Marcus Minucius Myomancer[1][2] was a shop in Diagon Alley that sold mice,[2] and presumably other related supplies, along with offering myomancy readings, a form of divination that involved mice and rats. Parts of a pipe organ decorated the doorframe of the establishment.[3][2] The building was sandwiched between Mourning & Starr Armourers and The Magic Lantern.[4]
Behind the scenes[]
- This shop also boasts a sign for Cats! Cats! Cats!, although the meaning is unclear.
- It may be an adjacent shop ironically located upstairs which sells cats. Or it could be that the shop appeals to cats as it sells mice, their prey.
- The shop came to be the way it was, due to Illustrator Jim Kay incorporating different elements and trivia:
- "Marcus Minucius" was taken from Roman consul Marcus Minucius Rufus, who was the political enemy of Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus.[2]
- Fabius Maximus was known to preform sacrifices with animals in the hopes of seeing omens, and Claudius Aelianus[5] notes him practising myomancy and heeding its warning, was the reason he relinquished his dictatorship, allowing Marcus Minucius Rufus to be in favour.[2]
- The storefront was an homage to the "Marvellous Mechanical Mouse Organ" from the show Bagpuss,[6] which Kay saw when he was a kid and was a fan of.[3][2]
- Things like what's behind Marcus Minucius Myomancer were what interested Kay and it helped him get through a long and high pressure situation.[2]
Appearances[]
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Illustrated Edition (First appearance)
- Pottermore
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Illustrated Edition (see this image)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Jim Kay Illustrator - Create Expo 2016 (from 29:40 to 31:21)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Inside The Chamber of Secrets: an interview with illustrator Jim Kay | BfK No. 221 at Books for Keeps (interviewed by Helen Boyle) - "The facade of the Myomancer’s shop is based on the Marvellous Mechanical Mouse Organ – I am a huge Bagpuss fan."
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Illustrated Edition (see this video)
- ↑ Myomancy | Encyclopedia.com - "Aeilan related that Fabius Maximus resigned the dictatorship in consequence of a warning from these creatures [...]"
- ↑ Bagpuss on Wikipedia