Vulcan readily agreed to comply with the request of Venus. Being a god
he could make arms and armor against which the power of mortal men
would be of no avail. His forges, and furnaces, and anvils were in
vast caves under one of the Lip'a-re isles and under Mount AEtna, and
the giant Cyclops were his workmen.

Sacred to Vulcan's name, an isle there lay,
Betwixt Sicilia's coasts and Lipare,
Raised high on smoking rocks; and, deep below,
In hollow caves the fires of AEtna glow.
The Cyclops here their heavy hammers deal;
Loud strokes, and hissing of tormented steel,
Are heard around; the boiling waters roar;
And smoky flames through fuming tunnels soar.
DRYDEN, _AEneid_, BOOK VIII.

To these workshops Vulcan forthwith repaired to give orders for the
arms which Venus requested for her son. He found his men industriously
at work making wonderful things for the gods. Some were forging a
thunderbolt for Jupiter, the rays or shafts of which were of hail and
watery cloud, and glaring fire and the winged wind. Others were making
a war chariot for Mars, and others a shield for Minerva, ornamented
with serpent's scales of gold. When Vulcan entered, he bade them lay
aside all those tasks.

"My sons! (said Vulcan), set your tasks aside;
Your strength and master skill must now be tried.
Arms for a hero forge--arms that require
Your force, your speed, and all your forming fire."