The Hallows of Britain Revisited

From rereading HBP I have found a reference to a hamper. Slughorn tells Harry how Ambrosius Flume sends him a hamper of sweets every year on old Sluggo's birthday. In the HP epic, the hamper itself doesn't have an endless supply of Slughorn's favorite treats, but since He gets a new one every year, it's pretty much an everlasting supply.

Prakhar, who read my previous post on this subject, reminded me of the knife Harry received from Sirius. I'm not sure how this ties in to feeding the masses, but it could prove a good representation of 'Kyllell Llawfrodedd Farchog'. Good catch, Prakhar!

The covers reveal some clues

On the US cover, it looks like Harry is wearing the Slytherin locket, and that he's placed a medicine pouch over it to keep it concealed. I have a hunch that Harry will reveal to Voldemort (during the "final battle") that he has destroyed all the horcruxes. Either that, or Voldemort will destroy the locket himself, not realizing what it is because it's covered up.... The locket itself, once "disarmed" of it's "soul bit" might act as a protection amulet...one that actually works. Voldemort seems either repulsed or frightened by what he's watching, and he also looks like he is moving to keep Harry from whatever he's trying to catch. Very reminicent of the first cover showing Harry's pursuit of a golden snitch. Wonder what he's reaching for this time. It would be lovely to think that Fawkes is bringing him something, like in CoS, but not the hat. Maybe the sword is the object we cannot see? Maybe it's a wand he's reaching for?

On the UK children's cover, though Hermione and Ron are worried by whatever they see (whatever is guarding the treasure... dragon, perhaps?) Dobby (or perhaps Kreacher merely following direct orders) is on Harry's back with sword raised... to protect Harry. This is all so Harry can grab something that has caught his eyes. If you follow his stare and see what's reflected in his glasses, it appears to be the gold goblet that is sitting right behind the silver helmet with the dragon motif on it. It looks like he's trying to grab at this goblet. Could it be Hufflepuff's cup? Possibly. We can't see if it has a badger on it, since most of it is hidden from our view. This reminds me very strongly of Harry in the first TWT task, when he's trying to get the golden egg from the dragon's nest. This, and Hagrid's comment about the dragons-guarding-high-secuirty-vaults-at-Gringotts rumor, leads me to think they could be dealing with a dragon here. Which breed, who knows? But a dragon could also explain what look like burn marks on the faces and arms....

On the UK adult cover we have what can only be Slytherin's locket. Since the adult covers are more specific to the book title, I strongly believe the Deathly Hallows are founder heirlooms, even if they are not all horcruxes now. This would include the sword (not horcrux), the cup (apparently a horcrux), the locket (definitely a horcrux), and... maybe the wand that used to sit in Ollivander's shop window. Swords, Cups, Pentacles, Wands.... Sounds right to me. :)

The Hallows of Britain

The "Four Hallows" might have come from a list of 13 Hallows or Treasures of Britain. How might these items creep into HP?

The following quotes are all from http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/13.html. My comments are in other text colors.

"Dyrnwyn, gleddyf Rhydderch Hael: White-Hilt, the Sword of Rhydderch the Generous: if a well-born man drew it himself, it burst into flame from its hilt to its tip. And everyone who used to ask for it would receive; but because of this peculiarity everyone used to reject it. And therefore he was called Rhydderch the Generous." Godric Gryffindor's sword doesn't have a white hilt. We don't know just how "well-born" Harry is, but we tend to assume he is well-born anyway. Though it doesn't seem to burst into flames, Fawkes sure does. Harry was hoping desperately for help when he received the sword. The sword is helpful, can be said to be "generous"... at least to the loyal.

"Mwys Gwyddno Garanir: The Hamper of Gwyddno Long-Shank: food for one man would be put in it, and when it was opened, food for a hundred men would be found in it." I'm not sure if this shows up in HP, yet. (It sure would make food prep at Hogwarts easier for the House Elves, not that it's particularly difficult for them.)

"Korn Bran Galed o'r Gogledd : The Horn of Bran the Niggard from the North: whatever drink might be wished for was found in it." The Hufflepuff cup might be an HP version of the horn.

"Kar Morgan Mwynfawr: The Chariot of Morgan the Wealthy: if a man went in it, he might wish to be wherever he would, and he would be there quickly." The HP wizarding world has vanishing cabinets, flying chariots, ships that appear out of whirlpools, thestrals, the Floo Network, portkeys, and apparation, among other quick, magical modes of transport not yet mentioned.

"Kebystr Klydno Eiddin: The Halter of Clydno Eiddyn, which was fixed to a staple at the foot of his bed: whatever horse he might wish for, he would find in the halter." I haven't found any version of this halter in HP, though Harry has little trouble finding horsey things to help him (centaur, thestral, hippogriff, etc.). Cars and motorcycles, flying or otherwise, are discussed in terms of how much horsepower they have in their engines. Even the horse-faced Petunia might help Harry by providing him with more information.

"Kyllell Llawfrodedd Farchog: The Knife of Llawfrodedd the Horseman, which would serve for twenty-four men to eat at table." I bet the Weasley's wish they had such a knife....

"Pair Dyrnwch Gawr: The Cauldron of Dyrnwch the Giant: if meat for a coward were put in it to boil, it would never boil; but if meat for a brave man were put in it, it would boil quickly (and thus the brave could be distinguished from the cowardly)." This would be a cool way for Snape to prove he's no coward! Except I imagine he'd make a potion, not just try to cook some meat....

"Hogalen Tudwal Tutklyd: The Whetstone of Tudwal Tudglyd: if a brave man sharpened his sword on it, if it (then) drew blood from a man he would die. If a cowardly man (sharpened his sword on it), he (his opponent) would be no worse." Another interesting way to separate the brave from the cowardly. However, the only time we see anything close to a whetstone is when Macnair sharpens the ax for beheading Buckbeak. Of course, Buckbeak didn't lose his head, but he was gone, so Macnair never had the chance to try....

"Pais Badarn Beisrydd: The Coat of Padarn Red-Coat: if a well-born man put it on, it would be the right size for him; if a churl, it would not go upon him." Don't know about this item, but I imagine if someone "well-born" had it they'd never need Madam Malkin to make them a coat. This could be related to the Invisibilty Cloak, since Harry is at least somewhat "well-born", but in the Potterverse being well-born might have another meaning....

"Gren a desgyl Rhygenydd Ysgolhaig: The Crock and the Dish of Rhygenydd the Cleric: whatever food might be wished for in them, it would be found." Reminds me of when Hogarts students, staff, and guests choose what they want from a menu... and the chosen food appears on the platters.

"Gwyddbwyll Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio: The Chessboard of Gwenddolau son of Ceidio: if the pieces were set, they would play by themselves. The board was of gold , and the men of silver." Wizard Chess, anyone?

"Llen Arthyr yng Nghernyw: The Mantle of Arthur in Cornwall: whoever was under it could not be seen, and he could see everyone." A perfect precursor of the Invisibilty Cloak.

"These belong to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries; the earliest manuscript contains only the names of the Treasures without the explanatory comments. The earliest versions refer to the Treasures 'that were in the North' and the majority of names are from Y Cogledd. In a few of the later versions two other Treasures are added (the Mantle of Tegau Eurfon and Eluned's Stone and Ring), dropping one item and counting 'the Crock and the Dish' as one item instead of two." We have no Mantle of Tegau Eurfon (it covers a chaste woman but shows the nakedness of a loose woman) in the HP series, at least not quite. JKR might have decided not to touch this one, since it's a bit risque for a children's novel. Of course, we have a few strange robes and cloaks throughout the series, so its young reader-friendly replacement could be somewhere. Besides, it 's a bit too close to The Coat of Padarn Red-Coat. Eluned's name was changed to Luned and has ties to the moon (la luna). Her ring made the wearer invisible as long as the stone of the ring was turned toward the palm and concealed in a fist. The closest thing we have in HP to this ring with the stone is the Paravelle ring, which we last saw in Dumbledore's office. And where is it now?

On "Deathly Hallows"

This could be a reference to the "Four Hallows" of Celtic myth, various items in Arthurian legend, or any other Fisher King-like story.

Quoted from http://www.answers.com/topic/four-treasures :

Four Treasures
"The Tuatha Dé Danann came to Ireland from four cities on four islands in the North; Murias, Falias, Gorias and Findias, bringing with them The Four Treasures, also known as The Hallows of Ireland.
From Falias was brought the Stone of Fal (Lia Fáil), The Stone of Destiny which was supposedly located near the Hill of Tara in County Meath. It used to cry out beneath every king of Ireland. Said to hold Ireland above the waves. The Druid who lived in Falias was named Morfessa. From Gorias was brought the Spear of Destiny (Spear Luin). The Druid who lived in Gorias was named Esras. It was forged by the Smith of Falias for Lugh to use in his fight against Balor. No battle was ever sustained against it, or against the man who held it. From Findias was brought the sword of Nuada (Claíomh Solais). The Druid who lived in Findias was named Uscias. No one ever escaped from it once it was drawn from its deadly sheath, and no one could resist it. A bronze sword in the National Museum in Dublin claims to be this sword. From Murias was brought The Dagda’s Cauldron, the Coire Anseasc ("Undry Cauldron"). Semias was the Druid who lived in Murias. The cauldron was bottomless, capable of feeding an army. No company ever went away from it unsatisfied."

If JKR intends for us to consider the Hallows of Ireland, the Deathly Hallows are probably tied in with the four founders of Hogwarts: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. Not necesarily from different islands, they are definitely from different parts of the land.

We'll also have to see how this ties in with the horcruxes Harry has to find, as well as various items that could help Harry in his quest to defeat Voldemort.

Gryffindor's sword was not turned into a horcrux, but Voldemort might have been trying to find a Gryffindor item during his interview for the DADA position many years prior. Harry was able to "pull it out of the Sorting Hat" while battling Slytherin's Basilisk back in the Chamber of Secrets. It might come in handy again. Come to think of it, the Chamber of Secrets, or other hidden areas below Hogwarts, might come in handy. It's interesting that Dumbledore has the sword and says Harry would have to be a "true Gryffindor" in order to get it out of the hat. I wonder if 1) Dumbledore used this sword during his fight with Grindlewald, and 2) Dumbledore's odd scar above his left knee was somehow caused during that battle (either by sword or wand). Let's also recall that Vernon drove into the middle of a forest during what I call the "flight of the Muggle" (PS/SS). A forest is where Godric Gryffindor came from.

Hufflepuff's cup (a replacement for the cauldron) was intended for becoming a horcrux, but Harry hasn't found it yet. A few of the places it could be: Potter house ruins in Godric's Hollow, near or in the rubble of Brockdale Bridge (brockdale means "badger valley"), trophy room at Hogwarts, Room of Requirement junk room at Hogwarts. Brockdale Bridge also reminds me of the suspension bridge Vernon gets halfway across before turning around during his "flight of the Muggle". Of course Vernon also drove to the middle of a field... the field being a more direct reference to Hufflepuff from the valley.

Slytherin's locket could be the representation of the stone often appearing in early hallows myths. Sometimes it is a silver dish. Again I'm reminded of the bridge that Vernon drove to, simply because bridges denote water. Of course, Harry and Dumbledore travelled to a cave with an underground lake. The water reference here is unquestionable.

We don't know what Ravenclaw heirloom Voldemort found, if he even found one. The last of the four hallows is generally a spear or a rod. A wand would fit quite well, and we have one that is as of yet unexplained: it was on the purple pillow in Ollivander's wand shop. Where it is now, we don't know, but I should think we'll see it again when Ollivander makes an appearance in DH.... We also have the brother wands owned by Harry and Voldemort. A variation for the spear is Nagini. We might not think of a possessed snake as being a "hallow", but she did bite Arthur Weasley in the side, much like one version of the spear (lance of Longinus) was poked into Jesus's side in stories of the crucifixion. Yet another possible variation of the spear (of destiny) is Harry's scar, a scar of destiny. Harry's scar is shaped like a bolt of lightning, or like a Sowulo rune, so it's a good fit, too, and it tends to make Harry feel like there is a re-opening wound, like it should burst at any moment and bleed. We figure the scar has some other significance than what has been explained so far, since it's the last word of the septology... so far. We should also consider Vernon's drive to the top floor of a multi-level car garage; this can be seen as symbolic of Air, of Ravenclaw, of wands.

If we look at the Thirteen Hallows/Royal Treasures of Britain (http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/13.html) we should also consider:

• cauldrons (leaky or otherwise),
• knives (silver),
• the Invisibility Cloak,
• the Black family silver (particularly the chalices/cups),
• a chariot, the vanishing cabinets, or the flying motorcycle,
• horse references (centaurs, thestrals, hippogriffs, Abraxan horses, chessboard knights, even the horse-faced Petunia Dursley, if anyone mentions the "horsepower" of the Ford Anglia or the flying motorcycle),
• wizard chessboards,
• a whetstone (perhaps the Pensieve is an odd variation),
• a coat or some robes that shrink or enlarge to fit (what about those robes that attacked Ron?),
• as well as a stone and ring (the Perevelle ring's a good fit here). The Philosopher's Stone could also be considered here, even though it has its own rich history.

What else? (updated April 13th, 2007)

• the hamper Slughorn receives every year from Honeydukes.
• any horns (drinking horns)