Fall 2015
J.K. Rowling—Roman or British?
By Brian Johnson, OJCL Parliamentarian, Shaker Heights
Even to the average reader, it's not hard to tell that
the Harry Potter series is influenced by the classics. But
how deep does this influence go? Some of the spells in J.K.
Rowling’s novel are just Latin words, like the summoning
spell, “Accio,” which is just Latin for, “I summon,” or the
spell to summon a patronus, “exspecto patronum,” is
literally translated as, “I await a protector.” Spells like
“crucio” (I torture) and “protego" (I cover, or protect) do
exactly what you would expect them to do.
The names of characters also contain traces to the
classics. Albus Dumbledore takes his first name from the
word meaning “white,” representing either his long beard
or his role as an aid to the forces of good. Severus in Latin
means "harsh," or "severe," which seems very fitting,
considering how Rowling describes his demeanor. Finally,
part-time professor, full-time werewolf, Remus Lupin’s
name is clearly classical. His first name comes from
“Remus”, the twin brother of Rome’s founder and first king,
and his last name is derived from the Latin word “lupus,”
meaning, “wolf.”
Last, but not least, Harry Potter is filled with
allusions to mythology. Minerva McGonagall’s name is
shared with the Roman goddess of wisdom and battle,
Minerva. Also, it’s hard to deny that Hagrid’s 3-headed
guard dog, Fluffy, was inspired by Cerberus, the guardian
of the Underworld. Furthermore, the protagonists were
actually able to sneak past Fluffy by playing music and
putting the 3-headed guard to sleep, similar to Orpheus on
his journey to the Underworld.
So whether it is through J.K. Rowling’s bestselling
novels, or through almost any fictional work, the proof is
undeniable that the classics have made a deep impact on
the world, and are alive and well today.
Restoring the Glory of Rome
By Dustin Argo, OJCL Secretary, Summit
Mussolini, the Fascist dictator during the
Second World War recognized early on that he
could use the history of the Roman
Empire to help secure his
power. Italy has a rich history
of power and prestige
through the Roman Empire
as well as housing the
center of Catholicism in
Vatican City. Mussolini
recognized both of these
as potential political tools
for increasing his own
power.
He wanted to show
that Italy could be mighty
again and have a glorious
empire under him. Therefore, he
incorporated many aspects of Rome into his regime
and even claimed to be descended from Augustus
Caesar. He named roads in the Roman fashion (e.g., Via
dei Fori Imperiali), presented officers with Roman
swords, adopted Roman military
step, and ordered people to
greet each other with a
Roman salute. The symbol of
his entire regime was the
Roman Eagle and the
Fasces, an axe surrounded
w i t h w o o d e n s h a f t s
showing Roman power.
Using these tactics,
Mussolini was able to rally
significant support because
of his promise to restore the
past glory and power of the
Italian people. This tactic proved
very potent in rallying support and
is one of the many instances of the Romans
influencing history even in modern times.
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