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The enchanting universe of Harry Potter has captivated fans worldwide, thanks in part to its vast array of magical creatures, plants, and supernatural beings that contribute to its richly imaginative setting. While some of these elements are recognizable from various sources, here are ten instances where they draw inspiration from global myths and folklore.
10. Mandrake
The iconic mandrake root, featured prominently in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, is a plant known for its piercing screams when uprooted and its potent healing properties, capable of reversing curses, transfigurations, and petrification. While the cries of mature mandrakes can be deadly, younger plants merely induce temporary unconsciousness.
In the real world, the Mandragora officinarum fascinates not only for its human-like root shapes but also for its hallucinogenic and sedative qualities. These traits have fueled countless legends surrounding the plant, some of which date back to biblical times.
In Genesis, the mandrake is said to have alleviated Rachel’s infertility (Genesis 30:14-17). Later, Josephus of Jerusalem (c. AD 37-100) depicted the mandrake in a way that resonates with fans of J.K. Rowling’s iconic series. To avoid fatal consequences from the mandrake’s scream, Josephus advised digging a trench to partially expose the root, tying it to a dog, and having the dog pull it out, sacrificing itself in place of its master.
Referenced by renowned occultists like Eliphas Levi and Jean-Baptiste Pitois, the mandrake was later considered a crucial component in flying ointments used by medieval witches to travel to gatherings or meet the Devil.
9. Dragons
Dragon myths trace back to ancient sources such as the Indian Rig Veda (c. 1500 BC), which tells of the god Indra slaying the dragon Vrtra to release heavenly waters to Earth. Similarly, the Mesopotamian god Marduk fought the dragon Tiamat for dominion over humanity.
A more familiar depiction comes from the Iranian Zoroastrian tradition, which describes the serpent-like “azi” as venomous creatures that devoured both horses and men. By the 10th and 11th centuries, the Persian Book of Kings celebrated heroes like Rustum, who often battled these formidable beasts. The concept of serpentine monsters appears across global mythologies, including Tiamat, the Judeo-Christian Leviathan, the Greek Hydra, and the Norse Jormungandr, the latter influencing the Old English epic Beowulf, where the term “dracan” is used.
Modern portrayals of dragons often take cues from these ancient stories, depicting them as fierce, treasure-hoarding guardians. However, the heraldic representation of dragons has also contributed to their depiction as intelligent, wise, and even protective allies of humans in numerous tales.
8. Pixies
Cornish Pixies, as described by Rowling, are tiny, blue creatures known for their mischievous antics. Traditionally, they are blamed for leading travelers astray. While commonly associated with Cornwall, pixie legends also thrive in Devon, Dorset, and Hampshire.
Pixies are said to love dancing and gathering in large groups at night to play, frolic, or wrestle. One famous gathering of 600 pixies at Trevose Head ended abruptly when the pixie Omafra lost his laughter. Fortunately, King Arthur restored Omafra’s laughter, allowing him to return to his queen, Joan the Wad.
Dartmoor’s pixies are known for their diminutive size and friendly nature. However, they enjoy disguising themselves as rags to lure children into play. While they might assist with chores, travelers who are “pixy-led” should turn their coats inside out to break the spell and find their way home.
Far from being harmless, pixies are sometimes believed to be the restless souls of pagans trapped in limbo or the unbaptized spirits of infants.
7. Boggarts
The boggart known to Harry Potter fans differs significantly from its mythological counterpart.
Rooted in English folklore, the boggart derives its name from the Welsh term “bwg.” Like pixies, they are mischievous tricksters, though often with a more sinister edge.
Originally a hearth-spirit, the boggart is a corrupted form of the typically benevolent hobgoblin. If mistreated, it transforms into a boggart, displaying a mischievous and sometimes terrifying nature, seeking retribution against those who wronged it.
Boggarts are frequently blamed for mysterious occurrences such as missing objects, spoiled milk, or even dogs going lame. Those inhabiting swamps or marshes are often accused of causing the disappearance of children.
In the tale of “The Farmer and the Devil,” a boggart’s cunning is outsmarted. However, one hopes the farmer avoided the wrath of Owd Hob, the boggart king of Lancashire! Interestingly, those eerie nighttime noises might just be a boggart, now more commonly referred to as the Bogeyman.
6. Basilisk
The basilisk, as depicted in the Potter series, differs significantly from its historical descriptions. Known as the king of snakes, its immense size is not supported by ancient texts. Pliny the Elder, in his Naturalis Historia, describes the Cyrene basilisk as a small serpent, no longer than twelve fingers. It is considered the most venomous of snakes, with poison potent enough to travel up a spear to kill both rider and horse. Its deadly gaze could also kill, and in the absence of humans, it would target plants and herbs.
Fortunately, the scent of a weasel is said to repel this terrifying creature, a belief possibly rooted in tales of the king cobra, which is naturally hunted by the mongoose.
5. Centaur
The centaurs in J.K. Rowling’s universe share similarities with C.S. Lewis’s Narnian centaurs. While Rowling’s centaurs focus on healing, archery, and astrology, they retain the wild and untamed nature of their Greek mythological origins. Born from the union of Ixion and Nyphele, centaurs symbolize the dual aspects of human nature, blending nobility with savagery.
Although centaurs are typically portrayed as male, there are rare depictions of centaurides, or female centaurs, such as a 4th-century Tunisian mosaic. Ovid also mentions Hylonome, a centauride who took her own life after her husband’s death.
4. Yeti
In The Chamber of Secrets, Gilderoy Lockhart claims to have spent a “Year With the Yeti,” a claim that aligns with numerous muggle sightings of the creature. The Yeti legend originates from ancient Himalayan folklore, with stories passed down by travelers for centuries. Notably, after conquering the Indus Valley in 326 BC, Alexander the Great requested to see a Yeti but was disappointed to learn they could not survive at lower altitudes.
Similar to sightings of Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster, there is little concrete evidence to prove the existence of the Yeti. Sir Edmund Hillary, the first to climb Mount Everest, once discovered what he thought was a Yeti scalp, but it was later identified as the hide of a serow, a goat-like animal native to the area.
Who better to hunt the Yeti than the legendary Brian Blessed? The actor and explorer, known for climbing mountains and confronting polar bears, has even written a book about his quest to find the elusive creature. If anyone could lure a Yeti out of hiding, it’s the man who famously claims female gorillas are fond of him!
3. Werewolves
Werewolf legends trace back to one of the earliest examples of Western literature, The Epic of Gilgamesh, where the hero rejects a potential lover because she had transformed a former lover into a wolf.
Greek mythology also includes early werewolf tales: Lycaon served Zeus a meal made from a sacrificed boy, prompting Zeus to transform Lycaon and his sons into wolves—a story that gave rise to the term lycanthropy.
Nordic sagas recount tales of humans transforming into wolves using magical wolf pelts. However, darker stories involve historical figures like Pierre Bergut and Michel Verdun, who allegedly pledged loyalty to the Devil and used a magical ointment to become wolves. Both were executed after confessing to the murders of several children. Similarly, 16th-century Frenchman Giles Garnier was burned at the stake for supposedly turning into a wolf and devouring children.
One of the most infamous real-life cases is that of Peter Stubbe, a wealthy farmer from Bedburg, Germany. After children went missing, hunters claimed to have seen him shapeshift into a wolf. Under torture, he confessed, though many doubted his guilt, viewing him as a victim of a witch-hunt rather than a true werewolf. It may have been a case of a scapegoat in wolf’s clothing.
2. Sphinx
The sphinx in The Goblet of Fire mirrors its mythological counterpart in the tale of Oedipus, posing a deadly riddle to the hero. In Egyptian tradition, the sphinx has a woman’s face, a lion’s body, and bird’s wings, differing from the Goblet depiction of a lion-like body with a human head.
Known for its riddles, the sphinx symbolizes intelligence, knowledge, and omniscience. Later depictions, like the Great Sphinx of Giza, are thought to portray pharaohs, particularly Khafre, who also commissioned the Great Pyramid nearby.
1. Elves
Elves have a rich and ancient history, far removed from the submissive and timid beings portrayed in Harry Potter.
Originating in Old English and Norse literature, elves are magical beings often described as having extraordinarily long lives or even immortality. In English and Scottish folklore, they are typically small, elusive, and childlike, with a penchant for mischief. While not inherently malevolent, many tales from this era describe humans venturing into Elphame, a realm often depicted as eerie and spectral. Elves are also known to harass or, in some cases, harm humans.
In Norse mythology, elves are taller, closer to human size, and capable of interbreeding with humans. Known as alfar, they possess supernatural abilities, such as passing through walls. Elves are depicted as more beautiful than humans, and men could achieve elfhood if deemed worthy.
However, not all elves are the same: Freyr ruled Alfheimr, the realm of light elves, while dark elves resided in Svartalfheimr, avoiding sunlight to prevent turning to stone. These dark elves were believed to cause nightmares, with sleep paralysis attributed to them sitting on a sleeper’s chest in the form of a mare.
