[Fwd: Re: Hogwarts crests (sic)]

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 6929

This is another plummy comment on the HP heraldry, from my heraldry
group. I thought it was worth passing on. I, too, had thought the arms
of the four Houses might be attributed rather than what the founders
actually bore, although those wonderful, simple designs do argue for an
early date.

Nota Bene: I do heraldry as a hobby; if I've not explained any
unfamiliar terms, it's because I'm too familiar with them; just ask. If
it's worth the trouble...

--Amanda
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Hogwarts crests (sic)
Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2000 08:59:25 -0500
From: Julie Stampnitzky <jules at yucs.org>
Reply-To: Discussions of SCA Heraldry <SCAHRLDS at LISTSERV.AOL.COM>
To: SCAHRLDS at LISTSERV.AOL.COM

Bjarni wrote:

> Not to mention the fact that the "crests" depicted for the four houses
> are completely different from those emblazoned on my Hogwarts coffee
> cup (designed, I believe, by the Hallmark College of Heralds).  On the
> other hand, given how different things are in Harry's world, should we
> expect anything less?

The frontispiece of the British editions shows the arms of the four
houses quartered together. These are supposed to be the arms borne by
the four founders of Hogwarts, about a thousand years ago. Which means
that these are probably actually their _attributed_ arms. (Though in
either case I cannot fathom how anyone could pass up the chance to cant
on "Gryffindor" and "Ravenclaw.") Seeing how Harry's world, at least the
Muggle side of it, resembles ours, I suspect that the world's history
was the same as ours. (The idea being that we might in fact be living in
his world without even knowing it, being Muggles.*) Of course, wizards
might have developed heraldry earlier than the rest of the world. (Aha!
The true source of heraldry!) To answer your question, I'd sooner
believe in a world where Hogwarts exists than one where a charge may
(must?) be the same color as half the field.

[*] I speak for myself here, not to include any non-muggles on this
list.

-Julie