Greek Mythology Allusions in the Heptalogy

One of the most significant traits of Rowling's style is a wide usage of mythological allusions, motifs, and symbols. Allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to or representation of people, places, books, art or in J.K.Rowling's case, mythology. Most notably, her writing is rich in Greek Mythology allusions. And that makes perfect sense regarding the fact that J.K.Rowling earned a degree in Classics and French at the University of Exeter. She recounts her experience in a short autobiographical essay entitled "What was the Name of that Nymph Again? or Greek and Roman Studies Recalled" which happens to be the only non-fantasy-related writing to be published. It suggests that Rowling's interest in myth can be traced right back to her student days. And so it's only fair to make an assumption as for the source of these mythological allusions. In writing Harry Potter series, she first did 5 years research into mythology and ancient lore.

Although Rowling lies heavily upon Greek Mythology in some cases she reforges ancient stories and brings them to a new life. As Rowling puts it herself, "I've taken horrible liberties with folklore and mythology" which proves her to be a postmodernist as metanarratives and intertextual elements come into play in her literary works.

And that point brings us to the analysis of Greek Mythology influences in Harry Potter series.

Yearly on in the series, namely, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, we encounter a giant three-headed dog named Fluffy who was once cared for by Rubeus Hagrid. Of course, there is irony to its name to show Hagrid's quirk for unusual pets. “I tell you, that dragon's the most horrible animal I've ever met, but the way Hagrid goes on about it, you'd think it was a fluffy little bunny rabbit.” [21]. It's obvious Rowling draws this character from Greek Mythology. Cerberus is a giant three-headed dog that guards the passage to Hades or underworld as it is commonly referred to. And Fluffy shares its weakness. According to the original myth, Orpheus wanted to visit the underworld to see his dead wife. Using the lovely music of his harp, Orpheus sent Cerberus snoozing and walked right in. Just like Cerberus, Fluffy is unable to resist falling asleep to the sound of music.

Harry's lightning-shaped scar can be connected obviously to Zeus, who hurled lightning bolts at earthly targets. And so, what is so peculiar about this scar? It's a connection to something that's beyond the physical. Now, at no point of the text we see that Harry is God or even God-like necessarily, but he does have an unearthly calling. He is considered to be the Chosen One and is marked for greatness. We can draw a parallel between him and another character in ancient Hebrew literature. A Biblical legend about Cain and Abel tells us that Cain was marked by God so he would not be destroyed by men. His fame is prophesied much like that of a Christ as Messiah in ancient Hebrew literature as well. So Harry can be considered as a Christ figure.

The name Hermione can be traced to some classic Greek stories as well. Namely, to the face that launched a thousand ships, and that is of Helen of Troy. She was flesh and blood certainly, but she was also immortal, since her father was none other than Zeus. It was her lot to grace the palace and the kingdom of Menelaus. Dazzled by Helen's beauty, Paris (the king of Troy) abducted her, triggering the Trojan War. When Helen sailed away with the Trojan prince Paris, she left behind nine-year-old Hermione, her only child. One interesting connection between Rowling's Hermione and her Greek namesake is the fact that Hermione is closely associated with books and learning. So, in a literary way, Hermione is born from a book, – Homer's Iliad, and she, therefore, is bound to books, because that's her literal and figurative heritage.

The episode of saving Cedric's body in the Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire resembles the Iliad too and the actions of Hector, Achilles, and Patroclus. Rowling herself acknowledges this fact, claiming: "That's where it came from. That really, really, really moved me when I read that when I was 19. The idea of the desecration of a body, a very ancient idea... I was thinking of that when Harry saved Cedric's body."

Professor McGonagall's first name, Minerva, is the Roman name for Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, war and peace. She was a great help to heroes such as Odysseus and Hercules. In the Harry Potter series, Professor McGonagall does play an important role in promoting Harry, Ron, and Hermione. It is interesting to note that Harry, in a way, impersonates an Odysseus type of character. Odysseus is a great hero and is known for being clever and strategic. These are qualities that Harry possesses too. Whereas Ron represents Hercules type that is famous for its strength and vitality. There is certainly physicality to Ron's character. Let's consider this one quote from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: "I'm quite surprised the Mudbloods haven't all packed their bags by now," Malfoy went on. "Bet you five Galleons the next one dies. Pity it wasn't Granger" "Let me at him," Ron growled as Harry and Dean hung onto his arms. "I don't care, I don't need my wand, I'm going to kill him with my bare hands!" [16].

The name "Sirius Black" is a pun on his Animagus form of a black dog since the star Sirius is known as the Dog Star and is the brightest star in Canis Major, the Great Dog constellation. Sirius is derived from the Ancient Greek Seirios, meaning "glowing" or "scorcher" which is naturally the brightest star in the night sky. In Greek mythology, Sirius makes his appearance as Orion's dog. After tragic death of Orion his faithful hunting dog, Sirius, would not stop searching hysterically for his master, so Artemis placed him, the Dog Star, at Orion's heels up in the heavens. As we can see, Sirius Black makes a truly faithful friend: "I never betrayed James and Lily. I would have died before I betrayed them." [22]. In Arabic, the star is known as al-shira, "the leader," and in Scandinavia, it has been referred to as Lokabrenna, meaning "Loki's torch." Loki was a trickster god in Norse mythology, a possible allusion to Sirius' days of mischief-making as one of the Marauders.

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry meets a sphinx who asks him a riddle. In Greek mythology there is a troubled mortal named Oedipus who meets a sphinx and solves her riddle. And the riddle to be solved was this: What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening? (The answer: a human. People crawl as babies, walk on two legs in adulthood, and rely on a cane in old age.)

The Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch may bring to mind the mythical Argus who was a guardian of the heifer-nymph Io and son of Arestor, whose epithet, "Panoptes", "all-seeing", led to his being described with multiple, often one hundred, eyes. The legend tells us that Argus was slain by Hermes, the messenger god. Afterward, his eyes became the eyes on the peacock's tail.

There are also some magical creatures borrowed. Centaurs roam the Forbidden Forest by Hogwarts. In Greek mythology, centaurs are half man and half horse. The most famous Greek centaur was named Chiron. He was a teacher to a number of Greek heroes, including Jason, Achilles, and Hercules. The hippocampus — half horse, half sea-creature — appears not just in Harry Potter but pulling the chariot of this mythological ruler Poseidon, god of the sea.

It's also interesting that the ancient emblem of Athens was an owl, because so many lived there. And because Athens was a center of learning, owls came to symbolize intelligence which is indeed applicable to Harry Potter novels.

Popularity of Harry Рotter books is partly enhanced by J.K. Rowling inclusion of so many mythological and folklore allusions. It is this inclusion that has made it so familiar and alluring to people.

The Greek mythology allusions we outlined in this chapter are not intended to be exhaustive. For this issue is truly land unplowed.