Staff of Hades?

Question

OK, weird question. Does anyone know about the powers of the Hades staff (sometimes depicted as a sceptre or spear)

I've Googled around it they only mention it being able to herd the dead (or shades) to the underworld...

Answer 1

Here is a collection of quotes from Greek and Roman writers about the staff :
http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/HaidesTreasures.html

The ancients don't really say much at all about it, basically :

1. He used it as a weapon against Heracles, wacking him across the back, but without much effect.

2. It was three-pronged (like Poseidon's) and caused plague.

3. He used it to split open the earth when he emerged from the underworld to steal the goddess Persephone.

Presumably as a kingly staff he also used it to summon the ghosts, which he ruled in the land of the dead.

Answer 2

Hades Staff

Answer 3

I've cut and pasted the following from Wikipedia:

Hades' weapon was a two-pronged fork, which he used to shatter anything that was in his way or not to his liking, much as Poseidon did with his trident. This ensign of his power was a staff with which he drove the shades of the dead into the lower world.



Looks like he used the staff as a herding device to usher the dead into his underworld realm. At least it's the impression I'm getting about the staff

Answer 4

Hades
Tall, dark and handsome, Hades is Lord of the Underworld. With business-like briskness, he tallies the dead and notes whether they have fulfilled any vows taken during their lives. His helmet makes its wearer invisible, allowing Hades to roam unseen. His symbol is the scepter.

The name gustav is a Male name that is commonly believed to be of Old Norse origin...Staff of the Goths.

Answer 5

Hades like most men loves to exagerate about his staff. in real life it only has one prong but i am sure he wishes it had 2.

Answer 6

The only other information I can add to Chizzad's answer is that it was sometimes pictured as having a bird on the staff. It was also called the rhabdos. If you want to know more about staves and stuff, trying looking up the Cadaceus. Cheers!

Answer 7

Actually it is a pitch-fork....... But I am not sure if that item was brought about by Satan or was that pitch-fork was something that was created by man-kind imagination..................................