- Rabastan (was: The Gang of Slytherins)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 85596

> > Carol wrote:
> > 
> > *snip*
> > >(I'm still wondering about his brother Rabastan, mentioned 
> > >in another post. Anyone for an analysis of that name and its 
> > > possible significance?) 
> > 
> > Katrina responds:
> > 
> > While I could find nothing on "Rabastan," a quick search through
> the 
> > astronomy sites for "Rastaban" turned up some very interesting 
> > information.  According to 
> > http://www.winshop.com.au/annew/Alwaid.html
> > Rastaban is another name for the star Beta Draconis.  It also 
> > says, "The Arabic name for Rastaban or Alwaid is Ra's ath-Thu'ban 
> > (1), 'Head of the snake'. Raso tabbani was a variation. 
> > 
> > [Hebrew name Rastaban, means the Head of the Subtle (serpent). In 
> > the Arabic it is still called Al Waid, which means, 'who is to be 
> > destroyed.'"
> > Then it lists traditions and beliefs associated with the star as 
> > follows:
> > 
> <Catherine interrupts: interesting list is below>
> 
> I did go Hmm, but I have another theory (don't we always). Rabastan is
> no more a common name than Rastaban, so why should JKR corrupt the
> star name to create it? Surely the pure-bloods care about spelling?
> Moreover his brother Rodolphus does not have a star name, and the
> pure-bloods do name their families in sets, whether the astronomically
> fixated Blacks, or the old-fashioned-feeling Weasleys. So I submit a
> theory for Rabastan itself, that links the brothers, and justifies the
> meaning (I hope).
> 
> Rodolphus comes from Rudolf, which combines the Germanic elements hrod
> "fame," or "counsel" and wulf "wolf." Rabastan as his brother shares
> the hrod through Rab-, a corruption of Rob- (as in the Scottish
> nickname Rab for Robert), followed by the English/Germanic stan ,
> "stone." This would fit Rodolphus as the thinner, nervy-looking man,
> and Rabastan as more solid and thickset, a bit less sparky than his
> brother, not getting the girl and as the Fourth Man enduring years of
> speculation over his identity in the Pensieve Trial.

 

OTOH, maybe his name really is Rastaban, and Rabastan is just an
uncaught typo? The Lexicon lists the name as Rastaban, which indicates
that it's spelled that way somewhere in the series:

http://www.hp-lexicon.org/azkaban.html

At first I thought I had misspelled the name, but my copy of OoP
definitely says Rabastan (Am. ed. 788). He isn't named in the Pensieve
scene you mention but as you say, he's either the "thickset man who
stared blankly up at Mr. Crouch" or "the thinner, more nervous-looking
man, whose eyes were darting around the crowd" (Am. ed. 594). For some
reason I'm leaning toward the second description--maybe because it's
more interesting. I think only a dull-witted man would have married
dear Bella. (No evidence, only a hunch.) I'm also curious as to why
Voldemort skips over him when he mentions the Lestranges. The space
where he pauses to mention them is only wide enough for two people,
not three (GoF 650 Am. ed.)

Does anyone know of any other place where he's named? Is he actually
called Rastaban somewhere in the series? Maybe it would be mentioned
in relation to the Longbottoms and the Cruciatus curse?

Steve, can you help us out, please?

Thanks,
Carol