Medieval Armor in Hogwarts

[samwise_the_grey]

No: HPFGUIDX 84677

Concerning the suits of armor you guys seem to be forgetting one of 
their more interesting attributes; they are sentient like the 
paintings. They laugh, they sing, and could possibly fight if given 
weapons. Perhaps they are not meant for wizards, or decoration, or 
trophies, but another line of defense put in place by a previous 
staff. It's a thought...

As for Gryffindore's sword... Well, three things come to mind. It 
could have magical properties we are not aware of. It's a special 
sword like Excaliber and thus very powerful in battle. Gryffindore 
was not so seculded from the Muggle world as to not participate in it 
but had to keep his wizarding abilities a secret. 

It's not really important why Gryffindore had a sword is it? Maybe 
Rowling just thought defeating a giant snake with a sword would be 
more dramatic than a wand. *shug* 

~Samwise 

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" 
<justcarol67 at y...> wrote:

> o_caipora" wrote:
> > Coming back to Gryffindor's sword, it may be the only sword we're 
told about, but there's no shortage of suits of armor.  IIRC there's 
one in the corridor where the Room of Requirement appears, and kids 
are always hiding behind them or stumbling into them in the dark. The 
HP lexicon lists quite a few sets, and even a "long gallery full of 
suits of armor."  

> > They could be hunting trophies, remembrances of Muggles who 
attacked wizards. Else they're wizard armor. Armor against magic is 
bizarre. Amulets, yes. Charms. Voldemort conjures up a magic shield. 
But not armor.
 
 
> The suits of armor also seem odd now that you mention it (though the
absence of weapons to go with them doesn't, considering that Hogwarts
is a school). But what about the portrait of Sir Cadogan? Surely he
was a wizard--if not, what is his portrait doing in Hogwarts? Or maybe
the paintings, which include one of a group of monks, are enchanted
muggle artifacts? Monkhood and wizardry don't seem to go together. The
same could apply to the suits of armor: neither wizard armor nor
battle trophies, just medieval relics under some sort of animating
charm. But that can't be the case for Gryffindor's sword, which seems
to be a real weapon. So I'm right back where I started. Unconfuse me,
somebody.
 
> Carol