Dumbledore

[cunning_spirit]

No: HPFGUIDX 116502


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dungrollin" <spotthedungbeetle at h...> wrote:
> 
> Dungrollin wrote:
> > More amusingly, it's also an old name for dor beetles, which are 
> > big shiny black dung beetles (try 'Geotrupes' in google images). I 
> > got *terribly* excited when I first read PS, thinking 'Hooray! The
> > Headmaster's a dung beetle!' But then JKR said in an interview that
> > he was named that because it's a word for bumble bee, and I felt 
> > like a punctured lilo... Oh well. [signed] Dungrollin<<
> >
> > Kim again: Very interesting. Now that would be one way to keep
> > people away from him and thus from discovering who he really is, 
> > not to mention possibly keeping Crookshanks from eating him --
> > Dumbledore's a dung beetle! Also, I guess that's the key to your
> > HP4GU nome de plume?? What an interesting crowd on this list --
> > entomologists and everything!
> 
> Cunning Spirit:
> Anyway, since I believe that JKR once said in an interview with 
> regards to the beastly manifestations of animagi, that the beast 
> form was a reflection of the mage's inner nature, I'd have a hard 
> time going along with the idea that JKR's "epitome of goodness"
> was a dung beetle animagus.
> 
> 
> Dungrollin again:
> 
> Maligned!!!  
> 
> Dung beetles (or at least, the sacred scarab) were to the Ancient 
> Egyptians what phoenixes are to the WW. To the Egyptians they 
> symbolised resurrection, as they'd disappear into the soil with a 
> ball of dung, die, and then brand new ones would emerge the year 
> after like magic (the Egyptians couldn't see the eggs inside the 
> dung balls).
> 
> There are all sorts of ecological reasons why dung beetles are 
> indispensable, tireless workers, but I won't go into those.  But 
> really, if sorting out the problems caused by Voldy and co. isn't 
> akin to shovelling ****, I don't know what is...
> 
> Whereas, male bees are lazy good-for-nothings, they do no work, get 
> fed and watered by their sisters, then leave the nest, find a girl, 
> have some fun, and die soon after.
> 
> I know which I think is more apt for an 'epitome of goodness'... 
> (But I'll freely admit to being horribly biased.)
> 
> Dungrollin
> Wishing she could change the title of her thesis to
> `Entomological Symbolism in Harry Potter'...


cunning spirit again:

Y'know, as soon as I posted my last comment, I just KNEW somebody was going to whip 
out the "but dungbeetles are Egyptian deities" argument. Sigh. 

I should have realised I was setting myself up for defeat. I live in a house where our 
biology geek teen-aged son keeps a stack of eight large "critter carriers" to house his 
colonies of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. He then sells these large, ugly, NOISY 
creatures to local pet shops for his walking around money.  Anyway, as far as he is 
concerned, the ickier, the better (or at least, the more lucrative). He returned from school 
just as I was penning my earlier thoughts on moral associations with bumblebees and 
dung beetles and earned myself a five minute lecture on the "noble dung beetle" and all 
the good things they do for the ecology.

So I guess you and my son are on the same wavelength, Dungrollin. You win.



Cunning spirit -- who really doesn't feel ill toward the hissing roaches except when their 
noise makes it difficult to hold a civil conversation.