Ascalaphus or Askalaphos (/əˈskæləfəs/; Ancient Greek: Ἀσκάλαφος Askalaphos) was a Greek daimon, or underworld spirit, who tended the orchards of Hades.
Myths & Legends[]
Ascalaphus informed the gods of Persephone's consumption of the pomegranate seeds, which meant that Persephone had to stay there for either four or six months, the former stated by Apollodorus while the latter being stated by Ovid. Demeter, enraged, buried Ascalaphus under a heavy rock, which Heracles later rolled away on his trip to the underworld, thus freeing Ascalaphus. After this, Demeter then transforms him into an owl. However, some versions of the story state that Persephone changed Ascalaphus into an owl by sprinkling some of the river water from the Phlegethon on him.
Gallery[]
Demeter turning Ascalaphus into an owl.
Engraving by Johann Ulrich Kraus, 1690
Engraving by Johann Ulrich Kraus, 1690
A drawing of either Proserpina turning Ascalaphus into owl or Minerva transforming Nyctimene into an owl.
Drawing by Johann Wilhelm Baur, 1641.
Drawing by Johann Wilhelm Baur, 1641.
Persephone turning Ascalaphus into an owl.
Persephone turning Ascalaphus into an owl.
Drawing by Godfried Maes
Drawing by Godfried Maes
References[]
- Ovid, Metamorphoses
- Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca
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| Chthonic deities in Greek mythology | |
|---|---|
| Theoi Chthonioi | Angelos • Gaia • Hades • Hecate • The Lampades • Macaria • Melinoë • Persephone • Zagreus |
| Erinyes (Furies) | Alecto • Megaera • Tisiphone |
| Autochthon (Earthborn) | Cyclopes • Gigantes • Hecatoncheires • Kouretes • Meliae • Telchines • Typhon |
| Apotheothenai | Aeacus • Amphiarus • Minos • Rhadamanthys • Trophonius • Triptolemus • Orpheus |
| Geographic deities | Acheron • Alpheus • Eridanos • Erebus • Kokytos • Lethe • Mnemosyne • Phlegethon • Styx • Tartarus |
| Other deities | Ascalaphus • Charon • Cerberus • Keuthonymos • Menoetes • Nyx • Thanatos |