Post on 14-Apr-2017
Names from Myth: Names from Myth: Greek, Roman, Greek, Roman,
Celtic, and MoreCeltic, and More
• Rowling explains in Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies, “A very great variety of first names are given to children by their wizard parents, some of them being what we might think of as Muggle names (e.g. James, Harry, Ronald), others giving a distinct flavour of the personality or destiny of the bearer (e.g. Xenophilius, Remus, Alecto).”
(Kindle Locations 518-520).
• Rowling adds that these “destined names” are actually chosen after consulting with destiny, explaining, “A certain sector of magical society, however, follows the ancient wizarding practice of consulting a Naming Seer, who (usually for a hefty payment of gold) will predict the child’s future and suggest an appropriate moniker.” Presumably, this is why Remus Lupin is so-named before he’s even bitten.
(Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies, Kindle Locations 523-524).
Greek Greek NamesNames
• Hermione Granger• Hermes, Percy’s owl• Alastor Moody• Argus Filch• Sybill Trelawny• Alecto Carrow• Amycus Carrow• Merope Gaunt• Nymphadora Tonks• Andromeda Tonks• Xenophilius Lovegood • Delphini
Roman Gods and Latin Roman Gods and Latin NamesNames
• Pomona Sprout• Minerva McGonagall• Silvanus Kettleburn• Septima Vector (Arithmancy)• Quirinus Quirrel• Remus Lupin• Aurora Sinistra (Astronomy)• Albus Dumbledore• Luna Lovegood
Roman SkiesRoman Skies• Stars: Bellatrix Lestrange, Sirius Black,
Alphard Black, Arcturus Black, Pollux Black, and Regulus Black
• Constellations: Draco Malfoy, Scorpius Malfoy, Andromeda Tonks, Cassiopeia Black, Cygnus Black, and Orion Black
Roman SkiesRoman Skies
IndiaIndia
• The pantheons themselves weren’t a strong match, but there are a few particular references to consider.
• Parvati is the wife of the god Shiva, known for her courage (the perfect Gryffindor).
• “Padma” refers to Saraswati, the goddess of intellect (the perfect Ravenclaw).
• Nagin is used for the female snake in Hindi, while Nagini’s power parallels the mythic nagas, or snake-people of tales.
Celtic Celtic CorrespondencesCorrespondences
Dumbledore The Dagda: The All father, god of the arts, knowledge, magic, prophecy, prosperity, and regeneration
Rubeus Hagrid Rudiobus, the Celtic god of horses
Filius Flitwick Sucellos, the Celtic 'good striker' and smith godGilderoy Lockhart Angus Og, the beautiful male god of loveMinerva McGonagall
Brighid, the triple goddess of healing, poetry and smithcraft
Severus Snape Lugh, the tormented god of healing, reincarnation, prophecy, knowledge, and revenge. He was forbidden to wed any woman and his flower wife betrayed him for another. His sign was the white stag.
Madam RosmertaRosmerta "The Great Provider“: Celtic Goddess of fertility and wealth.
Sybill Trelawny Corra, Goddess of Prophecy, transcendent knowledge, and transitions. The rune stones, crystal balls, and tarot cards were her symbols.
Dolores Umbridge and the Carrows
The triple war goddesses Badb/ Madb/Macha
Mad-Eye Moody Balor of the Evil EyeIsolt’s ancestor is “the famous Irish witch Morrigan”
This “Animagus whose creature form was a crow” wasactually a goddess in Celtic myth.
Peter Pettigrew Nuada of the Silver Hand could use it as well as his living one. He was toppled from his throne because he was no longer whole.
James Potter Cernunnos the stag, a forest god who dies each year in the sacred marriage only to return more powerful.
ArthurianArthurian• “Merlin” and “Morgana” famous wizard cards. • The magic ceiling above Hogwarts’ Great Hall is an exact copy of the
ceiling above Arthur’s Round Table. • As Arthur was the only one who could pull the sword from the stone,
so Harry is the only one who could pull the Sorcerer’s Stone from his pocket.
• The Goblet of Fire, the graillike object Harry quests for • Names: Ginevra (Italian for Guinevere), Arthur Weasley,
Voldemort/MORdred, and Percival. • Percival, of course, offers the Arthurian link. He was a valiant fighter
who quested for the grail (or in Harry Potter’s world, the Horcruxes) but failed in his goal. His teenage protégé Galahad succeeded, through immaculate faith and goodness. Clear parallels appear here with the Dumbledore-Harry relationship. Percival Dumbledore (father to Albus) and his namesake, Percy Weasley, likewise appear as knights who fail, but leave others to battle and complete the great quest against Voldemort
• Isolt Sayre, founder of Ilvermorny
The Hallows of BritainThe Hallows of BritainThe Earliest Hallows
Powers Later Hallows
Tarot Symbols
Grail Hallows Rowling’s Objects
Shining spear of Lugh
Provides victory in any fight
The Pole of Combat
Spear or Wand
Crucifixion Spear
Elder Wand
Sword of Nuadu
Always destroys its target
The Sword of Light
Sword Broken Sword Godric’s Sword
Cauldron of Dagda
Provides endless food
The Cauldron of Cure
Cup The Grail Hermione’s Beaded Bag
Stone of Fal
Confers kingship
The Stone of Destiny
Pentacle Platter or Stone Resurrection Stone
The Thirteen Treasures of Britain,
ArthurianThe Arthurian Hallows
The Mantle of Arthur
The Whetstone of Tudwal Tudglyd
The Chariot of Morgan the Wealthy
Dyrnwyn, Sword of Rhydderch
The Coat of Padarn Red-Coat
Chessboard of Gwendd-olau
Halter of Clydno Eiddyn
OtherArthurian Hallows
Ability Makes the wearer invisible
Ensures death follows wounding.
Travels at great speed to any location.
Bursts into flame.
Identifies those of noble birth.
Plays by itself.
Calls any horse into it (for summon-ing aid).
Produce and prepare food and drink
Rowling Invisibility cloak
Sword of Gryffindor
Apparition Fiendfyre Sorting Hat
Wizard Chess
Sirius’s Mirror
Beaded Bag
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