I'm not sure if it's under the right category... but...

In page 83, it goes:

"Sirius?" said Mundungus, who did not appear to have paid attention at this conversation, but had been closely examining a silver goblet. "This solid silver, mate?"

"Yes," said Sirius, surveying it wth distate. "Finest fifteenth century goblin-wrought silver, embossed with the Black family crest."

and then on page 87

... A frisson had gone around the table at the mention of Voldemort's name. Lupin, who had been about to take a sip of wine, lowered his goblet slowly, looking wary.


I was surprised when I read it and quickly looked for information on werewolves and if what I've been reading is right... Isn't silver not good for werewolves?...

If you take the mythology to the letter, silver isn't good for werewolves. It is said only a silver bullet can kill one. But, who knows if JK really agrees with that? And we don't know if he was using a silver goblet, we just know Sirius was talking about it earlier.

If you do take mythology to the letter, remember that the werewolf is killed by a silver bullet to the HEART. Drinking from a silver goblet should have no effect on Remus...particularly when it isn't the full moon. And I can't imagine the Blacks having their goblets made of anything less than silver.

Well, here's the rub...

Silver and silver bullets and all that is based on the early catholic belief that silver had mystical protective qualities against all evil beings...

So, it would seem that in order to be a problem, the werewolf would have to be evil...

But werewolf lore has changed throughout the years and from author to author...werewolves can be cured according to some by casting out the evil spirit possessing them (you get the evil drift here?) and according to others lycanthropy is permanent with no way out.

According to old lore Wolfsbane is also detrimental to werewolves, either burning or killing them...yet, Moony drinks a potion of this each month.

JKR has never indicated particular belief in "evil" as prescribed by the catholic church...I mean, she writes about witches for Merlin's sake...she has never indicated that Werewolves in the Wizarding World are evil or possessed or that all the rules of early werewolf lore apply.

Plus, there is the wide belief that items of a religious nature (such as silver and crosses) used to ward off werewolves or vampires or other "evil" beings are only effective if the person weilding the item is faithful to the religion that prescribes that item as a way to ward off evil spirits...by that theory, unless someone who was devoutly catholic were "weilding" the silver goblet at Moony before he drinks from it, it will have no adverse effect.

wow, thank you for the enlightening there, it all makes sense now... I can go on correcting my fic then, thanks so much!!!

*must try to load on more mythology stuff*

Michi,

This might interest you: The Book of Werewolves by Sabine Baring-Gould. Note this was published in 1865 and is touted as a classic reference book on varying mythologies which include werewolves.

Another good site is the Encyclopedia Mythica.

Myths & Legends provides links to many other sites and sources, including Bulfinch's Mythology which appears to be experiencing server problems at the moment. It could also be they've shut down, which would be a real shame.

I've posted a few more mythology links in the Useful Links for Writing Fanfiction thread.

thank you for the information, pennypotter, I always got confused on werewolves and silver (also because of the fanfics) that I'm not quite sure which is right anymore, so all the information is very well gratified! At least I have basis for my works (also whenever I debate with my mum if werewolves are pure evil or not)

Well that was a refreshing topic! Good work, I don't know of anyone else who had noticed that. Cool. Just thought I'd give you kudos for being original when all this time had passed.

-Siri

Thank you, it feels good to be praised for something small once in a while... *blush* I suppose reading it several times will make you notice some things, but it feels nice to be corrected somehow...

Yes, it would make sense to me that just because a werewolf can be killed by silver--i.e. a silver bullet or maybe a silver knife--doesn't mean that he can't be near/touch silver. I mean, we can all be killed by knives too but that doesn't mean we die by merely touching one.

Woah woah woah....confused!! So the cup wouldnt have hurt him unless you hit him with it? is that correct. i think thats what all of that means. i will have to go reread that part of the book just to see whats going on!

Erm...no...

I suspect if you read more carefully you'll see that is not what was being said...however, on the off chance that you are not the only who misunderstood...

As I said before, silver goes back to a very old Catholic belief that silver would harm ANY evil being...

That belief later found its way into Werewolf lore that a silver bullet or silver knife would kill or more seriously wound a Werewolf.

But the point being made was that it is also a belief that in order for a religious means of warding off or exterminating an evil being to work, someone has to actually be TRYING to hurt or kill the being and they have actually BELIEVE in the particular religion that prescribes that means...

In short, if you do not have deep conviction in silver as a pure holy deliverer of God, then you may stab away and only mame the Werewolf as with a regular knife-not kill the Werewolf by just by mere use of a silver weapon. You must believe.

A more tangible example is that of a crucifix and a vampire...in order for a crucifix to ward off or wound a vampire, one must have complete faith, otherwise it is useless.

So "wielding the goblet" doesn't mean hitting Lupin with it. It means giving him the goblet to use with the express intent to hurt him and with the express belief that the silver will mame him.

And just a quick tip, love, if you need to reread the section of the book to formulate your thoughts, you might want to do it prior to posting...you'll find that your posts are much more fruitful.

Do you all remember the movie "An American Werewolf in Paris"? It came out in the late 90's, a remake I believe. (I never saw the original). In that movie, a werewolf must eat the heart of the werewolf that bit him to be cured. Does that hold true in mythology, or was that made up for that movie? Just curious.

Also, if JK Rowling is going along the lines of the silver theory, I wonder if Peter Pettigrews new shiny silver arm will have anything to do with Lupin???

i don't know about starrbryt's question but have any of you seen the Movie cursed? this may be like starr's and not actually apart of origional mythology but when they just touched silver it burned their skin.

While that may be the case for both of these films, the beauty of writing is that an author adapts an existing mythology to his/her ideas. Ginger's idea of needing firm faith or belif in silver, etc to ward of werewolves or vampires in mythology is an excellent example of this. Had JKR kept this idea, Lupin might have faired so well. As he did not, it appears Rowling has either discarded this idea and her werewolves are immune, or the Order doesn't believe enough in using silver to harm Lupin, or care about him to much to use it on him. That said, if it she had kept the idea of using silver, couldn't a DE or someone have come along long ago and got rid of Lupin? A half-blood werewolf is not really on the "let's invite him to the party, shall we?" list.

Anyway, just popped in to say that and to remind you all to please stay on topic in here (ie. Lupin and silver) before a certain mod I know who's in charge of this forum comes in brandishing a bit of *ahem* silver of her own.