The Sign of the Deathly Hallows: What a tattoo from Harry Potter means

Deathly Hallows tattoo on the wrist
Tattoo on the wrist
The Deathly Hallows as a symbol for tattoos have become popular not only among fans of the Harry Potter book universe. The original and stylish symbol resembles the alchemical sign of fire, inscribed in a circle symbolizes the sun. The vertical stripe can be interpreted as ascension. The stylish design of the tattoo allows for a colorful effect and emphasizes the unconventional choice of the owner.

Deathly Hallows - a brief retelling

We learn the story of these Gifts in the film in a pitch by Xenophilius Lovegood, Semna's father.

It was in "The Tale of the Three Brothers." It began when the brothers went on a journey.

They reached (at midnight) a certain river, over which with their magic skills they managed to build a bridge. On this bridge they were met by Death (as an essence).

She admitted (pretended) that the brothers had outsmarted her. And offered them Gifts (artifacts as a ransom), - those that the brothers had asked of her.

The Gifts were:

  • the most powerful magic wand,
  • the resurrection stone,
  • the cloak of invisibility.

After which, the brothers went no further across the bridge, but went back, each to his own life. The first two gifts did not do the older brothers any good. Only the third, which turned out to be the wisest.

Let's try to figure out what this tale is all about. Why is it incorporated in the "semantic tracing" of the story. After all, this very tale is the mythic source of all "Harry Potter.

Ministry of Magic

The image of the ministry is embodied by a stern emblem. In the inner circle on the scale is the letter "M", pierced by a magic wand with diverging rays. The outer circle is filled with the Latin motto: "Ignorantia jus neminem excusat" ("Ignorance of the law does not absolve one from responsibility"). All of this reflects the serious nature of the institution.

Colors and fonts

The image is in a muted beige and brown colour scheme. The main accent here is a big bold letter "M" with serifs, which add severity and significance.

Useful tricks

The shape of the logo is a strong tool for communicating a company's ideas and values. Since this type of logo is not very common, it will help make your brand stand out in the marketplace. The main thing is to avoid unnecessary detailing: the image should remain simple and clear.

Ministry of Magic

Storytelling subplot.

The first question is, what is the river over which the brothers have bridged with their magical art? And through which Death did not want to let them pass?

Logically, this is the very river that separates the world of the living from the world of the dead. In the mythology of different peoples, this river has its own names, some of which you know: Styx, Currant, Sandzu, Hubur, etc.

Currant River - Deathly Hallows

Why did the brothers go to the other side?

Apparently, each for his own:

The older brother, that is, the first son, which means going "into his father." He is the successor of his father's genetic line; his first priority is self-fulfillment. The older brother was following the Power, and he asked Death to give him his power and might. That is, a magic wand, the very thing!

Middle brother, That is the second child of the father and mother. It is the successor of maternal genetic programs, for him the most important: partnership, love, family. This is what he originally sought and asked for the resurrection stone to bring back his dead bride. It sounds like the story of Orpheus and Eurydice...

And the younger brother.as the third child is genetically free. He might not have walked across that river. But he went, most likely, to help his brothers. He just wanted to keep alive, so he got the Cloak of Invisibility.

The Tale of the Three Brothers - Gifts of Death

At first it seems that Death, with his gift, added nothing to him and took nothing away. The cloak is just a nice bonus for life and freedom. But we don't wonder about the so-called "missed opportunities"-what could he have gained if he hadn't stopped at the bridge and gone further?

So, a wise tale, more complex and profound than it first appears. But what does this have to do with Harry Potter and the magical world?

The Deathly Hallows in the Magical World of Harry Potter

The first of the Deathly Hallows appears early in the story, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. For Christmas, Harry receives a package containing the Cloak of Invisibility as a gift. Somehow imperceptibly we learn that it is from Dumbledore, but was once the property of Harry's father.

Deathly Hallows - The Cloak of Invisibility

Anyone who has only seen the movie but has not read the book may have doubts. After all, if it is true, the magical mantle passed from father to son tells us that James and Harry Potter are the heirs of the third brother from the Tale. But then James could have used the Mantle to hide himself and his family from Death. That is, from Voldemort's pursuit, rather than give it to Dumbledore for safekeeping. However, he didn't... And perhaps, then, the Mantle originally belonged to the old professor?

But in Deathly Hallows this nuance is explained simply: Dumbledore really did ask James for his mantle shortly before the death of Harry's parents. But he was in no hurry to return it; we don't know the reasons for this delay...

Next. In the last two movies/books, a sign appears, a symbol for the Deathly Hallows. It keeps popping up from somewhere:

  • it is deliberately drawn on the first page of the fairy tale book Hermione inherited from Dumbledore;
  • he hangs around Luna's father's neck when he appears as a guest at Bill and Fleur's wedding;
  • he is spotted by Harry in Grigorovich's wand store, in his visions;
  • on some of the grave markers in Godric's Hollow, the sign of Death's gifts again.

Deathly Hallows - Xenophilius Lovegood

It seems to be some kind of common symbol, uniting different wizards. But then why does Ron, who grew up in one of the purest families of the magical world, know nothing about it, though he has known the tale since childhood?

So this symbol does not bind all wizards, but some specific groups to which the Weasley family does not belong?

It must be a symbol only for a select group of wizards who, as the bard Biddle's tale says, aspire to possess all the Deathly Hallows. Because "together they will help to defeat Death."

And we know one such wizard - that's Albus Dumbledore. He was the owner of the Deathly Hallows before Harry. All three of them at once.

It was he who, from a young age, aspired to become the most powerful wizard. We know that Dumbledore lived a complicated life. And we can guess that he had the wisdom to understand: the Deathly Hallows are just tools. First of all, distracting their owner from the true magic of life.

Deathly Hallows - Dumbledore's Death

They could more logically be called temptations of Death rather than gifts.

As for an ordinary person, a Muggle, such filter-temptations are the symbolic "fire, water, and brass pipes".

And the mage, who has gone through the experience of power, affection, and invulnerability, is freed from these "hooks. One becomes truly omnipotent, freeing himself from the fear of death.. You remember that the professor chose his own death: "and with his own will went with it, as equals they disappeared from this world..."

Let us return to the symbolism itself, the sign of the Deathly Hallows. Let us extract from each of them the simplest, most abstract meanings:

Hogwarts.

The logo of the school of Wizardry and Wizardry reflects its ancient history that started about a thousand years ago. The logo is made in the form of a shield divided into four parts - the four main faculties of the school: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.

The letter "H" in the middle of the shield stands for Hogwarts. At the bottom is a ribbon with the school's motto in Latin: "Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus" ("Never tickle a sleeping dragon").

Colors and fonts.

Each piece depicts a mascot in the form of an animal in the department's signature colors. In addition to student characteristics, they reflect the four elements: fire, water, earth, and air.

In order not to overload the complex emblem, the inscription in Latin is done in a simple font without serifs.

Useful tricks

If you want to convey the serious nature of the brand, use the shape of the emblem. But remember that modern logos should look more minimalistic than the Hogwarts symbol.

Hogwarts symbol

Deathly Hallows symbols and their meaning

The triangle is. the symbol of the Cloak of Invisibility, which is made from the cloak of Death itself. From the substance that hides its wearer from the world of the living and from Death.

The triangle is the symbol of the element of Fire, the very river of fire between the worlds. A symbol of knowledge and ideas, a symbol of the Spirit - the true power of man and mage.

The circle - The symbol of the resurrecting stone.

The circle is eternity and infinity. At the same time a closed cycle, similar to a snake - an earthly creature swallowing its own tail. It is life and death succeeding each other in a continuous dance-cycle. The Wheel of Sansara.

Deathly Hallows

The vertical line. - The symbol of the most powerful magic wand. The Elder Wand.

It is the boundary that separates life from death. The world of the living and the world of the dead. This vertical is Man, connecting Heaven and earth, Spirit and matter. It's a symbol of the very bridge over the river of fire.

But look, the Elder Wand that Voldemort was so eager to acquire and possess is not straight and smooth, but has seven joints. And in fact, apparently, it looks like a spine, with seven zones marked out in joints, as a symbol of the seven chakras.

And haven't you forgotten how many Horcruxes Voldemort had?

Yes, exactly 7: the diary, the ring, the medallion, the goblet, the necklace, the serpent, and Harry.

You could say that on each of the 7 spheres, on each layer of reality through which the Soul-Spirit passes when dying, dissolving, the dark wizard left himself an opportunity and a way to return. A kind of loop.

Deathly Hallows

Voldemort's Horcruxes... ...his Deathly Hallows.... They are his Horcruxes, the bridge between the world of the living and the world of the dead. His attempt to break the natural cycle...Circle (as an alternation of life-death) and create his own loop of eternal life. Here, in the world of matter.

Then Triangle in this trinity of the Deathly Hallows turns into earthly fire, into Death itself, into the Destroyer of Life in the person of Voldemort.

This is the second, ...parallel meaning of the symbol.... These are already other Deathly Hallows, the dark ones.

To understand this model and destroy it was Dumbledore's task. But he himself did not have time. Although the strategy and chess game that Harry and the like were completing - conceived by the wise old professor.

Dumbledore - Deathly Hallows

It was to Hermione, as the cleverest of all three of them (and also studying the ancient runes) - the old magician and left this information, the formula in encrypted form.

It was Harry - as a participant in this scenario - who the professor gave the Instruments - the Mantle and the Stone. Harry had to get the wand himself (and it wasn't important, really - not more important than his inner qualities and personal power).

Slytherin

The snake is an ambiguous symbol, balancing good and evil. It is associated with cunning and guile on one side, wisdom and ambition on the other, immortality and rebirth on the other. All of these traits are inherent to Slytherin students: they are resourceful, brave, ambitious, and find ways to achieve their goals.

Colors and Fonts

The element of water, which Slytherin reflects, is conveyed with a silvery-green color scheme. Simple lettering with neat serifs has been chosen for the lettering.

Useful tricks

Be careful when choosing complex images with a double interpretation - the wrong reading can harm the brand. When choosing such symbolism, try to emphasize the desired meaning with shapes, colors, and fonts.

Slytherin

The True Gift of Death.

If in the fairy tale, the three brothers, having met Death on the bridge, turned back, tempted by the Gift. Then Harry Potter crossed the bridge and found himself in Death's territory.

Deathly Hallows

And it was he who received the true Gift of Death-- ...the awareness and understanding of his own Soul's immortality.... With this realization, the Magician no longer needs any other Death Gifts.

He who does not fear death is completely filled with the Gifts of Life.

Harry consciously chooses to return to the world of the living in order to finish the "script" of the Dark Hallows.

And at the end of the movie (and the scene is already symbolic in that the three of them with Hermione and Ron are standing at the Bridge), Harry calmly breaks the Elder Wand and throws it down into the river.

The story is complete-the model is completely lived out and disappears for lack of use.

This would be the end of the article. But there's another analogy that keeps bugging me...

The completion of the "Biblical project"?

I noted earlier: it seems that the studied symbolism was common to certain groups of magicians who sought the mysteries of life and death as a source of magical power.

The symbol of the Gifts - on monuments, on a poster in a store, hanging on a string around the neck, personally for me evokes a direct semantic association - a functional analogy with the Christian Cross.

And the title "The Bard of Biddle's Tales," in which the professor left a clue for the boys, is somewhat similar to the Bible.

Deathly Hallows - symbolism and meaning

And the place where Harry Potter goes when he dies, the place where Dumbledore meets him, is seen as a train station called King's Cross.

Again, the miraculous resurrection of the "Sunny Hero" as a result of the passing of the Deathly Hallows mystery.

All this whispers to us attentive viewers that one of the semantic layers of the Harry Potter story shown in the film is Christian, biblical. But more about that in the next article...

A column about the symbols and signs from "Harry Potter" is filling up all the time.

Tags: Harry Potter

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Hufflepuff.

The badger is not often seen on logos. But it is this mascot that conveys the character of the students of Puffendoo: honesty, loyalty, patience, diligence, and hospitality.

Colors and fonts

The black and yellow scheme reflects the element of the earth, and the simple font does not distract from the image.

Helpful tricks

Choose a non-obvious symbol that is rarely used in your industry and look for associations that tie it to the brand. This kind of technique will help make you stand out in the marketplace and capture the attention of your target audience.

Puffendum
Posted byNatalia Shpitula Updated June 15, 2021 Posted in Branding and Logo Design

Logaster blog editor, content marketer. Expert in web marketing and branding. She knows how to write simply about the complex. From her articles you can build a successful brand and start a successful online promotion.

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