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*[[Slytherin]]
 
*[[Slytherin]]
 
}}
 
}}
{{Quote|We'll teach just those whose ancestry's purest.|Professor Slytherin's opinion on the running of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]].|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}
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{{Quote|We'll teach just those whose ancestry's purest.|Professor Slytherin's opinion on the running of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}
   
 
'''Professor Salazar Slytherin''' was a [[pure-blood]] [[Wizardkind|wizard]] of medieval times. He was a [[Parseltongue|Parselmouth]] (a wizard with the rare ability to speak with [[snake]]s) and skilled at [[Legilimency]].<ref name="JKR" /> He was one of the [[Hogwarts founders|four founders]] of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] and the former best friend of [[Godric Gryffindor]], a fellow founder. Slytherin didn't trust [[Muggle-born]] students, and he expressed his opinion not to accept them at Hogwarts. However, when the other [[Hogwarts founders]] didn't agree, Slytherin created the [[Chamber of Secrets]], concealing a [[Salazar Slytherin's basilisk|basilisk]] inside. Afterwards he left the school, never to return. He died sometime in the Middle Ages.
 
'''Professor Salazar Slytherin''' was a [[pure-blood]] [[Wizardkind|wizard]] of medieval times. He was a [[Parseltongue|Parselmouth]] (a wizard with the rare ability to speak with [[snake]]s) and skilled at [[Legilimency]].<ref name="JKR" /> He was one of the [[Hogwarts founders|four founders]] of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] and the former best friend of [[Godric Gryffindor]], a fellow founder. Slytherin didn't trust [[Muggle-born]] students, and he expressed his opinion not to accept them at Hogwarts. However, when the other [[Hogwarts founders]] didn't agree, Slytherin created the [[Chamber of Secrets]], concealing a [[Salazar Slytherin's basilisk|basilisk]] inside. Afterwards he left the school, never to return. He died sometime in the Middle Ages.
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===Founder of Hogwarts===
 
===Founder of Hogwarts===
[[File:Slytherincrest.jpg|thumb|left|The house Salazar created, [[Slytherin]].]]
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[[File:S final.jpg|thumb|left|The house Salazar created, Slytherin|182x182px]]
  +
 
Like [[Rowena Ravenclaw]] and [[Godric Gryffindor]], Salazar Slytherin appears to have carefully selected members of [[Slytherin|his own House]]. According to [[Albus Dumbledore]], the qualities which Slytherin prized in his "handpicked students" included resourcefulness, cleverness, determination, and a certain disregard for the rules, along with the ability to speak [[Parseltongue]]. He also selected his students according to cunning, ambition, and [[blood purity]]. His [[Hogwarts Houses|House]] within [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] is symbolised by a serpent, with House colours of green and silver.
 
Like [[Rowena Ravenclaw]] and [[Godric Gryffindor]], Salazar Slytherin appears to have carefully selected members of [[Slytherin|his own House]]. According to [[Albus Dumbledore]], the qualities which Slytherin prized in his "handpicked students" included resourcefulness, cleverness, determination, and a certain disregard for the rules, along with the ability to speak [[Parseltongue]]. He also selected his students according to cunning, ambition, and [[blood purity]]. His [[Hogwarts Houses|House]] within [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] is symbolised by a serpent, with House colours of green and silver.
   
 
====Leaving Hogwarts====
 
====Leaving Hogwarts====
{{Quote|I always knew Salazar Slytherin was a twisted old loony, but I never knew he started all this pure-blood stuff. I wouldn't be in his house if you paid me. Honestly, if the [[Sorting Hat]] had tried to put me in Slytherin, I'd've got the train straight back home...|[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] expressing his claims on Slytherin's views.|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets}}
+
{{Quote|I always knew Salazar Slytherin was a twisted old loony, but I never knew he started all this pure-blood stuff. I wouldn't be in his house if you paid me. Honestly, if the [[Sorting Hat]] had tried to put me in Slytherin, I'd've got the train straight back home...|[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] expressing his claims on Slytherin's views|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets}}
   
 
After founding Hogwarts and co-existing for years, a rift eventually began to grow between Slytherin and the other founders. Slytherin despised taking students from [[Muggle]] families, seeing them as untrustworthy, and tried to persuade the other [[Hogwarts founders|founders]] to only take students from [[pure-blood]] [[:Category:Pure-blood families|families]]. However, the other founders didn't agree with Slytherin, particularly Gryffindor. Eventually, Slytherin and Gryffindor had a huge argument over the subject, according to the Sorting Hat it is possible that they dueled, or that a civil war of sorts broke out between the houses. Slytherin chose to leave the school eventually, but he had left the Chamber of Secrets and his Basilisk behind.<ref>[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]</ref> It is unknown when he died.
 
After founding Hogwarts and co-existing for years, a rift eventually began to grow between Slytherin and the other founders. Slytherin despised taking students from [[Muggle]] families, seeing them as untrustworthy, and tried to persuade the other [[Hogwarts founders|founders]] to only take students from [[pure-blood]] [[:Category:Pure-blood families|families]]. However, the other founders didn't agree with Slytherin, particularly Gryffindor. Eventually, Slytherin and Gryffindor had a huge argument over the subject, according to the Sorting Hat it is possible that they dueled, or that a civil war of sorts broke out between the houses. Slytherin chose to leave the school eventually, but he had left the Chamber of Secrets and his Basilisk behind.<ref>[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]</ref> It is unknown when he died.
   
 
===Post-mortem===
 
===Post-mortem===
[[File:Secrets1.JPG|thumb|right|207px|The statue of Salazar Slytherin and the hiding-place of [[Salazar Slytherin's basilisk|Slytherin's basilisk]] in the [[Chamber of Secrets]].]]
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[[File:00The-chamber-of-secrets-harry-potter-34783631-1024-768.jpg|thumb|right|220x220px|The statue of Salazar Slytherin and the hiding-place of [[Salazar Slytherin's basilisk|Slytherin's basilisk]] in the [[Chamber of Secrets]]]]
  +
 
According to ancient legend, as told by [[History of Magic]] Professor [[Cuthbert Binns]], Salazar Slytherin was responsible for the construction of the [[Chamber of Secrets]] beneath [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] dungeons. It was specifically created for the purpose of purging the school of all [[Muggle-born]] students. The Chamber contained a [[Serpent of Slytherin|basilisk]] which could be controlled only by his own "true [[Tom Riddle|heir]]", and use it to rid the school of all [[Muggle-born]]s. At least part of the legend was revealed to be true in [[1943]], when [[Tom Riddle|Tom Marvolo Riddle]], the heir of Slytherin, opened the Chamber and used the Basilisk to attack Muggle-borns.
 
According to ancient legend, as told by [[History of Magic]] Professor [[Cuthbert Binns]], Salazar Slytherin was responsible for the construction of the [[Chamber of Secrets]] beneath [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] dungeons. It was specifically created for the purpose of purging the school of all [[Muggle-born]] students. The Chamber contained a [[Serpent of Slytherin|basilisk]] which could be controlled only by his own "true [[Tom Riddle|heir]]", and use it to rid the school of all [[Muggle-born]]s. At least part of the legend was revealed to be true in [[1943]], when [[Tom Riddle|Tom Marvolo Riddle]], the heir of Slytherin, opened the Chamber and used the Basilisk to attack Muggle-borns.
   
 
One girl the [[Basilisk]] actually killed is now a ghost known by the name of [[Myrtle|Moaning Myrtle]]. The opening to the Chamber of Secrets is located in the bathroom she now haunts, and can only be opened by speaking Parseltongue, as Slytherin could. Riddle opened the Chamber again in [[1993]] through the use of one of his seven [[Horcrux]]es, his diary. Using the bit of his soul encompassed by the diary, he possessed [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Weasley]] and forced her to do his bidding. While he still attacked Muggle-born students, his ultimate goal was to lure [[Harry Potter]] into the Chamber and kill him.
 
One girl the [[Basilisk]] actually killed is now a ghost known by the name of [[Myrtle|Moaning Myrtle]]. The opening to the Chamber of Secrets is located in the bathroom she now haunts, and can only be opened by speaking Parseltongue, as Slytherin could. Riddle opened the Chamber again in [[1993]] through the use of one of his seven [[Horcrux]]es, his diary. Using the bit of his soul encompassed by the diary, he possessed [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Weasley]] and forced her to do his bidding. While he still attacked Muggle-born students, his ultimate goal was to lure [[Harry Potter]] into the Chamber and kill him.
   
[[File:Salazar Slytherin (full size).gif|thumb|left|Salazar Slytherin]]
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[[File:Sada2.jpg|left|thumb|225x225px|Salazar Slytherin]]
  +
 
Salazar Slytherin owned a [[Salazar Slytherin's Locket|locket]] emblazoned with the letter ''S'' that became an heirloom of his last known line of descendants, the [[House of Gaunt|Gaunts]]. [[Merope Gaunt]] sold the locket to [[Caractacus Burke]]. It was then bought up by [[Hepzibah Smith]], who had a love for antiques. It was subsequently stolen from her by [[Tom Riddle|Tom Marvolo Riddle]]. Riddle would later turn the locket into a [[Horcrux]], and conceal it in a seaside cave he had visited in his youth. The same locket was later removed from the cave by [[Regulus Black]] with aid from his [[house-elf]], [[Kreacher]]. Kreacher was ordered to destroy the locket, but was unable to do so.
 
Salazar Slytherin owned a [[Salazar Slytherin's Locket|locket]] emblazoned with the letter ''S'' that became an heirloom of his last known line of descendants, the [[House of Gaunt|Gaunts]]. [[Merope Gaunt]] sold the locket to [[Caractacus Burke]]. It was then bought up by [[Hepzibah Smith]], who had a love for antiques. It was subsequently stolen from her by [[Tom Riddle|Tom Marvolo Riddle]]. Riddle would later turn the locket into a [[Horcrux]], and conceal it in a seaside cave he had visited in his youth. The same locket was later removed from the cave by [[Regulus Black]] with aid from his [[house-elf]], [[Kreacher]]. Kreacher was ordered to destroy the locket, but was unable to do so.
   
 
It was later stolen from the [[House of Black|Black family]] home at [[12 Grimmauld Place]] by [[Mundungus Fletcher]], and eventually found its way into the hands of the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] employee, [[Dolores Umbridge]]. Umbridge used it as an intimidation tool by wearing it and claiming the ''S'' stood for [[Selwyn]], a [[pure-blood]] family line. She either did not know better or wanted to conceal its real meaning from the public.
 
It was later stolen from the [[House of Black|Black family]] home at [[12 Grimmauld Place]] by [[Mundungus Fletcher]], and eventually found its way into the hands of the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] employee, [[Dolores Umbridge]]. Umbridge used it as an intimidation tool by wearing it and claiming the ''S'' stood for [[Selwyn]], a [[pure-blood]] family line. She either did not know better or wanted to conceal its real meaning from the public.
 
[[File:Noblecollection horcruxlocket.jpg|thumb|188x188px|Locket of Salazar Slytherin]]
 
[[File:SalazarLocket.jpg|thumb|Locket of Salazar Slytherin ]]
 
 
[[File:Slytherinn.gif|thumb|Salazar Slytherin's Chocolate Frog card.]]
 
 
The locket was recovered by [[Harry Potter]], and was later destroyed by [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] with [[Godric Gryffindor's Sword|Godric Gryffindor's sword]]. This act of destruction removed all of the [[Horcrux]]'s power.
 
The locket was recovered by [[Harry Potter]], and was later destroyed by [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] with [[Godric Gryffindor's Sword|Godric Gryffindor's sword]]. This act of destruction removed all of the [[Horcrux]]'s power.
   
 
There were also portraits of Slytherin hung at [[Hogwarts Castle]], one guarding a secret shortcut between the dungeon's antechamber and the [[Entrance Hall]] side room. The password required to gain access to said shortcut was ''Mortal Dread''<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)]]'' - PC version</ref>. The other was hung at the [[Headmaster's office]], part of the [[Headmaster portraits]] gallery<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)]]'' DVD (Disc 2 - Dumbledore's Office)</ref>.
 
There were also portraits of Slytherin hung at [[Hogwarts Castle]], one guarding a secret shortcut between the dungeon's antechamber and the [[Entrance Hall]] side room. The password required to gain access to said shortcut was ''Mortal Dread''<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)]]'' - PC version</ref>. The other was hung at the [[Headmaster's office]], part of the [[Headmaster portraits]] gallery<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)]]'' DVD (Disc 2 - Dumbledore's Office)</ref>.
  +
  +
[[File:Tom Riddle (16 years old).jpg|left|thumb|204x204px|Tom Riddle (Lord Voldemort), one of his descendants]]
   
 
In the [[1997–1998 school year]], Slytherin's heir, Riddle (now known as Lord Voldemort), realised his ancestor's wish of purging the school of Muggle-borns via another method: by taking over the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] and using [[Muggle-Born Registration Commission|falsified propaganda]]. Voldemort managed to have Muggle-borns evicted from the wizarding world, and at the end of the year, Voldemort even claimed that Hogwarts no longer needed Sorting, and that Slytherin's symbols, shields and colours would suffice. After Voldemort's death, all of this was repealed, and Slytherin's ultimate desire ended in failure.
 
In the [[1997–1998 school year]], Slytherin's heir, Riddle (now known as Lord Voldemort), realised his ancestor's wish of purging the school of Muggle-borns via another method: by taking over the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] and using [[Muggle-Born Registration Commission|falsified propaganda]]. Voldemort managed to have Muggle-borns evicted from the wizarding world, and at the end of the year, Voldemort even claimed that Hogwarts no longer needed Sorting, and that Slytherin's symbols, shields and colours would suffice. After Voldemort's death, all of this was repealed, and Slytherin's ultimate desire ended in failure.
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==Physical description==
 
==Physical description==
 
The statue of Salazar Slytherin in the [[Chamber of Secrets]] depicts an "ancient and monkey-like" man with a "long thin beard that fell almost to the bottom of his sweeping robes." His beard was white in colour. [[Marvolo Gaunt]], a blood relative, is similarly described as being monkey-like in appearance.
 
The statue of Salazar Slytherin in the [[Chamber of Secrets]] depicts an "ancient and monkey-like" man with a "long thin beard that fell almost to the bottom of his sweeping robes." His beard was white in colour. [[Marvolo Gaunt]], a blood relative, is similarly described as being monkey-like in appearance.
  +
 
==Personality and traits ==
 
==Personality and traits ==
 
Salazar Slytherin was known to possess great cunning and determination, qualities he prized in students of Slytherin House. At one point, the Sorting Hat refers to him as "power-hungry Slytherin". He seemed to stop at nothing to get what he wanted; this was proven when he constructed the Chamber of Secrets to purge Muggle-borns, despite the fact that the other founders disagreed with his beliefs. Slytherin is said to be one of the greatest wizards of his age, with extensive abilities, particularly in Legilimency. When considering Sorting a student into Slytherin, the Sorting Hat looks for Slytherin's traits in the student, including cunning, determination, and resourcefulness. 
 
Salazar Slytherin was known to possess great cunning and determination, qualities he prized in students of Slytherin House. At one point, the Sorting Hat refers to him as "power-hungry Slytherin". He seemed to stop at nothing to get what he wanted; this was proven when he constructed the Chamber of Secrets to purge Muggle-borns, despite the fact that the other founders disagreed with his beliefs. Slytherin is said to be one of the greatest wizards of his age, with extensive abilities, particularly in Legilimency. When considering Sorting a student into Slytherin, the Sorting Hat looks for Slytherin's traits in the student, including cunning, determination, and resourcefulness. 
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==Etymology==
 
==Etymology==
  +
[[File:Screenshot 1169.png|thumb|220x220px]]
 
The name '''Salazar''' is originally a Portuguese family name. [[Wikipedia:António de Oliveira Salazar|António de Oliveira '''Salazar''']] was a fascist dictator of Portugal (where Rowling lived for several years) from [[1930s|1932]] to [[1960s|1968]]. Rowling stated that the name "'''Salazar''' Slytherin" was chosen after the Portuguese dictator's name.
 
The name '''Salazar''' is originally a Portuguese family name. [[Wikipedia:António de Oliveira Salazar|António de Oliveira '''Salazar''']] was a fascist dictator of Portugal (where Rowling lived for several years) from [[1930s|1932]] to [[1960s|1968]]. Rowling stated that the name "'''Salazar''' Slytherin" was chosen after the Portuguese dictator's name.
   
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* The depiction of Salazar on his Chocolate Frog Card bears a striking resemblance to [http://captainplanet.wikia.com/wiki/Verminous_Skumm Verminous Skumm], an antagonist from ''Captain Planet and the Planeteers''.
 
* The depiction of Salazar on his Chocolate Frog Card bears a striking resemblance to [http://captainplanet.wikia.com/wiki/Verminous_Skumm Verminous Skumm], an antagonist from ''Captain Planet and the Planeteers''.
 
* Slytherin built the Chamber of Secrets to allow his heir to purge the school of Muggle-borns. However, after the chamber's failure, Voldemort accomplished Slytherin's wishes with another method: by taking over the Ministry of Magic and creating the [[Muggle-Born Registration Commission]].
 
* Slytherin built the Chamber of Secrets to allow his heir to purge the school of Muggle-borns. However, after the chamber's failure, Voldemort accomplished Slytherin's wishes with another method: by taking over the Ministry of Magic and creating the [[Muggle-Born Registration Commission]].
* Although it is widely accepted that Salazar Slytherin was from the Fens in eastern England, it is not confirmed. It would make sense if Slytherin came from Ireland , as that would mean that the four founders of Hogwarts would have originated from the four main countries that make up a vast majority of Hogwarts students. Scotland, Wales , England and Ireland .
+
* Although it is widely accepted that Salazar Slytherin was from the Fens in eastern England, it is not confirmed. It would make sense if Slytherin came from Ireland, as that would mean that the four founders of Hogwarts would have originated from the four main countries that make up a vast majority of Hogwarts students. Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland.
   
 
==See also==
 
==See also==

Revision as of 20:07, 26 July 2015

"We'll teach just those whose ancestry's purest."
— Professor Slytherin's opinion on the running of Hogwarts[src]

Professor Salazar Slytherin was a pure-blood wizard of medieval times. He was a Parselmouth (a wizard with the rare ability to speak with snakes) and skilled at Legilimency.[1] He was one of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the former best friend of Godric Gryffindor, a fellow founder. Slytherin didn't trust Muggle-born students, and he expressed his opinion not to accept them at Hogwarts. However, when the other Hogwarts founders didn't agree, Slytherin created the Chamber of Secrets, concealing a basilisk inside. Afterwards he left the school, never to return. He died sometime in the Middle Ages.

Biography

Early life

The Sorting Hat described him as "power hungry Slytherin" and that he came "from fen." This could be the reason why he and his family have the rare gift of speaking Parseltongue. It is also said that anyone who can speak Parseltongue is somehow related to Salazar Slytherin. The fens of Eastern England are in Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, and adjoining counties, although it is not established that Slytherin actually came from that particular region.

Founder of Hogwarts

S final

The house Salazar created, Slytherin

Like Rowena Ravenclaw and Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin appears to have carefully selected members of his own House. According to Albus Dumbledore, the qualities which Slytherin prized in his "handpicked students" included resourcefulness, cleverness, determination, and a certain disregard for the rules, along with the ability to speak Parseltongue. He also selected his students according to cunning, ambition, and blood purity. His House within Hogwarts is symbolised by a serpent, with House colours of green and silver.

Leaving Hogwarts

"I always knew Salazar Slytherin was a twisted old loony, but I never knew he started all this pure-blood stuff. I wouldn't be in his house if you paid me. Honestly, if the Sorting Hat had tried to put me in Slytherin, I'd've got the train straight back home..."
Ron Weasley expressing his claims on Slytherin's views[src]

After founding Hogwarts and co-existing for years, a rift eventually began to grow between Slytherin and the other founders. Slytherin despised taking students from Muggle families, seeing them as untrustworthy, and tried to persuade the other founders to only take students from pure-blood families. However, the other founders didn't agree with Slytherin, particularly Gryffindor. Eventually, Slytherin and Gryffindor had a huge argument over the subject, according to the Sorting Hat it is possible that they dueled, or that a civil war of sorts broke out between the houses. Slytherin chose to leave the school eventually, but he had left the Chamber of Secrets and his Basilisk behind.[2] It is unknown when he died.

Post-mortem

00The-chamber-of-secrets-harry-potter-34783631-1024-768

The statue of Salazar Slytherin and the hiding-place of Slytherin's basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets

According to ancient legend, as told by History of Magic Professor Cuthbert Binns, Salazar Slytherin was responsible for the construction of the Chamber of Secrets beneath Hogwarts dungeons. It was specifically created for the purpose of purging the school of all Muggle-born students. The Chamber contained a basilisk which could be controlled only by his own "true heir", and use it to rid the school of all Muggle-borns. At least part of the legend was revealed to be true in 1943, when Tom Marvolo Riddle, the heir of Slytherin, opened the Chamber and used the Basilisk to attack Muggle-borns.

One girl the Basilisk actually killed is now a ghost known by the name of Moaning Myrtle. The opening to the Chamber of Secrets is located in the bathroom she now haunts, and can only be opened by speaking Parseltongue, as Slytherin could. Riddle opened the Chamber again in 1993 through the use of one of his seven Horcruxes, his diary. Using the bit of his soul encompassed by the diary, he possessed Ginny Weasley and forced her to do his bidding. While he still attacked Muggle-born students, his ultimate goal was to lure Harry Potter into the Chamber and kill him.

Sada2

Salazar Slytherin

Salazar Slytherin owned a locket emblazoned with the letter S that became an heirloom of his last known line of descendants, the Gaunts. Merope Gaunt sold the locket to Caractacus Burke. It was then bought up by Hepzibah Smith, who had a love for antiques. It was subsequently stolen from her by Tom Marvolo Riddle. Riddle would later turn the locket into a Horcrux, and conceal it in a seaside cave he had visited in his youth. The same locket was later removed from the cave by Regulus Black with aid from his house-elf, Kreacher. Kreacher was ordered to destroy the locket, but was unable to do so.

It was later stolen from the Black family home at 12 Grimmauld Place by Mundungus Fletcher, and eventually found its way into the hands of the Ministry of Magic employee, Dolores Umbridge. Umbridge used it as an intimidation tool by wearing it and claiming the S stood for Selwyn, a pure-blood family line. She either did not know better or wanted to conceal its real meaning from the public.

Noblecollection horcruxlocket

Locket of Salazar Slytherin

The locket was recovered by Harry Potter, and was later destroyed by Ron Weasley with Godric Gryffindor's sword. This act of destruction removed all of the Horcrux's power.

There were also portraits of Slytherin hung at Hogwarts Castle, one guarding a secret shortcut between the dungeon's antechamber and the Entrance Hall side room. The password required to gain access to said shortcut was Mortal Dread[3]. The other was hung at the Headmaster's office, part of the Headmaster portraits gallery[4].

Tom Riddle (16 years old)

Tom Riddle (Lord Voldemort), one of his descendants

In the 1997–1998 school year, Slytherin's heir, Riddle (now known as Lord Voldemort), realised his ancestor's wish of purging the school of Muggle-borns via another method: by taking over the Ministry of Magic and using falsified propaganda. Voldemort managed to have Muggle-borns evicted from the wizarding world, and at the end of the year, Voldemort even claimed that Hogwarts no longer needed Sorting, and that Slytherin's symbols, shields and colours would suffice. After Voldemort's death, all of this was repealed, and Slytherin's ultimate desire ended in failure.

Physical description

The statue of Salazar Slytherin in the Chamber of Secrets depicts an "ancient and monkey-like" man with a "long thin beard that fell almost to the bottom of his sweeping robes." His beard was white in colour. Marvolo Gaunt, a blood relative, is similarly described as being monkey-like in appearance.

Personality and traits

Salazar Slytherin was known to possess great cunning and determination, qualities he prized in students of Slytherin House. At one point, the Sorting Hat refers to him as "power-hungry Slytherin". He seemed to stop at nothing to get what he wanted; this was proven when he constructed the Chamber of Secrets to purge Muggle-borns, despite the fact that the other founders disagreed with his beliefs. Slytherin is said to be one of the greatest wizards of his age, with extensive abilities, particularly in Legilimency. When considering Sorting a student into Slytherin, the Sorting Hat looks for Slytherin's traits in the student, including cunning, determination, and resourcefulness. 

Magical abilities and skills

  • Parselmouth: Salazar Slytherin was one of the earliest recorded Parselmouths and used this ability to control a basilisk. His house's symbol is a serpent due to this, and he passed this trait on to his descendants.
  • Legilimency: Slytherin was said to have been a skilled Legilimens.
  • Basilisk breeder: Slytherin managed to breed a basilisk and kept it alive in the Chamber of Secrets for over one thousand years, surpassing its average nine-hundred year lifespan.
  • Dark Arts (possibly): There are rumors that he originally built the Chamber of Secrets as a place to teach students Dark Arts

Etymology

Screenshot 1169

The name Salazar is originally a Portuguese family name. António de Oliveira Salazar was a fascist dictator of Portugal (where Rowling lived for several years) from 1932 to 1968. Rowling stated that the name "Salazar Slytherin" was chosen after the Portuguese dictator's name.

Meanwhile, Slytherin may refer to the words "sly" as well as "slithering", which is the form of locomotion of snakes, possibly referring to his rare ability to talk to snakes called parseltongue. Salazar, sometimes spelled as Salasar, is a Basque surname meaning old hall (from Castilian Sala (hall) and Basque zahar (old)). The name originates from the town of the same name: Salazar, in northern Burgos, Castile.

Alonso de Salazar Frías was a 16th-17th century Spanish inquisitor who is famous for convincing the Spanish Inquisition that most of the witchcraft cases were based on insanity and confessions made to stop torture, rather than accurate cases of people associating with the devil. He was able to stop convictions based solely on testimony.

Behind the scenes

  • Slytherin was the featured "Wizard of the Month" for June 2007 on J. K. Rowling's website, where he was profiled thus: "One of the four celebrated Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Salazar Slytherin was one of the first recorded Parselmouths, an accomplished Legilimens, and a notorious champion of pure-blood supremacy".
  • In the film, the statue of Salazar Slytherin only covers his head, compared to the book where it was full-body. It was revealed in Page to Screen that the Chamber is flooded so that the rest of the statue below his head is submerged beneath the water.
  • Both pictures of Slytherin in the Wizard of the Month and at the Famous Cards depict Slytherin with steepled fingers.
  • Salazar Slytherin appears as a portrait in the "Forbidden Journey" ride at Universal Orlando, where he expresses his dislike for Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore. He is also the only one of the four Founders to appear in behind the scenes footage of the ride. A DVD extra shows the actor being dressed up on set.
  • Harry is very distantly related to Salazar Slytherin, but is not a descendant of him, as Voldemort is descended from Slytherin and the second Peverell brother, while Harry is a descendant of the third.
  • Though Voldemort is a descendant of both Salazar Slytherin and Cadmus Peverell, there is no evidence that Slytherin is an ancestor of Peverell.
  • The depiction of Salazar on his Chocolate Frog Card bears a striking resemblance to Verminous Skumm, an antagonist from Captain Planet and the Planeteers.
  • Slytherin built the Chamber of Secrets to allow his heir to purge the school of Muggle-borns. However, after the chamber's failure, Voldemort accomplished Slytherin's wishes with another method: by taking over the Ministry of Magic and creating the Muggle-Born Registration Commission.
  • Although it is widely accepted that Salazar Slytherin was from the Fens in eastern England, it is not confirmed. It would make sense if Slytherin came from Ireland, as that would mean that the four founders of Hogwarts would have originated from the four main countries that make up a vast majority of Hogwarts students. Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland.

See also

Appearances

Wiki
The Harry Potter Wiki has 67 images related to Salazar Slytherin.

Notes and references

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 As appeared on J.K. Rowling's official website.
  2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
  3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) - PC version
  4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) DVD (Disc 2 - Dumbledore's Office)
  5. Slytherin is available in the Nintendo DS version of LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7. For other devices, he is available in the "Downloadable Character Pack" DLC for the game.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Hogwarts Houses
Gryffindor ClearBG
Hufflepuff ClearBG
RavenclawCrest
Slytherin ClearBG
Namesake Founders
Godric Gryffindor · Helga Hufflepuff · Rowena Ravenclaw · Salazar Slytherin
Heads of House
Minerva McGonagall · Pomona Sprout · Filius Flitwick · Horace Slughorn
House Ghosts
Nearly Headless Nick · Fat Friar · Grey Lady · Bloody Baron
Below the ground floor of Hogwarts Castle
Classrooms
Alchemy Class · Defence Against the Dark Arts dungeon · Potion-Mixing Room · Potions Classroom
Common Rooms
Hufflepuff Basement · Hufflepuff Boys' Dormitory · Hufflepuff common room · Hufflepuff Girls' Dormitory · Slytherin Boys' Dormitory · Slytherin common room · Slytherin Dungeon · Slytherin Girls' Dormitory
Corridors
Boathouse passageway · Corridor of Secrets · Dungeon cave · Dungeon Corridor · Forgotten Cavern · Hidden Herbology Corridor · Hieroglyphic Hall · Kitchen corridor · Lost Tunnel · Lower Chambers Corridor North-East · Lower Chambers Portrait Corridor · Lower Chambers Corridor West · Poltergeist Passage · Porticus Circumscriptus · Porticus Periculum · Porticus Imago · Porticus Medius · Prowling Passage · Quidditch cave · Secret way to Slytherin common room · Slytherin Corridors · Undercover route to the Kitchens · Unexplored passage to Hogsmeade · Way to Courtyard · Way to the Forbidden Forest
Halls and rooms
Athenaeum · Bottom of the Well · Campaign Room · Cauldron Room · Chamber of Secrets · Conical Crypt · Dark Hall · Deathday Ballroom · Deathday Party Hall · Duelling Room · Dungeons · Dungeon Chamber · Dungeon Five · Dungeon foyer · Dungeon hall · Dungeon Pit · Dungeon Portrait Room · Forgotten Dungeons · Grate Chamber · Kitchens · Map Chamber · Potions Classroom adjoining room · Potions Classroom dungeons · Room of Doom · Room of Runes · Shop · Slug Pit · Slytherin Duelling Dungeon · Undercroft · Vestibule of Mischief · Werewolf Saga Tapestries room
Offices
Secret study beneath Greenhouse One · Severus Snape's office · Slytherin's Scriptorium
Other locations
Boathouse · Dungeons cell · House-Elf Living Quarters · Lever Rooms · Lower Hogwarts Castle · Keepers' Caverns · Troll Bedroom · Underground Chambers
Portraits, statues and other artwork
Basil Fronsac · Bearded man with book · Bloody Baron · Cecilia Gallerani · Charles Rookwood · Emily · Elizabeth Burke · Hooky · Horace Slughorn · Howard · Mad old man · Mopsus · Niamh Fitzgerald · Old man · Percival Pratt · Percival Rackham · San Bakar · Salazar Slytherin · Sleeping Dragon Statue · Sleeping hermit · Slytherin Dungeon tapestries · Urn of Ashes
Staircases
Detention Escape Route · Dungeon foyer exit · Dungeon Staircase · Grand Staircase · Slughorn's Staircase · Slughorn's Stairs · Staircase to the Quad
Storerooms
Basement · Firefly Room · Neville Longbottom's storeroom · Potions basement · Store Room · Troll Storeroom