Paganism in Harry Potter

[changeling]

I won't really be on Livejournal much for the next week or so, as I estimate that's how long it will take me to read the final book. I'm trying to be really good, and not lose a whole day of work by reading it all in one sitting – my plans for Sunday did not even remotely pan out. There was no sitting with tea. No cake. Steph read me the first three chapters while I did endless amounts of dishes left from our party Saturday night.

While I'm reading the final book, I'm concurrently reading the fifth book, which I started while Steph had our copy of the seventh. I couldn't help but be struck by Harry's court appearance, beginning with his "prayer" at the memorial fountain that if he was successful, he'd leave seven Galleons in the fountain. (You'll have to excuse errors of fact, as I am at work, waiting for some PDFs to distil, and have not either book with me.) One could, if one liked, read this as a prayer to Apollon; both the seven and the fact that the fountain's proceeds go to a hospital seem significant. Harry is, finally, triumphant, after some Hermes-esque manoeuvring from Dumbledore, and is faithful to his oath; so much so that he actually tips the whole of his moneybag into the fountain.

It made me smile, seeing that image this time around, as it resembles the silver coins I leave for Hermes at the intersection near our home.

Comments

[sannion.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting take on it. Has anyone else tracked down any religious elements in the books?

[watersusurrus.livejournal.com]

There's a lot of meta written on the archetypes being used in the books. JKR draws heavily on mythological sources... the caretaker's name is Argus (and he watches the students for wrongdoing), Harry's wand is made from holly but Voldemort's is made from yew. There's a three-headed dog that guards the entrance to Harry's first underworld journey, who Hagrid bought from a "Greek chap" down in the pub. One of the things I love about the books is pulling out all of my history/mythology/pagan-esque/linguistic random information.

Oh, and my favourite, Dumbledore's phoenix is called Fawkes. Rocking.

[pezzae.livejournal.com]

I thought it was ten Galleons.
What's the mythological symbolism of 'Fawkes'? Or is that historical, as in Guy Fawkes bonfires?

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

You're probably right. I didn't (and don't) have the book on me.

It's not mythological, it is historical. As in Guy/Guido Fawkes.