Ascalaphus (son of Acheron)

In Greek mythology, Ascalaphus or Askalaphos was the son of Acheron and Orphne.
== Mythology ==
Ascalaphus is the son of the river god Acheron and the nymph Orphne who was the custodian of Hades' orchard in the Underworld. He told the other gods that Persephone had eaten pomegranate seeds in the Underworld. Because she had tasted food in the underworld, Persephone was obliged to return to the Underworld and spent four months (in later versions, six months) there every year.
Angry with Ascalaphus, Demeter buried him beneath a heavy rock in the Underworld. When Heracles traveled there, he rolled the stone away and released him from his prison. But then, Demeter transformed Ascalaphus into an eagle owl. According to another myth, Persephone herself changed him into an eagle owl by sprinkling him with water of the river Phlegethon. Ovid mentions: "So he became the vilest bird; a messenger of grief; the lazy owl; sad omen to mankind." As an owl, he became the familiar bird of Hades, god of the underworld.
Category:Children of Potamoi
Category:Metamorphoses into birds in Greek mythology
Category:Symbols of Hades
Category:Greek underworld
Category:Eleusinian Mysteries
Category:Rape of Persephone
Category:Deeds of Demeter