The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter

Explains the origins in folklore, mythology, and history behind the characters, situations, and names in the "Harry Potter" books.

Excerpt

DID ALCHEMISTS REALLY SEARCH FOR A MAGIC STONE?

Just what were alchemists trying to do? Did they accomplish anything, or didall their work disappear in a cloud of smoke?

Anyone who has read Stone knows that alchemy is an ancient mix of chemistry andmagic. Alchemists tried to create gold from less valuable metals, and to concocta potion that could cure all ills and make the drinker immortal.

The Arab world is credited with the origin of alchemy. The name comes from theArab term al-kimia, which also gives us the word ?chemistry.? However, somehistorians say the root of that Arab word is the ancient Greek Khmia, whichmeans ?Egypt.? They believe Egyptian alchemists may have existed long before theArab world began the practice. In any case, alchemy actually developed all overthe world, including China and India.

We tend to think of alchemists as greedy and overreaching, obsessed with wealthand immortality. But some people say their work laid the foundation for modernchemistry. Indeed, real scientists studied alchemy. Sir Isaac Newton, thephysicist and mathematician, wrote millions of words on the subject. However, inkeeping with tradition, Newton was secretive about his alchemy experiments?atone point urging another alchemist to keep ?high silence? about the work.

The Metropolis of Alchemy

During the late 1500s two emperors hired the world's leading alchemists to workin the city of Prague in what is now the Czech Republic. This led to a nicknamefor the city: ?the Metropolis of Alchemy.? Emperors, however, can be fickle.When a British alchemist, Edward Kelley, failed to create gold, he was thrown ina dungeon. Even the efforts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth I failed to win hisrelease. He died trying to escape.

Of course, there were many frauds. A story is told of the arrival in Pragueduring that era of a stranger from Arabia, who invited the city's wealthiest mento a banquet where he promised to multiply the gold they brought. Aftergathering the offerings he prepared a mixture of chemicals and odd ingredients,such as eggshells and horse manure. This blend proved to be a stinkbomb, whichpermitted the charlatan a quick escape with the gold.

The Philosopher's Stone

One source calls the actual process followed by alchemists ?hopelesslycomplicated.? However, the basics were simple. According to the standard theory,all metals were a combination of mercury and sulfur. The more yellow the metal,the more sulfur in the mixture. So combining sulfur with mercury, in the rightproportion and with the proper sequence of steps, would create gold.

Eventually, alchemists became frustrated with simple methods that did not work.They began to search for a magic ingredient, which they called the philosopher'sstone. Some alchemists continued to believe the magic ingredient was simplysulfur. However, in Stone it is described as ?blood-red,? so Rowling probablyhad something more interesting in mind.

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ARE BASILISKS JUST BIG SNAKES?

Basilisks are among the most dreaded magical creatures. ?Of the many fearsomebeasts and monsters that roam our land,? Hermione reads in Chamber, ?there isnone more curious or more deadly.?

The basilisk is certainly more than just a large snake. Also known as acockatrice, it has existed in legend for centuries. Rowling is just having funin Beasts when she credits a Greek wizard named Herpo the Foul with breeding thefirst basilisk. Herpein is a Greek word meaning ?to creep? that came to be aword describing snakes. The study of reptiles such as snakes is now calledherpetology.

However, just as she suggests, by legend the basilisk was said to be theoffspring of a rooster or hen mated with a snake or toad. Some artists followedthat description literally, and drew strange beasts combining features fromthose animals. But more often the basilisk was portrayed as a serpent with acrown or a white spot on his head. Cobras, which have such marks, may be theorigin of the basilisk legend.

The basilisk was reported to be deadly even from afar. The Roman naturalistPliny said, ?He kills the shrubs, not only by contact, but by breathing on them,and splits the rocks, such is the power of evil in him.?

Some sources describe three varieties: the golden basilisk could poison with alook; another sparked fire; a third, like the famous snaky hair of Medusa inGreek mythology, caused such horror that victims were petrified.

William Shakespeare even mentioned a basilisk in his play Richard III. The eviltitle character kills his brother then immediately flatters his brother's widowby mentioning her beautiful eyes. But she isn't interested in his compliments.She replies, ?Would they were a basilisk's, to strike thee dead!?

How to Fight a Basilisk

A basilisk controlled by Lord Voldemort slinks through Hogwarts in Chamber,almost killing Harry and several of his friends. Harry is saved from thatbasilisk by Fawkes, Professor Dumbledore's pet phoenix, who pecks the monster'seyes. It is fitting that a bird saves Harry. According to legend, a bird?therooster?is fatal to the beast. In the Middle Ages travelers were known to carryroosters as protection against basilisks.

Excerpted from The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter by David Colbert. Copyright © 2001 by Lumina Press LLC. Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Copyright © 2001 Lumina Press LLC.
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 0-9708442-0-4