam. 'Didn't she miss Vulcan after he went back to Olympus?'

'Vulcan never forgot his foster mother,' answered Aristo. 'He often visited her underwater grotto and that is why he is a god of sea as well as fire. And later - much later - he made her warrior son Achilles the most beautiful armour in the world. But Juno was Vulcan's real mother, and it was right and proper that they be reunited.'

The young Greek leaned back in his chair and smiled at them. 'Lesson finished. I hope it helps in your search for Vulcan.

right: 'Vulcan makes armour for Achilles' This is another Athenian 'red figure' vase, painted a little earlier than the previous one, about 480 BC. This scene is from the inside of a drinking cup. It shows Vulcan giving his foster mother Thetis the armour which he has made for Achilles. On the outside are scenes of blacksmiths at the furnace.

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