*The Golden Cap of Oz: 1-2-3*
- "...A Golden Cap, with a circle of sparkling diamonds and red rubies running round it. This Golden Cap was a magic one and had a special charm connected to it. Whoever owned it could call upon the creatures, Winged Monkeys, who would obey any order they were given, no matter how evil or silly. But no person could command these strange creatures more than three times. And twice already the Wicked Witch of the West had used the charm of the cap. Once was when she had made the Winkies her slaves, and overthrew the natives and set herself to rule over their land, the Winged Monkeys had helped her do this. The second time was when she had fought against the great and powerful Wizard himself, it was the Winged Monkeys who drove him out of the Winkie Country when he tried to challenge the Wicked Witch. Only once more could she use this Golden Cap, for which reason she did not like to do so until all her other powers were exhausted. But now that her fierce wolves and her wild crows and her stinging bees were gone, and her slaves had been scared away by the Lion, she saw there was only one way left to capture the little girl and destroy the beings accompanying her. "
- ―The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
The Golden Cap of Oz as it appeared in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
- "So the Wicked Witch took the Golden Cap from her cupboard and placed it upon her head. Then she stood upon her left foot and said slowly: “Ep-pe, pep-pe, kak-ke!” Next she stood upon her right foot and said: “Hil-lo, hol-lo, hel-lo!” After this she stood upon both feet and cried in a loud voice: “Ziz-zy, zuz-zy, zik!” Now the charm began to work..."
- ―The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
The Golden Cap is a magical item that is introduced in L. Frank Baum's first Oz book titled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, published in 1900. The cap itself is magically and enchanted with an authentic special charm that allows who ever wears it on their head to call upon the Ozian creatures called Winged Monkeys, (aka Flying Monkeys) three times and three times only. Much like rubbing a magic lamp to get three wishes from a Genie.
Dorothy uses the charm of the Magic Golden Cap from Oz. By W. W. Denslow 1900.
Baum's Description[]
The Golden Cap is a strange and unique-looking hat made of soft yellow velvet and fine golden silk, with a beautiful brim of solid gold that circled around the entire cap to make it sturdy and wearable. On this brim was a circle of sparkling diamonds and red rubies.
The Golden Cap
The enchantment held within it is a special charm that is only invoked by the following incantation, which is written inside the cap that one must shout out loud for it to properly work.
The Charm Of The Golden Cap:
While saying the magic spell of the cap one must also follow the movements the words require which are the following:
- First, stand upon the left foot and say: "EP-PE, PEP-PE, KAK-KE "
- Then, stand upon the right foot and say: "HIL-LO, HOL-LO, HEL-LO "
- Finally, stand on both feet and shout: "ZIZ-ZY, ZUZ-ZY, ZIK!!! "
A design of the Golden Cap of Oz.
After doing this correctly, the Winged Monkeys in Oz appear before you and at your service. They must obey you no matter how good or bad the desired deed you want done by them may be.
Oz History: Princess Gayelette & The Golden Cap...[]
Many centuries ago in the magical Land of Oz, the Golden Cap was first intended to be a valuable wedding present from a beautiful and fair princess of Oz named Gayelette who ruled over the Northern Gillikin Country.
A handmade replica of the Golden Cap of the land of Oz, based upon the W. W Denslow illustration from the original Oz book from 1900.
This gift was to be for her dearly beloved Quelala, and was said to have cost half her royal Kingdom to create. One fateful day, the group of Winged Monkeys who were mischievous troublemakers, loving to play and horse around, played a trick on Quelala only all in innocent fun by dropping him in a river and getting him soaking wet on Princess Gayelette's wedding day. Now Gayelette wasn't just any average pretty princess, she also was also a great Sorceress who was talented in practicing the magic arts of Witchcraft. When she found out what the Monkeys did to her soon to be husband on her big day, she became infuriated and punished them by making them eternal slaves to the Golden Cap that was meant to be a gift for Quelala who happened to be the first owner of the Golden Cap. He then commanded the Winged Monkeys to stay away from Gayelette and the royal kingdom they lived in so they would not upset Gayelette ever again. The Monkeys were all banished from the place Gayelette ruled over and were never allowed to come back.
Many centuries later, the Golden Cap unfortunately fell into the hands of the Wicked Witch of the West, who used it first to conquer the western quadrant known as the Winkie Country of Oz and enslaved the native Ozians called Winkies to work for her night and day.
The Wicked Witch of the West wears the Golden Cap. 1900.
Then she used it a second time to fight off the Wizard who arrived in Oz via hot air-balloon and tried to conquer her and steal her land. And finally the last time she used it, she ordered the Winged Monkeys to capture Dorothy, her dog Toto, and the Cowardly Lion. And then had the Winged Monkeys destroy their companions the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman for trespassing in her land without permission. After the Witch was defeated and melted by Dorothy, the girl took the cap and used it to travel back to the Emerald City and to Oz's southern quadrant known as the Quadling Country.
Dorothy uses the Golden Cap in the Marvel comic Oz series.
Then Glinda the Good Witch who ruled over the native Quadlings, gladly took the cap and returned Dorothy's companions to their homes after Dorothy used the Silver Shoes she was wearing to return her and Toto to Kansas. Then she gave the Golden Cap back to the Winged Monkeys, breaking the curse and finally freeing them forever. After that the Winged Monkeys disappeared to live a new peaceful life somewhere in Oz. (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
In Films[]
The Golden Cap made a small cameo appearance in the 1939 film in a few of Margaret Hamilton's scenes in her castle. It was seen in the hands of a Flying Monkey, who gave it to the Wicked Witch of the West, though she did not speak the cap's incantation.