Greek Shepherd’s Staff

Late in the afternoon our RV was parked along the shore, near Korínthou, Greece, when a very old man and his very old wife, went past us, driving a small flock of sheep. An hour later, they drove the sheep back the other way. The Greek Shepherd had a staff that looked very attractive, so I tried to buy it for my collection. The shepherd had a hurt look on his face, hugged the staff to his breast, and wouldn’t even consider selling. The staff was about five feet long, and the tip was wooden, fashioned like a very stylized, smooth Trojan helmet, shaped to be able to hook a sheep’s leg.

I decided to follow them, and again see if I could buy the staff. After walking for a mile or so, high into the hills, I arrived at a little shack where they lived. The woman finally brought out a little “nothing” cane, like a small tree limb, not at all like the one her husband carried, but I paid her anyway.

Near Epidaurus we stopped and offered a Greek shepherd too much money for his staff, but he wouldn’t think of selling, although he was tempted. His response was the Greek version of, “No way, Jose!”

At several stores I asked if they could help me find the special shepherd’s staff I was looking for. I was told they aren’t available for purchase, only shepherds have them.

Finally in an antique store in Gíthio, I found one. I tried to act like I didn’t care, but I wanted the Greek shepherd’s staff, and paid the price the man asked. The store owner said this is the first one he’s ever had, and doesn’t expect to get another one. They are made from the root of a special tree, in some kind of a ceremony, at a certain time of the year.

In Kótronas I finally bought a staff, a little different from the other one, from a Shepherd who was thrilled to sell it. The staff head is made from a very reddish wood, and is carved as a Trojan helmet, but with different detail than the other one. It also has a “sunburst” design carved on each side of the head.

During the early evening in Métsovo’s central square, I walked with the special shepherd’s staff, just to see what might happen, and to see people’s reaction. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I am sure there were looks of surprise on the faces of some of the older men. But were they surprised to see the shepherd staff, or surprised to see some dum-dum American trying to look like a Greek Shepherd.