In ancient Rome, Vulcan (or Volcanus) was well known as the god
of fire and volcanoes. Similar to the Greek Hephaestus, Vulcan
was a god of the forge, and renowned for his metalworking
skills. He was also somewhat deformed and is portrayed as being
lame. Vulcan is one of the oldest of the Roman gods, and his
origins can be traced back to the Etruscan deity Sethlans, who
was associated with beneficial fire. The Sabine king Titus
Tatius (who died in 748 b.c.e.) declared that a day honoring
Vulcan should be marked each year. This festival, the
Vulcanalia, is celebrated around August 23. Titus Tatius also
established a temple and shrine to Vulcan at the foot of the
Capitoline Hill, and it is one of the oldest in Rome. Because
Vulcan was associated with the destructive powers of fire, his
celebration fell each year during the heat of the summer months,
when everything was dry and parched, and at higher risk of
burning. After all, if you were worried about your grain stores
catching fire in the August heat, how bet