Hermione according to myth ("was Couples in the Potterverse/Hermione")

[Ashfae]

No: HPFGUIDX 47985



> From: "alora <chrisnlorrie at yahoo.com>" <chrisnlorrie at yahoo.com>
> 
> This thread is dying out, I think, but didn't I read somewhere 
> that "Hermione"  was a greek/roman mythological woman loved by TWO 
> men?  Someone correct me on this, as I can't remember where or when 
> I read it.  
> 
	Mmm, sort of. According to Greek mythology, Hermione was the
daughter of Helen of Troy by Helen's original husband, Menelaus.  That's
about all that's known of her in classic mythology, but she shows up in
one of Eurpidies' plays ("Andromache"). According to Eurpidies, when Helen
ran off to Troy with Paris, Hermione was left in the care of her aunt,
Helen's twin, Klymenestra. The Trojan War lasted for ten years;  during
that time, Hermione became engaged to Orestes, Klymenestra's son and
Hermione's cousin. But when the war ended, Hermione returned to her
father's household; Menelaus then married her to Neoptolemus, the son of
Achilles. Orestes then murders Neoptolemus and marries Hermione. But I'm
not sure whether this is canon mythology, or Euripides making use of
poetic licence. It is certainly unclear as to on which sides love was
involved, given the political nature of marriages at that time. (it's
several years since I read Andromache, I can't remember very clearly)

	A Hermione also appears in one of Shakespeare's plays, "The
Winter's Tale." Her husband Leontes suspects her of infidelity, and--being 
a jealous sort--condemns her to death. In actuality a maid helps her 
escape; she remains hidden for ten years, by which point her husband has 
repented of his jealousy. She then forgives him and they live happily ever 
after.

	 The name "Hermione" is derived from the name of the Greek God
Hermes, who acted as messanger to the other gods, guided dead souls to the 
underworld, and was himself the god of thieves and commerce.

	We could find parallels in any of these, I suppose.  There could
be a duel between Ron and Harry over Hermione, and Ron does have a jealous
nature. But truthfully, I think that'd be reading too much into the names.
JKR's names do usually have significance, but only rarely (*cough* *Remus
Lupin* *cough*) do they do more than suggest at a character's personality.
Draco is not actually a dragon, Dumbledore is not actually a bumblebee,
and if Minerva McGonagall is the virgin goddess of the hunt I shall be
very surprised. I don't think it likely that Ron or Harry will be fighting
to the death over Hermione, and I find it even less likely that she'd
react to a jealous husband by hiding for ten years and then forgiving him
as soon as she was revealed to be alive.

	If anyone wishes to uses Hermione's name as basis for a shipping
argument...well, there've been stranger proofs offered up for ships. *wry
gryn* But personally, I cannot read so much significance into her name. I
suspect that JKR just fancied it.

	Ashfae