Almond-shaped eyes & the Sphinx (Re: Pensieve scene - Lily revealed?)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 104425

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lavaluvn" <lavaluvn at y...> 
wrote:
> I apologize for most likely repeating ideas (nothing new under the 
> sun and all), but does anyone else think that the Pensieve scene 
of 
> James tormenting Snape was as much to reveal Lily's character as 
> anything?  As much as we've ever been given, anyway.  I think she 
> came out looking rather impressive.  

Jen: JKR did tell us we would find out something important about 
Lily in Book five. This scene is one possibility, where we see that 
she is both brave (standing up to bullies) and a powerful witch 
(James and Sirius 'eye her wand warily' like they know what she's 
capable of).

We also found out her green eyes are 'almond-shaped' which could be 
another significant point about her and Harry's eyes, besides the 
color. The only canon reference we have to almond-shaped eyes is the 
Sphinx in GOF & this description in FBAWTFT:

"The Egyptian Sphinx has a human head on a lion's body. For over a 
thousand years it has been used by witches and wizards to guard 
valuables and secret hideaways. Highly intelligent, the sphinx 
delights in puzzles and riddles. It is usually dangerous only when 
what it is guarding is threatened."

So perhaps Lily is symbolically like the Sphinx, the human lioness 
who is highly intelligent, and dangerous only when Harry is 
threatened. Or this could be a more literal clue about some obscure, 
sphinx-like power she and Harry possess, as signified by the eyes.

JKR definitely weaves in connections to Egypt, with Bill working 
there and the Weasleys visiting. On an astrological note, the great 
Sphinx at Giza is thought to have been built as the earthly 
counterpart to the constellation Leo, heralding the birth of the Sun 
(son) in Leo. Don't know if this is where JKR is going, but the 
imagery is interesting.