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EspañolMYTHICAL CREATURES IN HARRY POTTER
Main articles: Magical beasts (Harry Potter)
In the fictional universe of JK Rowling's ''Harry Potter'' series, the author includes many 'mythical creatures' taken from mythologies around the world, from Germanic myth and the folklore of the British Isles, to the legends of Ancient Greece and Rome. "I've taken horrible liberties with folklore and mythology," Rowling notes," but I'm quite unashamed about that, because British folklore and British mythology [are] a totally bastard mythology. You know, we've been invaded by people, we've appropriated their gods, we've taken their mythical creatures, and we've soldered them all together to make, what I would say, is one of the richest folklores in the world, because it's so varied. So I feel no compunction about borrowing from that freely, but adding a few things of my own." JK Rowling interview with Stephen Fry
The series takes the premise that these creatures were (and indeed are) actually real, but have been hidden, or have hidden themselves, from the Muggle community so that their existence has been forgotten by all save wizards, and has passed into legend in the Muggle world. Hogwarts and its grounds are home to a number of different species of mythical creature, from a number of various disparate mythologies.
Some of the mythical creatures in ''Harry Potter'', such as phoenixes, dragons and unicorns, are well-known, while others are more obscure. Rowling herself is frequently asked whether or not she "invented" numerous folkloric creatures in her novels. As she told Stephen Fry, "Obviously, [children] know that I didn't invent unicorns, but I've had to explain frequently that I didn't actually invent hippogriffs."
Banshee
Very little is known about 'banshees' in the ''Harry Potter'' universe. Seamus Finnigan is afraid of them, and Gilderoy Lockhart claimed to have defeated one.
Basilisk
Main articles: Basilisk (Harry Potter)
Boggart
Main articles: Boggart (Harry Potter)
Centaur
'Centaurs' in the ''Harry Potter'' universe are semi-wild creatures of near human intelligence. Although sentient, they have not requested assignment as beings, preferring to remove themselves entirely from human affairs. Any centaur who decides to associate with humans, such as Firenze, who agreed to teach the Hogwarts students divination, is violently attacked by the other Centaurs and banished from the herd. The Ministry of Magic's Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures has a Centaur Liaison Office, but no centaur has ever used it. In the Ministry's parlance, "being sent to the Centaur office" is a euphemism for being fired. Like Chiron, centaurs are skilled in healing and astrology, and spend much of their time scouring the stars for portents. They live in forests, and their society consists of groups called herds. They do not appear to employ or need any technology more advanced than a bow and arrow. They are intensely proud and fiercely territorial, and one must be highly diplomatic in dealing with them. Not paying the proper respect to a herd of centaurs can have violent consequences, as Dolores Umbridge learned to her cost.
In ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'', the Hogwarts centaur herd, after being admonished fiercely by Hagrid, take sides with the students against the Death Eaters and turn the tide of the fight.
The films depict the centaurs with very bestial, animalistic facial features, however, the obvious attraction of Hogwarts' female population to Firenze suggests that the books depict centaurs in more classical terms.
Chimaera
Chimaeras are described in terms very similar to their classical depiction: lion's head, goat's body, snake's tail. ''Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'' describes a slaying of a chimaera by a wizard who fell to his death off a winged horse- a reference to the myth of Bellerophon.
Cockatrice
Little is known about this creature in the ''Harry Potter'' universe, save that one went wild during the last Triwizard Tournament in 1792.. Traditionally, the cockatrice has been identified with the basilisk; however this would appear to be a different animal.
Demon
''Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'' describes Grindylows, Kappas and Kelpies as "water demons", though the precise meaning of this phrase is unclear. There appears to be little connection with anything demonic in the modern, Christian sense of the term.
Dragon
Main articles: Minor Harry Potter beasts#Dragons
Dwarf
'Dwarfs' make a brief appearance in ''Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'', where they are dressed as cupids. Little else is known about them, except that they are described as "surly" and speak in cockney accents.
Elf
A number of elfin creatures, such as erklings, appear in the wizarding world, but the most prominent elfish beings are house-elves, which are modelled on brownies.
Fairy
Unlike the 'fairies' of folklore, fairies in the wizarding world are depicted as barely intelligent insectoid beings. Like insects, they lay eggs on leaves and spin cocoons. They glow in various bright colours. Extremely vain, they can be used as decorations (literal fairy lights) as they will remain still for long periods if they feel they are being admired.
Fluffy
A giant, three headed dog, Fluffy is used by Hagrid to guard the chamber of the Philosopher's Stone. Murderously dangerous, he can be calmed by music. Though the name of his species is unknown, Fluffy is based on Cerberus, the three-headed dog from Greek Mythology that guards the gates to the underworld. As with Fluffy, Cerberus was lulled to sleep with music by Orpheus.
Ghoul
'Ghouls' in the wizarding world are very different from the corpse-devouring monsters of Arab folklore. They are described as harmless ogre-like creatures that live in dark areas of houses. They eat moths and make groaning noises and occasionally hammer on the plumbing. They are essentially an explanation for “things that go bump in the night.”
Ghost
Main articles: Ghosts (Harry Potter)
Giant
'Giants' in the ''Harry Potter'' universe are capable of interbreeding with humans- both Hagrid and Madame Maxime are half-giants. However, relations between giants and wizards are toxic; wizards on a whole loathe giants and have engaged in an active campaign to hunt and hound giants out of civilisation. The last giants in Britain were killed apparently by Ministry decree, as Albus Dumbledore had argued against it. A number of wizards have made a living as giant-slayers, and become famous as a result. The last few giants remaining in the world (the total number is between 70 and 80) are collected together in an isolated region east of Belarus. Wizards have killed many of them, but most deaths have been due to territorial aggression between themselves as wizards force them to live together in ever more confined spaces. Giants range in height from twenty to twenty-five feet (6 to 7.5 meters) , and have skin similar to rhino hide. Their society is “governed” by a chief called a gurg, who spends most of his time demanding food from his underlings. Voldemort has employed giants in his attacks, after convincing them that he can offer them a better life. Giants either have vaguely Nordic names, such as Hengist and Fridwulfa, or onomatopoeic names like Grawp and Karkus.
Gnome
'Gnomes' in the wizarding world are ugly, potato-headed garden pests roughly a foot tall that can bite an unlucky finger. To deal with them one must whirl a gnome around your head and throw it over the wall. The creature is a play on garden gnomes.
Goblin
Main articles: Goblin (Harry Potter)
Griffin
Like their mythical counterparts, 'Griffins' in the ''Harry Potter'' universe are used to guard treasure.
Grindylow
'Grindylows', like their equivalents in the folklore of Yorkshire, grab swimmers with their grasping fingers. However, their grasp is quite weak and can be easily broken. Merpeople have domesticated them. They have green skin and teeth, and small horns. The film portrays them as squid-like creatures. In ‘’Prisoner of Azkaban’’, Remus Lupin teaches about them in his Defence Against the Dark Arts classes. In ''Goblet of Fire'', Harry faced down grindylows during the second task in the Hogwarts lake.
Hag
Little is known about 'hags' in the ''Harry Potter'' universe, save that they are classed as beings, that they eat children , and that one was probably sighted in the Leaky Cauldron eating raw liver.
Hinkypunk
In the ''Harry Potter'' universe, a 'hinkypunk' is a one-legged, frail-looking creature that appears to be made of smoke. The hinkypunk inhabits bogs and carries a lantern which it uses to lure travellers in the dark. Professor Remus Lupin introduces the creature in the book Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Harry and his classmates face a hinkypunk in their final exam for Defence Against the Dark Arts that year. Though Harry passes by it successfully, Ronald Weasley becomes confused by its misleading directions and sinks into the bog.
Hippocampus
'Hippocampuses' are horse-fish hybrids, and in the ''Harry Potter'' universe are domesticated by merpeople. The offspring of hippocampuses are called tadfoals.
Hippogriff
'Hippogriffs' (horse-bird hybrids) in the ''Harry Potter'' universe are semi-domesticated and can be ridden if one observes the correct protocols, which include a bow and maintaining eye contact. Hippogriffs are very sensitive to insult and will attack anyone who treats them with disrespect. A hippogriff named Buckbeak was placed on trial for a supposed unprovoked attack on Draco Malfoy; however the attack had been due to Malfoy not showing the proper respect. Buckbeak subsequently escaped with the help of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, who used him to help Sirius Black escape. In ''Order of the Phoenix'', Sirius Black sings the carol, “God Rest Ye Merry Hippogriffs”
Imp
'Imps' in the ''Harry Potter'' universe are small creatures that trip up people in marshy areas. They are found only in Britain and Ireland.
Kappa
'Kappas' are similar in most respects to their namesakes in Japanese folklore. Remus Lupin teaches defence against kappas in one of his lessons.
Kelpie
A 'kelpie' is a lake-dwelling shape-shifter that most frequently assumes the form of a horse and tricks people into riding on its back, before carrying them into a lake to be devoured. A particularly mischievous kelpie is held to be the explanation for the Loch Ness Monster.
Leprechaun
'Leprechauns' in the ''Harry Potter'' universe are small forest-dwelling, leaf eating creatures. They are mischievous and, for their own amusement, produce a substance like gold that disappears within hours, befuddling the greedy. Although they can speak, they have never requested classification as beings. Leprechauns served as mascots for the Irish national Quidditch team during the Quidditch world cup, where a swarm of them frequently formed into patriotic and occasionally offensive figures while showering “gold” on the crowd.
Manticore
The manticore of ''Harry Potter'' is in most respects similar to its mythical counterpart, save for that it originates in Greece, rather than Persia, and is capable of speech. Breeding a manticore with a fire crab produces a bizarre hybrid called a blast-ended skrewt.
Merpeople
'Merpeople' in the ''Harry Potter'' universe are one of the wizarding world’s most visible non-human species. Although like centaurs they have refused “being” classification, unlike centaurs, they do not appear to shun humans. Merpeople exist in various forms, from the humanoid sirens and mermaids of Greece and the Mediterranean to the more piscine selkies and merrows of Scotland and Ireland, respectively. All merpeople share a love of music. Their language is called Mermish; it resembles shrieking above water but is intelligible under water.. Both Albus Dumbledore and Barty Crouch are fluent in Mermish. The Hogwarts lake is home to a colony of Merpeople, presumably selkies. Their village consisted of stone dwellings with gardens of weed and the occasional pet grindylow tied to a post outside.
Mooncalf
In the ''Harry Potter'' universe, a mooncalf is a strange, glassy-eyed creature with overlarge feet that dances at night in fields, leaving crop circles in its wake.
Nymph
During the Yule Ball, Fleur Delacour accounts how a choir of wood nymphs serenade the students at Beauxbatons as they eat.
Phoenix
Main articles: Fawkes
The 'phoenix', like its mythical namesake, is a large red and gold bird that is reborn from the ashes of its death. There are a number of additional elements however; phoenixes in the wizard world can carry immensely heavy loads, and their tears have healing powers. Phoenixes can also teleport and create explosions. Fawkes, a phoenix belonging to Albus Dumbledore, is a major character in the series. Feathers from his plumage form the core of both Harry Potter’s and Voldemort’s wands, a fact which enabled Harry to defend himself against Voldemort during his first duel with him. Dumbledore’s organization formed to combat Voldemort is known as the Order of the Phoenix.
Pixie
Like their analogues in folklore, 'pixies' in the ''Harry Potter'' universe are found mainly in Cornwall. Electric blue, wingless and eight inches tall, they delight in causing chaos. Gilderoy Lockhart unleashed a swarm of pixies on his Defence Against the Dark Arts class, which nearly tore the room apart until Hermione Granger froze them.
Ramora
Like remoras in folklore, the 'ramora' in the wizarding world can anchor ships. It is considered a guardian of sailors and is protected by the International Confederation of Wizards
Red cap
Unlike Redcaps of folklore, which inhabit ruined castles on the Scottish borders, the 'Red cap' in the wizarding world is found all over northern Europe and appears where blood has been spilt. Both are equally murderous to travellers, however. Remus Lupin’s Defence Against the Dark Arts class dealt with them.
Re'em
The only creatures from Jewish folklore to appear in the ''Harry Potter'' universe, 're’em' are described as "extremely rare giant oxen with golden hides," whose blood bestows great strength on anyone who drinks it.
Salamander
'Salamanders' in the ''Harry Potter'' universe are similar to those described in folklore; they are brilliant white or blue and live in and eat flames. They only live as long as the fires from which they sprang, but can survive for up to six hours outside a fire if fed pepper. Salamander’s blood is a powerful restorative. Fred and George Weasley once fed a firework to a salamander just to see the result. Hagrid made a bonfire full of salamanders for his Care of Magical Creatures class.
Sea serpent
'Sea serpents' are large but docile creatures that inhabit many oceans.
Sphinx
'Sphinxes' in the ''Harry Potter'' universe have a human head on a lion’s body. They are wingless, and thus more resemble the Egyptian sphinx than the Greek sphinx, although, like the Greek sphinx, they delight in telling riddles. They are a species in their own right, as opposed to a single monster, as in myth, and have been used by wizards for hundreds of years as treasure guardians. They are only dangerous to those who threaten what they guard. Harry Potter had to answer a sphinx’s riddle as part of the final task in the Triwizard Tournament, though this scene didn't appear in the movie.
Troll
Main articles: Troll (Harry Potter)
Unicorn
'Unicorns' in the ''Harry Potter'' universe are immensely powerful magical creatures. Their horns are available at Diagon Alley for the princely sum of 21 Galleons., and their hairs are used in the cores of wands. Ron Weasley's wand contains a unicorn hair. Unicorns at maturity are pure white with golden hooves, but in infancy are golden, and in middle years are silver colored. Like the unicorn of legend, they are so fleet of foot that they are nearly impossible to catch, and, in a reference to the legend that the only way to catch one is to use a young virgin as bait, they prefer the company of young women to men. To kill a unicorn is a "monstrous thing," according to Firenze, for it is to slay something "pure and defenceless". Drinking their silvery-grey blood will grant life to those at death's door, but it is a cursed half-life.
Vampire
Vampires are dark creatures studied in first year Defense Against the Dark Arts. They are described as pale and gaunt. Vampire hunting appears to be a legitimate career in the wizarding world, suggesting that they are not well liked, however blood flavoured lollipops are available at Honeydukes sweet shop, suggesting that they have managed to coexist with wizards to some degree.. Eldred Worple, author of "Blood Brothers: My Life Amongst the Vampires" brought a vampire named Sanguini to Horace Slughorn's Christmas party.
Veela
'Veela' in the ''Harry Potter'' universe are beautiful female creatures that perform a sensual dance which seduces any male who watches it. When angered, they transform into birdlike beings that throw fireballs. This would make them very similar to classical descriptions of Sirens, which seduce men with their song and are birdlike, though in the wizarding world sirens are described as a type of mermaid. Veela can, and often do, interbreed with humans, although it is unclear how they themselves reproduce as there is no hint that male Veela exist (parthenogenesis being one possibility). A group of veela were featured as the mascots for the Bulgarian national Quidditch team at the Quidditch world cup final. Full Veela are featured and described in the fourth book, but the major character Fleur Delacour and her sister and mother are part Veela.
Werewolf
Main articles: Werewolf (Harry Potter)
Winged horse
:''See: Minor Harry Potter beasts''
Yeti
Similar to popular accounts of the creature, the Yeti is large, humanoid and covered in white fur. It devours anything that comes close to it.
Zombie
Very little is known about 'zombies' in the ''Harry Potter'' universe. Professor Quirrell claimed he obtained his turban from an African prince after dealing with "a particularly troublesome zombie", but since he was lying at the time, it's unclear whether this account is reliable. Animated corpses in the wizarding world are referred to as inferi, so if zombies in ''Harry Potter'' are genuine, they must be somewhat different than the popular version of them, or may merely be the same as Inferi.
References
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