Other Historical Wizards? (was: [HPforGrownups] very short replies)

[bboy_mn]

No: HPFGUIDX 40910

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Dave Hardenbrook <DaveH47 at m...> wrote:
> 
> Saturday, July 6, 2002, 6:31:37 PM, catlady_de_los_angeles wrote:
> 
> c> << It would be interesting to know whether 
> >Merlin is supposed to be  any more historical a figure 
> in the WW than he is in the Muggle one. 
> >>>
> c> He has a Famous Wizard card, and I thought they 
> > were all supposed to be historical figures, aka 
> > real people.
> 
> BTW, are there any other real people (in our world) 
> besides Flamel who were Wizards in the Potterverse?  
> I was thinking maybe Johannes Kepler was, since he 
> dealt in astrology (though he eventually rejected it,
> Hermione-style), wrote a book (factual in the P-verse??) 
> about a witchcraft-aided trip to the moon, and his mum 
> was in fact tried as a witch.
> 
> -- 
> Dave

You'll see an extended BIO of Agrippa in another post of mine. I'm
still on probation so it may take a while to get threw.

Agrippa - was a real person, born in Germany, studied alcheny and
wrote several books.

Ptolemy - was an Egyptian Emporer, the decoding of hieroglyphic
occurred when someone noticed common letters in Cleopatra's name and
Ptolemy's name.

Merlin - there is a REAL history of a person who is accepted as THE
Merlin, although, since his life spans over 150 yrs. Some people think
Merlin is really the history of two people merged together over time.
But ther is a real person in English muggle history that is said to be
Merlin.

Morgana - Morgana appears in the Italian translation of  Arthurian
tales as "Fata Morgana". That doesn't quite prove she was real, but I
thought it was worth noting. 

and of course Flamel.

JKR must really know this subject well, to have come up with such
obscure historical figures. I can only assume that if the names of
other historical witches and wizards are researched, some of them will
also be real people. 

Some additional comment on Merlin, indirectly related to this post. I
think Merlin is considered the pinnacle of wizardom. The greatest
wizard who ever lived (in the western world). My impression is that he
is like a god (in a non-religious sense, if that makes sense) to
wizarding people. I can see them saying things like "By Merlin's ghost
I swear I didn't take your homework." or "I swear on Merlin's grave,
I'm telling the truth." This isn't quite proven by the book, and I
don't have any specific reference to site, but I vaguely remember
Merlin being used in a similar context, although much more subtle. I'm
rereading the series and if I come across the reference I'm think of,
I'll post it.

BBOY_MN