Harry Potter and the Eqyptian Symbols

[Randy]

No: HPFGUIDX 153880

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "horridporrid03" 
<horridporrid03 at ...> wrote:
>
> > >>Randy:
> > > I think that protective healing powers, Lily's eyes, Lions, 
> > > Serpents, and the Order of the Phoenix could be related to the 
> > > mythology of Horus.
> > > What do you guys think?
> 
> > >>Ceridwen:
> > The story of Horus is the story of a son avenging his father's 
> > death.  There could be a parallel.  But I doubt if there is 
any   
> > more than that, since Isis did not die, and Osiris was put 
back    
> > together from his scattered remains, which is why he is 
depicted   
> > as a green- faced mummy.
> > <snip>
> > I think we're looking too hard for symbols which have some 
meaning 
> > to the story.  There may be symbols in the books, but the story 
is 
> > its own.  I can't think of any reason why Harry having Lily's 
eyes 
> > would be important based on what we have so far, but I 
seriously   
> > doubt an Egyptian connection there.  I think it would have to 
be  
> > something more connected with the story we have in canon, 
rather   
> > than with something miles and millenia away.
> > Just my own opinion.
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> Hmm, I'm not sure if Randy was going for an exact parallel or not, 
> but while I do agree that JKR's "story is its own", it might be a 
> mistake to totally dismiss the books' symbols and the myths they 
> spring from as something "miles and millenia away".
> 
> If JKR has any interest in Egyption myths (and she does lightly 
> pepper her books with Egyption stuff: Bill, the Weasleys' vaction, 
> etc.) or just myths in general, I'd be surprised if they didn't 
play 
> some part in the shaping of her story.
> 
> I read a fascinating article on Snape called, "Severus Snape and 
the 
> Anubis Archetype: Smoke and Mirrors" by Clunycat, posted at the 
> Leaky Cauldron.
> 
> http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/#scribbulus:essay:192
> 
> In it Clunycat uses archetypes of several mythical gods of Death 
to 
> shed some light on the role Snape plays in the books.  I don't 
think 
> JKR wrote Snape *as* Anubis, but she may have had some of that 
> archetype's characteristics in mind when she dreamed Snape up.
> 
> I don't think JKR is writing an allegory.  Her characters are too 
> real, too multi-faceted for that, I think.  But let's not throw 
the 
> baby out with the bathwater.  When you have a school with houses 
> representing the four elements it could be suggestive that 
mythical 
> symbols hold some meaning.  Or at least, that's my opinion.
> 
> Betsy Hp (who'd meant to comment on this a couple of days ago, but 
> Yahoo went all wonky)
>


Randy replies...

Thank you so much for this link.  It tells me more about Snape than 
anything I have ever read before.

Also, I did not intend to imply that JKR lifted Harry Potter from 
the story of Horus.  I think the symbols in the Egyptian tombs are 
these important symbols being used in these books.  Snakes and lions 
are combined to make "the royal blood" of the pharoah.  Harry is the 
chosen one because he is marked by Voldy (Snake) and he comes from 
Godric's side of the fence (Lion).  That is what makes Harry "the 
chosen one."  Horus was the hero or chosen one.

Also, there is something important about Harry having Lily's eyes.  
The eyes are a protection.  Thoth gave Horus back his eye, but it 
was now magical with protective healing powers.  Harry has his 
mother's protection and her eyes!  The image is the same even if the 
story is very different.  These are the archetypes that she is using 
which conjure up something in our subconscious.

By the way, if Moses studied as the son of a pharoah, he would know 
the symbols of the myths.  Moses is the source of the Old Testament 
beginnings.  Do we not then have a link between these symbols and 
Jewish and Christian teachings?  The symbols allow complex ideas to 
be communicated to large groups of people who may not be able to 
fully comprehend what is being said.  If you don't believe me, why 
do young children know that the Golden Arches represent McDonalds 
before they can even read?  Marketing people know how to use 
symbols, and so do artists and writers.

Randy

Randy