In Homer’s Iliad, which god forges new armor for Achilles?

In Homer’s Iliad, Hephaestus forges new armor for Achilles.

Achilles’ original armor belongs to his companion Patroclus, who wears it when he enters battle and is later killed by Hector. Achilles then returns to the fighting, but he has no armor of his own. His mother, the sea-goddess Thetis, asks Hephaestus, the divine smith, to make replacement armor.

The god creates an extraordinary set of weapons and armor, including a shield decorated with scenes of the cosmos and human life. The shield’s imagery is one of the most famous descriptions in ancient epic poetry. Hephaestus also makes a helmet, breastplate, greaves, and other equipment for Achilles.

Readers sometimes confuse Hephaestus with Ares because both are Olympian gods associated with warfare. Ares represents the violence of battle, while Hephaestus is the craftsman who produces divine weapons. The new armor marks Achilles’ return to combat and prepares him for his confrontation with Hector.