My reports on a bit of light reading.
As some of you may or may not know, I consider myself a bit of a cauldron enthusiast. So, naturally, whenever new books on the matter are released for sale, I cannot help but pick them up. The most notable cauldron novel of recent date that I have perused is I'm Okay, You're Okay: A Mutually Beneficial Relationship Between Cauldron and Wand. Naturally, my interest was rather perked by this title. As it is, a good friend of mine and I have had a long-standing debate in regards to cauldrons and wands. As you may have read before, I am all for cauldrons. In fact, one might say that I am the cauldron's number one fan. I would not, of course, choose to boast myself of such a humble position, but there it is.
At any rate, the aforementioned title gave way to a bit of new information for me to digest. What most of you probably don't know is that cauldrons were formerly a part of religious rituals in most cultures; particularly the Celts. The Celts thought it wise to keep their gods placid by leaving them gifts of gold, silver, and jewellery in a cauldron. The cauldron was then sunk in a deep body of water. As a matter of fact, it is suspected that the famed Gundestop cauldron was one of these. It was made nearly entirely of pure silver. Depicted upon it were pictures of gods, animals, and plants. It was discovered in a bog in Denmark around 1891, but dates back to the first century B.C. It was likely used for human sacrifice. Obviously, there is more to the cauldron than meets the eye.
However, the most common use for cauldrons is, of course, the magical one. I believe cauldrons in the use of magic date back to the famous witch Medea. She was so in love with her husband that she decided to risk the boundaries of magic by helping to make his debilitated father well again. By mixing a potion (magic herbs, tortoises) and slitting the father's throat, she managed to restore him to his once healthy youth. Naturally, the potion was poured into the wound. I feel that this practise has been best left finished. However, you see that cauldrons have had their uses for quite a long time.
My favourite cauldron of all would have to be, of course, the cauldron that once belonged to Bran, the Irish hero. (Cauldrons have been particularly prominent in Irish, Welsh, and Celt mythology. I dare say Seamus Finnigan may know a thing or two about that.) Bran's cauldron bore the legend of the power to raise the dead. According to legend, Bran gave the cauldron to the current king of Ireland. Alas, the king was not as noble as the tales might say. Evidently, he had ulterior motives in gaining access to this fascinating cauldron. It is rumoured that he used it to create an endless army of undead (or "zombie") soldiers. When the soldiers were caught wounded in battle, or their appendages were hacked off, they were simply thrown back into the cauldron, and new undead soldiers were born. It took Bran's half-brother to defeat the king. Quite admirably, he threw himself into the cauldron and sacrificed his own life. As the cauldron was not meant to hold living things, itw as destroyed. Perhaps Bran's half-brother would have been a Gryffindor.
But let us not forget the cauldron of Pwyll. It was rumoured to hold the power of immortality. It is suggested that, bizarrely enough, King Arthur and his knights attempted to burgle their way into gaining access to the cauldron of Pwyll. This does not seem so far-fetched, as Pwyll was the Welsh lord of the underworld.
So, I think it is obvious that cauldrons have held a prominent place in magical history.
If I were going to immerse myself in the history of the wand, I would have to say that the one that I find most intriguing is the Caduceus--the winged and snake-entwined caduceus that Hermes carried. Hermes, as you hopefully know, was the Greek god of communication. It is only natural that I named the owl I received in my fifth year after this god.
The caduceus was given to Hermes by his brother, Apollo. The design that it is made out of dates back in Mesopotamian art as early as 3500 B.C. This, however, was merely the badge of two serpents entwined around a rod. The Greeks were the ones to add wings, centuries later, in symbolism of Hermes's swiftness. The Caduceus was formed, according to Roman legend, when Hermes found a pair of fighting serpents. By placing his wand between them, the snakes became friends and wrapped themselves around the wand. The wand, quite obviously, represents the harmony that is communication. Alchemists (such as Nicholas Flamel) suspected that the serpents bore symbolism of the union of opposites.
Quite clearly, the Caduceus is a fascinating mythological object. If you have any further questions about it, feel free to ask them. I could simply talk about this non-stop.
At any rate, the aforementioned title gave way to a bit of new information for me to digest. What most of you probably don't know is that cauldrons were formerly a part of religious rituals in most cultures; particularly the Celts. The Celts thought it wise to keep their gods placid by leaving them gifts of gold, silver, and jewellery in a cauldron. The cauldron was then sunk in a deep body of water. As a matter of fact, it is suspected that the famed Gundestop cauldron was one of these. It was made nearly entirely of pure silver. Depicted upon it were pictures of gods, animals, and plants. It was discovered in a bog in Denmark around 1891, but dates back to the first century B.C. It was likely used for human sacrifice. Obviously, there is more to the cauldron than meets the eye.
However, the most common use for cauldrons is, of course, the magical one. I believe cauldrons in the use of magic date back to the famous witch Medea. She was so in love with her husband that she decided to risk the boundaries of magic by helping to make his debilitated father well again. By mixing a potion (magic herbs, tortoises) and slitting the father's throat, she managed to restore him to his once healthy youth. Naturally, the potion was poured into the wound. I feel that this practise has been best left finished. However, you see that cauldrons have had their uses for quite a long time.
My favourite cauldron of all would have to be, of course, the cauldron that once belonged to Bran, the Irish hero. (Cauldrons have been particularly prominent in Irish, Welsh, and Celt mythology. I dare say Seamus Finnigan may know a thing or two about that.) Bran's cauldron bore the legend of the power to raise the dead. According to legend, Bran gave the cauldron to the current king of Ireland. Alas, the king was not as noble as the tales might say. Evidently, he had ulterior motives in gaining access to this fascinating cauldron. It is rumoured that he used it to create an endless army of undead (or "zombie") soldiers. When the soldiers were caught wounded in battle, or their appendages were hacked off, they were simply thrown back into the cauldron, and new undead soldiers were born. It took Bran's half-brother to defeat the king. Quite admirably, he threw himself into the cauldron and sacrificed his own life. As the cauldron was not meant to hold living things, itw as destroyed. Perhaps Bran's half-brother would have been a Gryffindor.
But let us not forget the cauldron of Pwyll. It was rumoured to hold the power of immortality. It is suggested that, bizarrely enough, King Arthur and his knights attempted to burgle their way into gaining access to the cauldron of Pwyll. This does not seem so far-fetched, as Pwyll was the Welsh lord of the underworld.
So, I think it is obvious that cauldrons have held a prominent place in magical history.
If I were going to immerse myself in the history of the wand, I would have to say that the one that I find most intriguing is the Caduceus--the winged and snake-entwined caduceus that Hermes carried. Hermes, as you hopefully know, was the Greek god of communication. It is only natural that I named the owl I received in my fifth year after this god.
The caduceus was given to Hermes by his brother, Apollo. The design that it is made out of dates back in Mesopotamian art as early as 3500 B.C. This, however, was merely the badge of two serpents entwined around a rod. The Greeks were the ones to add wings, centuries later, in symbolism of Hermes's swiftness. The Caduceus was formed, according to Roman legend, when Hermes found a pair of fighting serpents. By placing his wand between them, the snakes became friends and wrapped themselves around the wand. The wand, quite obviously, represents the harmony that is communication. Alchemists (such as Nicholas Flamel) suspected that the serpents bore symbolism of the union of opposites.
Quite clearly, the Caduceus is a fascinating mythological object. If you have any further questions about it, feel free to ask them. I could simply talk about this non-stop.