Orcus (mythology)
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In Roman mythology, Orcus was a god of the underworld, punisher of broken oaths, more equivalent to Pluto than to the Greek Hades. The origins of Orcus may have lain in Etruscan religion. Orcus was a name used by Roman writers to identify a Gaulish god of the underworld. The Etruscan so-called "Tomb of the Orcus" at Tarquinia is a misnomer, when the first discoverers took as Orcus a figure of a Cyclops.
Generalized connotations of "Orcus" have made it a popular name for providing an instant "demonic" atmosphere. This is in good part because Orcus' name is the origin of the words "orca" and "orc"; the latter popularized by J.R.R. Tolkien in his "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. The former designates not only the killer whale but also a monster in Ariosto's Orlando furioso.
In Dungeons & Dragons, Orcus is a demon prince, and lord of the undead. In this context, he typically is shown as having the head and legs of a ram, a bloated body, bat-like wings and a long tail. One of his most identifiable symbols is the Wand of Orcus, a skull-topped wand with the power to slay any living being. Orcus also wields a powerful artifact known as the Orcusword.
Orcus also appears in the game NetHack.
External link
- "Tomb of the Orcus," Tarquinia (http://www.mysteriousetruscans.com/tarorcus.html)