These Brilliant References In Harry Potter Will Blow Your Mind

In Roman mythology, Janus Quirinus is a god with two faces. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Quirinus Quirrell secretly has Voldy's face on the back of his head.

Rowling based the three Black sisters on three of the historical Mitford sisters: Diana, Unity, and Jessica. Diana, like Narcissa, married a prominent fascist. Unity became a personal favorite of Hitler, much like Bellatrix and Voldemort. And Jessica was an advocate for Civil Rights and far to the left of the political spectrum, much like Andromeda running off to marry the Muggleborn Ted Tonks.

"Filch" means to steal, and "Argus" was a many-eyed, all-seeing monster in Greek mythology. Mrs. Norris is also the name of a nasty woman in the novel Mansfield Park.

Much like poor Argus and his inability to do magic, a "squib" is a firecracker that can't shoot sparks.

Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes, is named after Guy Fawkes, who historically tried to blow up the British Houses of Parliamentt with gunpowder.

Harry's snowy owl, Hedwig, is named after St Hedwig of Silesia, whose mission in life was to protect abandoned and orphaned children.

The "Dog Star," specifically, which is another name for Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. Almost all of the Blacks are named after stars and constellations, including Bellatrix, Arcturus, Andromeda, and Regulus.

While their last name is just a play on "weasel," their first names are all from English royalty. Ginny's name, for instance, is short for Ginevra, a version of Guinevere, the queen of Camelot. Arthur's name is from King Arthur, of course, who had a famous rivalry against a Roman general named Lucius.

Specifically, the white deer (or perhaps the silvery white deer) in Celtic mythology acts as a messenger from another world. Seeing a white deer often meant that it was time to set off on a quest.

Hermione shares her name with Queen Hermione from the Shakespeare play The Winter's Tale, who is turned into a statue (don't worry, she gets better). Our Hermione, of course, is petrified by the basilisk in book two.

...or they will definitely be bitten by a werewolf. Remus Lupin gets his first name from the twins Romulus and Remus, who were nursed by a she-wolf. His last name comes from the Latin "lupus," meaning "wolf." And Fenrir Greyback gets his name from the giant wolf Fenrir of Norse mythology, and his last name from the gray wolf.

Sybill Trelawney's first name comes from the sybils of ancient Greece, who would go into trances and foretell the future. Trelawney also mentions her grandmother, Cassandra, who's named after a Trojan prophet who was cursed to always tell the truth and never be believed.

When professor Grubbly-Plank brings unicorns to class, she says that they prefer girls—a reference to the Old English myth that a young, female virgin is the only one who can tame a unicorn.

The name of the European wizarding school Durmstrang comes from the individualist German literary movement "Sturm und Drang," or "Storm and Stress" in English. Sounds like high school...

Voldemort's wand was made of yew, which symbolizes immortality. It's considered unlucky, though, since yew trees often grow in graveyards.

Harry's wand, however, is made of holly, which is used to ward off evil (classic Harry).

In Greek mythology, Merope is the name of Oedipus' adoptive mother. Of course, little Oedipus grows up to kill his biological father (like Voldy) and marry his biological mother (Voldy...doesn't do that, I don't think).

In Victorian England, every flower has a very clear meaning in the so called "language of flowers." Lilies symbolize beauty and innocence. In Greek mythology they're associated with motherhood, and in Christianity with the Virgin Mary (Lily's son does die and then come back to life). Petunias, on the other hand, symbolize anger and resentment.

Flamel was a French businessman and philanthropist in the late 14th century. He wasn't really an alchemist, though (at least, that's what the history books want you to think).

Last but not least, in Old English folklore a "dobbie" or "Master Dobbs" is a benevolent elf or brownie who helps around the house.