Greek and Roman mythology in the Harry Potter books Greek

Based on Cerberus in Greek mythology. Three-headed dog who guards the entrance to the underworld/realm of the dead. Lulled to sleep by Orpheus, who played music for it. Getting past Fluffy a symbolic death? Hagrid: "Bought him off a Greek chappie..."

Greek basiliskos = "little king". In Greek mythology and medieval folklore: King of the serpent, can kill with a single glance. The basilisk in ancient Greek texts: small, but deadly serpent. Pliny the Elder (1st cent. CE): Basilisks can only be killed by weasels.

Greeks: Identified benu bird with phoenix (Greek: Phoenician), crimson color.

Symbol is a lightning bolt.

One of the three Erinyes (goddesses of vengeance) in Greek mythology. Alecto (Greek): "the implacable". Cp. the female death eater Alecto Carrow in Harry Potter 7.

A Trojan warrior in Greek mythology. Known for his boxing skills. In Harry Potter 7: Alecto's brother, death eater.

Has invisibly cloak. Son of Zeus. Prophecy about the baby: Will kill evil king (cp. prophecy about Harry and Voldemort) Kills Medusa, monster who turns people to stone by looking at them (cp. basilisk). Looks only at her reflection in a polished shield. God Hermes gives him magical sword for the task: Slays sea serpent and rescues maiden (Andromeda). In later legends: Perseus also tames and rides the winged horse Pegasus (cp. Buckbeak).

In Harry Potter books: Percy Weasley's owl. Named after Greek messenger god. Precocious infant, steals the cattle of the sun god Apollo. Carried a staff/wand Could use it to cast spells so people would fall asleep.

In the Order Of The Phoenix. Laughs at Aunt Petunia's potato peeler. Hestia: the Greek goddess of the hearth and domesticity

In Greek mythology: Immortal woman married a mortal man and was punished for it. HP 6: Merope Gaunt (Voldemort's mother) punished for marrying a Muggle.

Named after stars - and stars after Greek mythological characters (Alphard, Andromeda, Pollux, Cygnus, Regulus, Arcturus, Phineas, Cassiopeia, Narcissa, Lycoris, Lysandra.)

In Greek mythology: Centaurs are half men, half horses. Wise Teachers to many famous Greek heroes, like Achilles and Hercules. Dumbledore hires a centaur to teach at Hogwarts (OP)

Described in Greek works on natural history: Real animals, live in India.

Mythical animal. Pulls the chariot of the sea god Poseidon. Mentioned in Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them.

The Labyrinth of Crete: Minotaur (monster) in the middle. Cp. maze in the Goblet of Fire

Greek gods often depicted with a nimbus, a shining cloud (halo). Cp. broomstick Nimbus 2000

Described in Plato's Republic. Magical ring that renders the wearer invisible. Gyges uses it to seduce a queen, kill her husband, and become king.

Polyjuice potion: Similar to the potion used by Circe to transform men into pigs in the Odyssey? Used a Wand. Asphodel: Eaten by the dead in the Greek underworld. . . "For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death..."

The sphinx asks Oedipus a riddle in the play Oedipus Rex. The sphinx asks Harry Potter a riddle in Goblet of Fire. Originated in Egyptian mythology, but popular among the Greeks

Ancient Greeks: Holly protects against magic and poisons.

Twin babies Remus and Romulus, sons of the war god Mars and the priestess Rhea Silvia. Their grandfather's brother tried to kill them, left them in the wilderness. Some versions: Servant put them in a basket and put it on the river. Babies nursed by a wolf and lived in the wilderness. Found by a shepherd who raised them. Later, Romulus killed Remus. Romulus became the founder of Rome. Cp. Harry Potter character Remus Lupin.

The goddess of the moon. Cp. Harry Potter character Luna Lovegood

Roman goddess of wisdom, corresponds to the Greek Athena. Athena/Minerva can change people's appearance. Minerva McGonagall teaches transfiguration

Aurora: Roman goddess of the dawn. Sinistra: "left hand", but also the name of a star. Aurora Sinistra: Astronomy teacher at Hogwarts.

Witches often associated with theft of body parts from the dead - look for this in later books.