[HPforGrownups] Name meanings: Hagrid

[eloiseherisson at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 44096

Richard (quoting, I hasten to add!):

> "Hagrid: Name and tale comes from greek myth. The ancient Hagrid from the 
> myth was the god of Jewels. This god was said to be the kindest of the 
> gods, but Hades framed him for the death of Piraeus's (the killer of 
> Medusa) son. Hagrid was banished from Olympus but Zues allowed him to stay 
> as the watcher of the animals. "
> 
> Where did they get "Piraeus" from? As far as I'm aware (and I think I know 
> my Greek mythology fairly well), Medusa was killed by Perseus. It's his 
> main claim to fame. Piraeus, I was always taught, is/was the main port in 
> Athens


Well, you can't get much more Greek-sounding than Rubeus Hagrid, can you? ;-)
<note irony, please>

I think Piraeus is simply a typo or ignorant confusion of Perseus and 
Piraeus.
There are a lot of sites which peddle this particular piece of rubbish, 
including ones which rightly attribute Medusa's killing to Perseus.
It just shows you. It's like Chinese whispers.

I think the one you quote may have been copied from the Angelfire site, which 
says Perseus, but has the same mis-spelling of Zeus.
Incidentally, this one (amongst others) "explains" that 'Hagrid' means 
'giant' and 'Rubeus' means 'jewels'......And there was me, thinking Rubeus 
had to do with his ruddy complexion (and not a little alcohol!). That'll 
teach me to try to find Latin derivations for things! ;-)

Have a cup of tea, Richard! It's less messy than slashing your wrists!

But...According to some sources, Hades himself was the god of all the jewels 
of the world, (logically as jewels come from under the ground). (Alternative 
name Pluto; Ploutos = wealth)

I wonder, just *wonder* if someone's seen two names which start 'Ha..' both 
of whom happen to have three-headed dogs and keys as attributes and if that 
has got woven into the tangled web, associating Hagrid with the god of 
jewels. But how that got turned into Hades getting him ousted from Olympus is 
anybody's guess.

Eloise

Off for some tea, herself!
,


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