Sirius Black

[canismajorette]

No: HPFGUIDX 85349

That Sirius is beyond the veil now touches us all.  However, if this 
critical character is at all true to the implications of his name, he 
will be back to profoundly influence the remaining portion of what 
will ultimately be a septenary revelation, when done.

I say this because the name of Sirius Black carries great 
implications.  As most adult Harry Potter enthusiasts likely know, 
the brightest star in the sky (other than our Sun) is none other than 
the star Sirius, denoted by astronomers as Alpha Canis Major.  This 
appelation means that it is the first (alpha) or brightest star in 
the constellation of the Greater Dog (From Canis, Latin for dog, 
being the rootword for our word "canine," doglike; and Major, Latin 
for "greater" or  bigger.  There is another smaller dog constellation 
called the Lesser Dog. That'w why the distinction is made).  

Canis Major has been affiliated with "dog" symbolism since ancient 
Egyptian times, when the early Egyptian stellar religion equated this 
constellation with its god, Anubis, a jackal headed figure.  Jackals 
are of course of the canine family, so the popular characterization 
of the brightest star in this constellation became "The Dog Star."

No mere coincidence is it that Sirius Black, the animagus, thus 
transforms into a large black dog.  Rowling's multiple levels of 
genius show through here.  Not only is she a master of ambience and 
invention, but also a savant well familiar with the lore of the stars.

Thus, Sirius the animagus invokes all the legendry connected with 
Sirius the star.  And lo, what might that be?  In the Egyptian 
religion the star Sirius and its nearby companion Orion stood for 
Isis and her mate.  Their legend embodied an eternal death and 
rebirth theme: in other words, the reality of life beyond the grave.  
Or perhaps, as we might say here, the reality of life beyond the veil.

There's even more to the implication of Black's name.  Again, as many 
adult Potter fans may know, the star Sirius is considered by 
astronomers to be a double star.  The main star is denoted Sirius A, 
and its smaller brown dwarf companion is called Sirius B.  If we 
abbreviate the name for Potter's godfather, we might call him Sirius 
B.  (for Sirius Black).  I suspect that this is more than mere 
coincidence.  In fact, I suspect that Rowling is communicating much 
important material to us under code, in this any many other names 
used in the astounding  Potter material.

That Sirius Black's archetype may be a such a star presents 
profoundly meaningful possibilities.  More can be said on this topic 
at a later post if interest so indicates.


Canis Majorette