Embedded Files
Rowena Ravenclaw and the House of Ravenclaw
Rowena Ravenclaw and the House of Ravenclaw
Rowena Ravenclaw is also a very important witch. Her first name comes either from these two Anglo-Saxon words: hrōð, wyn(n) or these two: hrōð, wine. The first two mean Fame, Joy, while the other two Fame, Friend. In Welsh poetry, the name Rowena is referred as "mother of the nation", which can be connected with her being one of the four founders of the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her surname, which is also the name of the house she created in Hogwarts, is pretty obvious if you look at the two words it's made of: Raven and Claw. Thus it's no surprise the house Ravenclaw has an eagle as its symbol.
The Sorting Hat says "fair Ravenclaw, from glen" for her, which would mean she comes from somewhere in Scotland, probably Glencoe or the Great Glen.
She was well known for her wisdom, creativity, cleverness, charm and of course beauty. Her great wisdom and skills can be seen from the fact that she was the one that designed the magical stairs in Hogwarts - the ones that move and change their place all the time. And her name itself points out that she was indeed very friendly and got along with everyone.
Her best friend was Helga Hufflepuff, and it is believed that their friendship kept Hogwarts alive when Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin got into a fight because of their different opinions about muggle-borns, after which Salazar left the school. The characteristics she possessed are the ones what she mostly valued for the house of Ravenclaw as well, she accepted students with sharp minds, intelligence, and sense for creativity. The Sorting Hat tells us that too:
"Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind."
Ravenclaw's Common Room can be found in the Ravenclaw Tower, and the entrance is a door at the top of a tightly winding spiral staircase found at the west wing of the fifth floor. It has a ceiling painted with stars on it, walls painted with the Ravenclaw colors (blue and bronze), a lot of bookshelves (smart people read, duh), windows, tables, chairs, etc. But you have to be smart to get inside. Since there are no passwords or such, but the bronze knocker in the shape of eagle at the door gives a logic riddle and only when it gets the correct answer will it allow someone to pass.
There is also another door in the Common Room that leads to the Ravenclaw dormitories. Next to this door, there is a life-sized statue of Rowena Ravenclaw, made of white marble. The statue is wearing the famous Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem. The diadem is the only known possession left from Rowena, and it has inscribed "Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure" on it, which again connects it to what Ravenclaw was mostly valued, wisdom. She was probably the most intelligent witch of her time
She had a daughter, Helena Ravenclaw. Helena was jealous of her mother's brilliance so thinking the diadem was what made her so brilliant she stole her diadem, and eventually ran off to Albania. Since Rowena had become very ill she couldn't go after her, so she sent another person, a baron, to find her. But when Helena didn't want to come back, the baron killed her, and after he realized what he has done he killed himself as well.
Since then Helena is the resident ghost for Ravenclaw, though she is now known as The Grey Lady. The baron is also in Hogwarts, he is the resident ghost for the house of Slytherin, and he is known as The Bloody Baron. The diadem was later found by Lord Voldemort, and made a Horcrux. It will eventually be destroyed later by Vincent Crabbe with FiendFyre, unintentionally.
The house of Ravenclaw is also connected to an element. It is said it roughly represents the element of air. That somewhat explains why the house has an eagle for the house symbol.
Rowena Ravenclaw died at a relatively young age, sadly. It is believed that she died because of broken heart. There will always be traces of her brilliance as long as the Hogwarts castle exists.
That's it for the third lesson! Click here to be taken to the third assignment.
Credit for this month's lesson (reference):http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/founders.html#Ravenclawhttp://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Rowena_Ravenclawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogwarts#Ravenclawhttp://www.hp-lexicon.org/hogwarts/sorting_hat.htmlhttp://www.hp-lexicon.org/hogwarts/houses/ravenclaw.htmlhttp://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/ghosts.html
Wizard Card #82 © Electronic Arts ™Images © DeviantArt, Pottermore and Zoki PhantomLesson © Zoki PhantomAll material related to Harry Potter is © J.K. Rowling, Scholastic Books (US), Carlsen Verlag (D), Bloomsbury Publishing (UK), or Warner Bros.This site is unofficial, non-commercial, not related in any way to any of the above people or companies, and it is used solely for entertainment and learning purposes.Lessons © Zoki Phantom 2009-2012. Assignments © Alaia Logan 2012-2013.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse