He embraced Thetis warmly and shuffled to his forge. Overnight he labored at the furnace. Before the first flush of dawn he had created what many held to be his masterpiece—the Shield of Achilles. Five layers thick, two of bronze, two of tin and a central core of solid gold. On its glittering surface, rimmed with bronze, silver and gold, he portrayed the night sky—the constellations of the PLEIADES and HYADES, Ursa Major and ORION the Hunter. He delicately beat out whole cities, complete with wedding feasts, marketplaces, music and dancing. In marvelous detail he depicted armies and wars;
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