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{{Object infobox
 
{{Object infobox
 
|name=Philosopher's Stone<!-- DO NOT change to "Sorcerer's Stone". This wiki uses the British name. -->
 
|name=Philosopher's Stone<!-- DO NOT change to "Sorcerer's Stone". This wiki uses the British name. -->
|image=[[File:'s Stone.jpg|250px]]
+
|image=[[File:Tumblr lz259p9iwW1qk9ry0o1 250.gif|250px]]
 
|manufacturer=[[Nicolas Flamel]]
 
|manufacturer=[[Nicolas Flamel]]
 
|made=
 
|made=
|usage=Produces the [[Elixir of Life]] and transforms any metal into pure gold
+
|usage=Produces the [[Elixir of Life]] and transforms any metal into pure [[gold]]
|owners=*[[Nicolas Flamel]]
+
|owners=
*[[Perenelle Flamel]]
+
* [[Nicolas Flamel]]
  +
* [[Perenelle Flamel]]
*[[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts School]]
+
* [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts School]]
 
|}}
 
|}}
 
{{Quote|The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The Stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal.|An unknown book|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}
 
{{Quote|The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The Stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal.|An unknown book|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}
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The '''Philosopher's Stone'''<!-- DO NOT change to "Sorcerer's Stone". This wiki uses the British name. --> was a man-made, blood-red stone with magical properties. It could be used to create the [[Elixir of Life]], which extended the drinker's lifespan, as well as transform any metal into pure gold.
 
The '''Philosopher's Stone'''<!-- DO NOT change to "Sorcerer's Stone". This wiki uses the British name. --> was a man-made, blood-red stone with magical properties. It could be used to create the [[Elixir of Life]], which extended the drinker's lifespan, as well as transform any metal into pure gold.
   
  +
==History==
The famed [[Alchemy|alchemist]] [[Nicolas Flamel]] created the only known Philosopher's Stone in existence. Flamel used the Elixir of Life made from the stone to extend his and his wife [[Perenelle Flamel|Perenelle]]'s lifespan for centuries.<ref name="PH">''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]''</ref>
 
  +
===Creation===
 
The famed [[Alchemy|alchemist]] [[Nicolas Flamel]] created the only stone known (in 1991) Philosopher's Stone in existence. Flamel used the Elixir of Life made from the stone to extend his and his wife [[Perenelle Flamel|Perenelle's]] lifespan for over six centuries.<ref name="PH">''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]''</ref>
   
===1991===
+
===[[1991-1992 school year]]===
[[File:Stone_in_gringotts.JPG|thumb|left|The Stone in Gringotts Vault 713 in 1991]]
 
 
{{Quote|I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected|[[Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]]|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}
 
{{Quote|I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected|[[Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]]|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}
   
 
[[File:Stone_in_gringotts.JPG|thumb|left|The Stone in Gringotts Vault 713 in 1991.]]
In [[1991]] the Philosopher's Stone became the target of the [[Dark Wizard]] [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] in his quest for immortality. Voldemort used a human host, [[Quirinus Quirrell]], to seek it out at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], where it was being held. The stone was originally stored at [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank]] in [[Vault 713]]. However, possibly suspecting a threat, [[Albus Dumbledore]] had [[Rubeus Hagrid]] retreive the stone the very morning of an attempted robbery.
+
In [[1991]] the Philosopher's Stone became the target of the [[Dark Wizard]] [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] in his quest for the Elixir of Life in order to create a new body for his mangled soul after his failed [[Attack at Godric's Hollow (1981)|attack]] on [[Godric's Hollow]]. Voldemort used a human host, [[Quirinus Quirrell]], to seek it out at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], where it was being held. The stone was originally stored at [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank]] in [[Vault 713]]. However, possibly suspecting a threat, [[Albus Dumbledore]] had [[Rubeus Hagrid]] retrieve the stone the very morning of an attempted robbery.
   
  +
[[File:The_Mirror_Of_Erised.jpg|thumb|The stone inside the Mirror of Erised.]]
After that, the Stone was placed in a [[Philosopher's Stone Chambers|special chamber]] and guarded by seven enchantments and creatures, provided by the professors at Hogwarts: [[Pomona Sprout|Professor Sprout's]] web of [[Devil's Snare]]; flying keys, charmed by [[Filius Flitwick]]; a life-size board of [[Wizard's Chess]], transfigured by [[Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]]; [[Quirinus Quirrell|Professor Quirrell's]] mountain [[troll]]; [[Severus Snape|Snape's]] potion riddle; and the [[Mirror of Erised]], placed there by [[Albus Dumbledore]]. [[Rubeus Hagrid|Hagrid's]] massive three-headed dog, [[Fluffy]], guarded the trap door through which the chamber lay. In order to keep them safe from Fluffy, [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]] forbade the third-floor corridor to all students.
+
After that, the Stone was placed in a [[Underground Chambers|special chamber]] and guarded by seven enchantments and creatures, provided by the professors at Hogwarts: [[Pomona Sprout|Professor Sprout's]] web of [[Devil's Snare]]; flying keys, charmed by [[Filius Flitwick]]; a life-size board of [[Wizard's Chess]], transfigured by [[Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]]; [[Quirinus Quirrell|Professor Quirrell's]] mountain [[troll]]; [[Severus Snape|Professor Snape's]] potion riddle; and the [[Mirror of Erised]], placed there by [[Albus Dumbledore]]. [[Rubeus Hagrid|Hagrid's]] massive three-headed dog, [[Fluffy]], guarded the trap door through which the chamber lay. In order to keep them safe from Fluffy, [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]] forbade the third-floor corridor to all students.
   
 
[[Harry Potter]] and his best friends [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] and [[Hermione Granger]] suspected that the stone would be stolen. In overhearing out-of-context conversations, they believed the thief would be Hogwarts Professor [[Severus Snape]].
 
[[Harry Potter]] and his best friends [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] and [[Hermione Granger]] suspected that the stone would be stolen. In overhearing out-of-context conversations, they believed the thief would be Hogwarts Professor [[Severus Snape]].
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Harry felt compelled to protect the stone and he and his friends, using intellectual power and heroism far exceeding their years, fought past the obstacles, until finally Harry was forced to face Quirrell and [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] himself. In the final showdown, Quirrell lost his life, and Lord Voldemort lost his meager hold on the physical world once again.
 
Harry felt compelled to protect the stone and he and his friends, using intellectual power and heroism far exceeding their years, fought past the obstacles, until finally Harry was forced to face Quirrell and [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] himself. In the final showdown, Quirrell lost his life, and Lord Voldemort lost his meager hold on the physical world once again.
   
After securing the stone, Dumbledore and Flamel discussed its future, and agreed that it was best to destroy it. Flamel ensured he had enough remaining elixir to set his affairs in order before he and his wife would ultimately die, a fate with which they were quite content. <ref name="PH"/>
+
After securing the stone, Dumbledore and Flamel discussed its future, and agreed that it was best to destroy it. Flamel ensured he had enough remaining elixir to set his affairs in order before he and his wife would ultimately die, a fate with which they were quite content.<ref name="PH"/>
  +
  +
===Aftermath===
  +
After his failure, Voldemort correctly deduced that Dumbledore would destroy the stone to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands again. Voldemort had then given up on the stone and waited for another method to regenerate his body.<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]</ref> He only wanted the stone to create a body for himself, and nothing more, as being dependent on the Elixir and Stone for his [[immortality]] is unacceptable.<ref name=HBP>''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''</ref>
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
*The Stone is known in the United States books and films as the ''Sorcerer's Stone'' (with the exception of ''[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]'', where it is referenced as "the Philosopher's Stone".) This was so because American children were supposedly not as familiar with the real-world mythology surrounding the Philosopher's Stone.
+
* The Stone is known in the United States books and films as the ''Sorcerer's Stone'' (with the exception of ''[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]'', where it is referenced as "the Philosopher's Stone"). This was so because American children were supposedly not as familiar with the real-world mythology surrounding the Philosopher's Stone.
 
* Critics of the [[Deathly Hallows]] claim that Beedle was inspired to create the life-restoring [[Resurrection Stone]] from the life-extending Philosopher's Stone.
*[[Severus Snape|Snape]]'s Potion Riddle and [[Quirinus Quirrell|Quirrell]]'s Troll Guardian were not shown in the film version. However, the Potion Riddle was included as a viewer-playable extra on the DVD release. This is ironic as Snape and Quirrell are the ones who are suspected of stealing the stone. The Potion Riddle is also included in the [[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)|video game]].
 
 
* Historically for [[Alchemy|Alchemists]], the Philosopher's stone was a symbol of achieving perfection, a theme that is carried throughout the Harry Potter series as [[Harry Potter|Harry]] goes through a "Refiner's Fire" or "Crucible", and becomes the man he is at the end of the series.
*Critics of the [[Deathly Hallows]] claim that Beedle was inspired to create the life-restoring [[Resurrection Stone]] from the life-extending Philosopher's Stone.
 
 
* According to a page in Advanced Potion-Making, "''the Philosopher's Stone was believed to mystically amplify the user's knowledge of alchemy so much that anything was attainable''."<ref>http://www.mugglenet.com/viewer/?image_location=/movie7/books/page_advancedpotionmaking.jpg</ref>
*Historically for [[Alchemy|Alchemists]], the Philosopher's stone was a symbol of achieving perfection, a theme that is carried throughout the Harry Potter series as [[Harry Potter|Harry]] goes through a "Refiner's Fire" or "Crucible", and becomes the man he is at the end of the series.
 
  +
* Five years after the stone's destruction, Harry suggested that if Voldemort was obsessed with immortality, he could either create or steal a Philosopher's Stone, implying that the one created by Flamel was not unique, nor is the method.<ref name="HBP" />
*According to a page in Advanced Potion-Making, "''the Philosopher's Stone was believed to mystically amplify the user's knowledge of alchemy so much that anything was attainable''."<ref>http://www.mugglenet.com/viewer/?image_location=/movie7/books/page_advancedpotionmaking.jpg</ref>
 
  +
* When [[Dumbledore's Army]] meets for the first time in the [[Hog's Head Inn]], [[Neville Longbottom]] refers to it as the "Philological Stone" ("Sorcerous Stone" in the U.S. edition) when discussing Harry's past achievements.<ref name="OP16">''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'', Chapter 16 - (''In the Hog's Head'')</ref><ref name="lexicon">[http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/books/op/differences-op.html Harry Potter Lexicon - Differences UK/US Editions]</ref>
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
 
{{Imagecat|Images of the Philosopher's Stone}}
 
{{Imagecat|Images of the Philosopher's Stone}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' {{1st}}
+
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)]]''
+
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)]]''
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)]]''
+
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)]]''
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' {{Mention}}
+
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' {{Mention}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'' {{Mention}}
+
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'' {{Mention}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)]]'' {{Mention}}
+
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)]]'' {{Mention}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' {{Mention}}
+
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' {{Mention}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' {{Mention}}
+
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' {{Mention}}
*''[[Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book]]'' {{Mention}}
+
* ''[[Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book]]'' {{Mention}}
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Characters of the Magical World]]''
+
* ''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Characters of the Magical World]]''
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''
+
* ''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''
*''[[Harry Potter Trading Card Game]]''
+
* ''[[Harry Potter Trading Card Game]]''
*''[[Pottermore]]''
+
* ''[[Pottermore]]''
   
 
==Notes and references==
 
==Notes and references==
Line 67: Line 75:
 
[[Category:Philosopher's Stone]]
 
[[Category:Philosopher's Stone]]
 
[[Category:Stones]]
 
[[Category:Stones]]
  +
[[Category:Immortality]]

Revision as of 21:04, 6 March 2014

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"The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The Stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal."
— An unknown book[src]

The Philosopher's Stone was a man-made, blood-red stone with magical properties. It could be used to create the Elixir of Life, which extended the drinker's lifespan, as well as transform any metal into pure gold.

History

Creation

The famed alchemist Nicolas Flamel created the only stone known (in 1991) Philosopher's Stone in existence. Flamel used the Elixir of Life made from the stone to extend his and his wife Perenelle's lifespan for over six centuries.[1]

1991-1992 school year

"I don't know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it's too well protected"
Professor McGonagall[src]
Stone in gringotts

The Stone in Gringotts Vault 713 in 1991.

In 1991 the Philosopher's Stone became the target of the Dark Wizard Lord Voldemort in his quest for the Elixir of Life in order to create a new body for his mangled soul after his failed attack on Godric's Hollow. Voldemort used a human host, Quirinus Quirrell, to seek it out at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where it was being held. The stone was originally stored at Gringotts Wizarding Bank in Vault 713. However, possibly suspecting a threat, Albus Dumbledore had Rubeus Hagrid retrieve the stone the very morning of an attempted robbery.

The Mirror Of Erised

The stone inside the Mirror of Erised.

After that, the Stone was placed in a special chamber and guarded by seven enchantments and creatures, provided by the professors at Hogwarts: Professor Sprout's web of Devil's Snare; flying keys, charmed by Filius Flitwick; a life-size board of Wizard's Chess, transfigured by Professor McGonagall; Professor Quirrell's mountain troll; Professor Snape's potion riddle; and the Mirror of Erised, placed there by Albus Dumbledore. Hagrid's massive three-headed dog, Fluffy, guarded the trap door through which the chamber lay. In order to keep them safe from Fluffy, Dumbledore forbade the third-floor corridor to all students.

Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger suspected that the stone would be stolen. In overhearing out-of-context conversations, they believed the thief would be Hogwarts Professor Severus Snape.

Harry felt compelled to protect the stone and he and his friends, using intellectual power and heroism far exceeding their years, fought past the obstacles, until finally Harry was forced to face Quirrell and Lord Voldemort himself. In the final showdown, Quirrell lost his life, and Lord Voldemort lost his meager hold on the physical world once again.

After securing the stone, Dumbledore and Flamel discussed its future, and agreed that it was best to destroy it. Flamel ensured he had enough remaining elixir to set his affairs in order before he and his wife would ultimately die, a fate with which they were quite content.[1]

Aftermath

After his failure, Voldemort correctly deduced that Dumbledore would destroy the stone to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands again. Voldemort had then given up on the stone and waited for another method to regenerate his body.[2] He only wanted the stone to create a body for himself, and nothing more, as being dependent on the Elixir and Stone for his immortality is unacceptable.[3]

Behind the scenes

  • The Stone is known in the United States books and films as the Sorcerer's Stone (with the exception of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, where it is referenced as "the Philosopher's Stone"). This was so because American children were supposedly not as familiar with the real-world mythology surrounding the Philosopher's Stone.
  • Critics of the Deathly Hallows claim that Beedle was inspired to create the life-restoring Resurrection Stone from the life-extending Philosopher's Stone.
  • Historically for Alchemists, the Philosopher's stone was a symbol of achieving perfection, a theme that is carried throughout the Harry Potter series as Harry goes through a "Refiner's Fire" or "Crucible", and becomes the man he is at the end of the series.
  • According to a page in Advanced Potion-Making, "the Philosopher's Stone was believed to mystically amplify the user's knowledge of alchemy so much that anything was attainable."[4]
  • Five years after the stone's destruction, Harry suggested that if Voldemort was obsessed with immortality, he could either create or steal a Philosopher's Stone, implying that the one created by Flamel was not unique, nor is the method.[3]
  • When Dumbledore's Army meets for the first time in the Hog's Head Inn, Neville Longbottom refers to it as the "Philological Stone" ("Sorcerous Stone" in the U.S. edition) when discussing Harry's past achievements.[5][6]

Appearances

Wiki
The Harry Potter Wiki has 33 images related to Philosopher's Stone.

Notes and references