- "It could find water, bring plagues, smite your enemy."
- ―Indiana Jones[src]
The Staff of Aaron or Rod of Aaron[1] was a biblical artifact considered to be the original magician's wand.
History[]
Origins[]
Belonging to Aaron, brother of Moses, the Staff was a two-meter-long, five kilogram staff was made from the branch of an almond tree, with inlays of sapphire that created ten sets of markings in Hebrew. Each marking represented one of the Ten Plagues of the Old Testament. Cut by Moses from the Tree of Knowledge, Aaron performed magical feats that defeated the sorcerers of Pharaoh and led to the release of his people.[1] In the biblical account of Exodus, it summoned plagues to Egypt and prevented the Israelites from losing in battle. In addition to these powers, the Staff was said to be the ultimate divining rod, with the ability to find literally anything. Faye Maskelyne also claimed that it was the staff that parted the Red Sea.[2]
By the time Aaron died, the final location of the Staff was lost, although it was believed to have been stolen from Solomon's Temple around the same time as the Ark of the Covenant.[2] Some believed that the rod was never lost and that it rested in Jerusalem in the hands of rabbinical purists who were supposedly keeping it for the return of the descendants of Aaron.[1] It was also believed that the Staff was kept in the Ark[3] where it had budded.[4] Another last known location was a sealed cave on Mount Hor in Palestine.[1]
Legends said that if someone who didn't followed the teachings of Aaron tried to hold the rod, his soul wpuld be consumed by the wrath of God. If he was a true, devout follower, the rod would had grant him immortality.[1]
Rediscovery[]
Eventually it found its way to Iraq where the Staff fell into the hands of the Yezidi and over time became worn.[2]
Indiana Jones and Faye and Mystery Maskelyne hunted down the Staff while in search of the Omega Book, an artifact that only the Staff could find. Mystery stole it from the Yezidi and while in the possession of Faye Maskelyne, a magician, the Staff returned to its original state and led the group to the Omega Book in Egypt.[2]
The Staff's power was used again when Jones and the Maskelynes were attacked by soldiers of the Japanese Imperial Army. Although it was instrumental in defeating their antagonists, Faye decided to throw the Staff away.[2]
The Staff buried itself by the Nile and an almond tree later grew from its location.[2]
Appearances[]
Sources[]
- Indiana Jones Artifacts (First appearance)
Ark of the Covenant on IndianaJones.com (backup link on Archive.org)- Indiana Jones: The Ultimate Guide