Distaff

A distaff is a tool used in spinning to hold the unspun fibers, keeping them untangled and thus easing the spinning process.

Hercules is sometimes depicted holding a distaff. For murdering his friend Iphitus in a fit of madness Hercules was sold as a slave to Omphale, queen of Lydia, for three years (Apollodorus 2.6:3). She alleviated his lot by making him her lover, but while in her service he was made to wearing women 's clothes and adornments, and spin yarn.