Mines

Mines of Hephaestus

• Location: Mount Etna, Sicily
• Significance: Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths, fire, and metalworking, was believed to have his forge under Mount Etna. The volcanic activity of the mountain was attributed to his work. He crafted many of the gods’ weapons and items, including Zeus’ thunderbolts.
• Source: Hephaestus’ forge is referenced in Homer’s Iliad (Book 18, lines 369-376) where the god works beneath the earth, and in Theoi Greek Mythology: “Hephaistos, the divine blacksmith, is said to work his forge beneath Mount Etna, where the fire and smoke from the mountain’s vents were believed to be evidence of his labor” (Theoi Greek Mythology).

Mines of the Dwarves (Cyclopes)

• Location: Various locations, often associated with volcanic areas like Lemnos and Mount Etna
• Significance: The Cyclopes, who were skilled smiths, are often associated with underground workshops and mines. They forged Zeus’ thunderbolts, Poseidon’s trident, and Hades’ helmet of invisibility.
• Source: Hesiod’s Theogony (lines 139-146) mentions the Cyclopes as skilled craftsmen who forged Zeus’ thunderbolts: “And next he brought forth the Cyclopes, who gave Zeus the thunder and fashioned for him the lightning bolt.”

Silver Mines of Laurium

• Location: Near Athens, Greece
• Significance: While not directly mythological, the mines of Laurium played a significant role in Athenian prosperity. According to myth, Athena advised the Athenians to use the silver from these mines to build a fleet, which was crucial in their victory against the Persians.
• Source: Thucydides in his History of the Peloponnesian War (Book 1, Chapter 93) describes the strategic decision to use the silver from Laurium to build a fleet: “Themistocles persuaded the Athenians to use the silver from the mines of Laurium to build a fleet, which later led to the victory at Salamis.”

The Mines of King Midas

• Location: Phrygia (modern-day Turkey)
• Significance: King Midas, known for his ability to turn everything he touched into gold, likely had access to rich mines. The region of Phrygia was historically known for its wealth, and this connection to mines is suggested in various legends.
• Source: Ovid’s Metamorphoses (Book 11, lines 85-145) recounts the myth of King Midas, whose golden touch may be metaphorically linked to the wealth of the Phrygian mines: “Whatever he touched turned to gold, from the food he ate to the very walls of his palace.”

The Gold Mines of Mount Pangaeus

• Location: Northern Greece
• Significance: These mines were famous in antiquity and were said to have been worked by both the Thracians and the Macedonians. The wealth from these mines played a significant role in the rise of Macedonia, which is echoed in Greek legends.
• Source: Herodotus in his Histories (Book 5, Chapter 17) describes the gold mines of Mount Pangaeus: “There is a great mountain called Pangaeus, in which the people of Thrace and Macedonia mine gold and silver.”

The Mines of Tartarus

• Location: The Underworld
• Significance: Tartarus, the deep abyss in Greek mythology, was sometimes depicted as a place where precious metals were mined by the souls of the damned. These metals were said to be used by the gods for various purposes.
• Source: While specific references to mines in Tartarus are sparse, the notion of Tartarus as a place of dark labor is implied in Homer’s Iliad (Book 8, lines 478-481), where Zeus speaks of Tartarus as a place deep beneath the earth, “as far beneath Hades as heaven is above the earth.” The labor of the condemned in Tartarus can be interpreted metaphorically, relating to mining.