Magma, son of Apollo, was the God of molten rock. At his birth it was prophesied that he would bring destruction upon a city built in honor of Jupiter. Jupiter, not wanting this city destroyed, banished Magma to the underworld as an infant where he would serve Pluto. Pluto was instructed by Jupiter to never allow Magma to return to the surface.

However, Magma and Pluto grew very fond of each other as time passed. Pluto taught Magma many things, and Magma, having only seen his father once as an infant, believed that Pluto was his father.

One day as Magma and Pluto were talking, Pluto revealed to Magma the identity of his true father. Magma was shocked, and wished to see his father. Pluto, remembering Jupiter’s orders, told him he would not allow Magma to leave. Magma, who had a very short temper, suddenly became enraged and uncontrollable. Flames burst out from all around him and blew Pluto back. Magma, covered in flames, began to rise into the air. He flew throughout the underworld until he came upon a cavern which led to the world above.

Magma soon neared his father’s home, and off in the distance he could see Apollo and Mercury speaking. Pluto had not only revealed that Apollo was his father, but also why he was banished to the underworld. Magma decided he would change his name to Lava, and disguise himself as a passing traveler, as not to let Mercury know that he had escaped from the underworld.

Slowly, Magma regained control of himself and was able to extinguish his flames. He walked the rest of the way to Apollo’s home. Finally, Magma reached his father’s abode, and introduced himself as Lava. He begged his father for a drink of water, claiming he was weary from his travels. Apollo welcomed him into his home. At that time, Mercury, having already delivered his message, turned to leave.

Apollo asked the traveler from hence he came, and at that moment, Lava revealed himself as Apollo’s son. Apollo, shocked to see his son, yelled out in joy, “What a glorious day that my son has returned to me!”

Mercury, not having left quite yet, heard his yell and ran to a window to peek inside. He immediately recognized Apollo’s son, and ran to tell Jupiter. Magma asked his father if he could stay with him. Apollo, not wanting to anger Jupiter, told Magma he could stay if he hid and never showed himself. Magma agreed to do as his father instructed.

Only seconds after Magma had agreed to stay hidden, Jupiter appeared in front of them. In anger, he told Magma he must go back to the underworld. Magma, with his short temper, became enraged at his decree. He burst once more into flames ready to fight for the right to remain with his father.

Jupiter knew there was no reasoning with him any longer, so he struck him with a thunderbolt, sending him hurling into a volcano. The great heat from Magma caused the previously dormant volcano to erupt, sending lava shooting out its top. The molten rock ran down the sides of the volcano, destroying a nearby town built in honor of Jupiter.

Magma was punished by never being allowed to see his father again. Jupiter sealed him within the volcano, where he would reside for eternity. From then on, molten rock in the Earth would be called magma, and when it would rise above the surface it would be called lava. Now, whenever a volcano erupts, it is because Magma has lost his temper and gone into an uncontrollable rage.