An ornamented golden Minoan labrys. Labrys is the term for a
symmetrical doubleheaded axe originally from Crete in Greece,
one of the oldest symbols of Greek civilization. The first
written use of the word labrys comes from Plutarch describing it
as a Lydian word for axe: Herakles, having slain Hippolyte and
taken her axe away from her with the rest of her arms, gave it
to Omphale. The kings of Lydia who succeeded her carried this as
one of their sacred insignia of office, and passed it down from
father to son until it was passed to Candaules, who disdained it
and gave it to one of his companions to carry. When Gyges
rebelled and was making war upon Candaules, Arselis came with a
force from Mylasa to assist Gyges; Arselis then slew Candaules
and his companion and took the axe to Caria with the other
spoils of war. And, having set up a statue of Zeus, Arselis put
the axe in his hand and invoked the god, “Labrandeus”.