Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======The Sword of Godric Gryffindor====== =====Object Information===== * **Type:** Magical Artefact, [[Horcrux]] Destroyer * **Owners:** [[Godric Gryffindor]], [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], [[Albus Dumbledore]], [[Harry Potter]], [[Griphook]], [[Neville Longbottom]] * **Maker:** Ragnuk the First (King of the [[Goblins]]) (Pottermore) =====Description and Appearance===== The [[Sword of Godric Gryffindor]] is a magnificent, silver sword forged by [[Goblins]]. Its hilt is encrusted with large, egg-sized rubies, the signature gemstone of the [[Gryffindor]] house. The name **[[Godric Gryffindor]]** is engraved just below the hilt. As a product of master [[Goblin]] craftsmanship, it is impervious to rust and dirt, never requiring cleaning and repelling anything that would tarnish it. =====Magical Properties and Usage===== The sword possesses several powerful magical properties, making it one of the most significant magical artefacts in the wizarding world. * **Goblin Craftsmanship:** Being [[Goblin]]-made, the sword is exceptionally strong and virtually indestructible. * **Imbuing Strengths:** Its most unique quality is its ability to absorb substances that will enhance its own power. After [[Harry Potter]] used it to kill the [[Basilisk]] in the [[Chamber of Secrets]], the sword became imbued with [[Basilisk venom]], a substance potent enough to destroy [[Horcrux]]es. * **True Gryffindor's Aid:** The sword has an enchantment that allows it to present itself to any "true [[Gryffindor]]" who is in need of it. It typically appears out of the [[Sorting Hat]], another of [[Godric Gryffindor]]'s artefacts. This ability is independent of its physical location, as it was able to transport itself from [[Griphook]]'s possession to [[Neville Longbottom]] during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]]. * **Horcrux Destruction:** Because it was imbued with [[Basilisk venom]], the sword became one of the few known objects capable of destroying [[Lord Voldemort]]'s [[Horcrux]]es. Unlike [[Basilisk]] fangs, the sword is indestructible, making it a reliable and reusable weapon against them. =====History===== The sword was commissioned by [[Godric Gryffindor]] from Ragnuk the First, the finest of the [[Goblin]] silversmiths and their king. After its completion, the [[Goblin]] king coveted the sword so much that he pretended [[Gryffindor]] had stolen it from him and sent minions to retrieve it. [[Gryffindor]], however, defended himself with his [[wand]] and sent the [[Goblins]] back to their king with a threat that if he ever tried to take the sword again, Gryffindor would unsheathe it against all of them. This event became the source of a false but persistent [[Goblin]] legend that [[Gryffindor]] stole the sword. For centuries, the sword was kept at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], usually housed in a glass case in the [[Headmaster's office]]. In 1993, [[Harry Potter]] drew the sword from the [[Sorting Hat]] to fight the [[Basilisk]] in the [[Chamber of Secrets]]. This act not only proved his status as a true [[Gryffindor]] but also accidentally imbued the sword with [[Basilisk venom]]. Years later, [[Albus Dumbledore]] used the sword to destroy one of [[Voldemort]]'s [[Horcrux]]es, [[Marvolo Gaunt's Ring]]. In his will, Dumbledore bequeathed the sword to Harry, but the [[Ministry of Magic]] blocked the inheritance, classifying the sword as a priceless historical artefact belonging to [[Hogwarts]]. Unbeknownst to the [[Ministry]], Dumbledore had hidden the real sword and placed a replica in its display case. This replica was later moved by [[Severus Snape]] to a vault at [[Gringotts]] belonging to [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] to bolster Harry's belief that the sword was there. Following Dumbledore's posthumous instructions, [[Snape]] delivered the real sword to Harry in the [[Forest of Dean]]. [[Ron Weasley]] retrieved it from a frozen pond and used it to destroy [[Salazar Slytherin's Locket]]. The trio carried the sword with them until their infiltration of [[Gringotts]], where they were forced to surrender it to the [[Goblin]] [[Griphook]] as payment for his help. During the final moments of the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], the sword reappeared from the [[Sorting Hat]] for [[Neville Longbottom]], who used it to kill [[Nagini]], [[Lord Voldemort]]'s final [[Horcrux]], playing a decisive role in his defeat. =====Role in the Story===== The Sword of Gryffindor is a pivotal object throughout the series, acting as both a powerful weapon and a potent symbol. Initially, it serves as proof of Harry's worthiness and courage. Its primary significance, however, is revealed in //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows//, where it becomes the central tool in the trio's quest to destroy [[Voldemort]]'s [[Horcrux]]es. Its history highlights the deep-seated mistrust between [[Wizards]] and [[Goblins]]. Ultimately, the sword's appearance for [[Neville Longbottom]] symbolizes the passing of the heroic mantle and the idea that courage, not lineage, defines a true [[Gryffindor]]. =====Behind the Scenes===== * In the film adaptation of //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2//, it is [[Harry Potter]] who brings the sword to the [[Chamber of Secrets]] to destroy the [[Hufflepuff's Cup|Cup of Helga Hufflepuff]], whereas in the book, it is [[Hermione Granger]] and [[Ron Weasley]] who do so using a [[Basilisk]] fang. (film) * The historical dispute over the sword's ownership between [[Wizards]] and [[Goblins]] reflects different cultural views on ownership. [[J.K. Rowling]] explained that, in [[Goblin]] culture, payment is for a service (the creation of the object), but the maker is considered the true owner, who only leases it to the purchaser for their lifetime. Wizarding law, however, dictates that an item belongs fully to the purchaser once payment is made. (J.K. Rowling interview)
