JKR's idea of horcruxes

[littleleahstill]

No: HPFGUIDX 140371

Auria wrote:

<snip>

> where did JKR get the idea of horcruxes? I mean its a very
> unusual concept - to split one's soul and 'keep' a piece in a
> separate place to gain immortality - and I wonder if JKR had
> gotten this idea from any other literature somewhere or if its
> entirely unique?



The idea occurs in Russian folklore (?'The Firebird?- I can't 
remember precisely), where the sorceror keeps his soul in an egg.  
It also appears in an Indian folktale called 'The Wizard Punchkin'. 
This makes me think it must occur in other Indo-European cultures at 
least.  In these stories, the whole soul is removed, and the wizard 
still  functions, so JKR's idea of a number of horcruxes, and the 
presumed need to retain at least one part of the soul  seems to be 
original.

Leah