Winged boars (was Re:Wordplay)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 152653

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Peggy Wilkins" <enlil65 at ...> wrote:
>
> On 5/20/06, Magpie <belviso at ...> wrote:
>
> > Magpie:
> > Oh, I don't think there is a connection to the school.  It just sounds
> > funny, is my guess, for the hog connection, which is also connected to
> > Hogsmeade.  The area may have originally been associated with pigs.  As an
> > aside, Swineherds were often associated with madness and therefore sort of
> > Shamanistic visions.  Merlin in some legends was mad for a time, and I think
> > also tended pigs.  Then of course there's the winged boars outside the
> > school suggesting "when pigs fly."

Peggy Wilkins:
> I don't remember winged boars outside; where is this written?
>
> I'm interested in all the pig allusions because one of my favorite
> anagrams of my name is "We Kingly Pigs".  It strikes me as something
> Dumbledore might be amused at.

Geoff:
The references which come to mind include the following:

'As the carriage trundled towards a pair of magnificent wrought-iron
gates, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars, Harry
saw two more towering, hooded Dementors, standing guard on either
side.'

(POA "The Dementor" p.68 UK edition)

'Through the gates, flanked with statues of winged boars, and up the
sweeping drive the carriages trundled, swaying dangerously in what
was fast becoming a gale.

(GOF "The Triwizard Tournament" p.152 UK edition)

'Rattling and swaying, the carriages moved in convoy up the road.
When they passed between the tall stone pillars topped with winged
boars on either side of the gates to the school grounds, Harry leaned
forwards to try to see whether there were any lights on in Hagrid's
cabin by the Forbidden Forest but the grounds were in complete
darkness.'

(OOTP "The Sorting Hat's New Song" p.181 UK edition)

'Having always travelled there by carriage, Harry hed never before
appreciated just how far Hogwarts was from Hogsmeade Station.
With great relief he finally saw the tall pillars on either side of the
gates, each topped with a winged boar.'

(HBP "Snape Victorious" p.151 UK edition)

I think we have winged boars outside...
:-)

It's interesting that JKR always mentions them when Harry makes
a 'conventional' arrival at the school.  In PS, he arrives by boat
and in COS by flying car.

Is she trying to tell us something?