Four Hallows, Relics, Horcruxes?

If the “deathly hallows” refer at least partially to the Founder’s relics (I agree with Felicity that “deathly hallows” doesn’t simply mean “Voldemort’s horcruxes,” since this would leave no mystery in the title), then there would obviously be four of them that are significant to the upcoming plot.  Rowling has really left it a mystery whether or not Voldemort succeeded in creating four Founder’s relic-horcruxes.  But the Arthurian legend link noted by some since the release of the title sheds some light on the question of the hallows.

It’s been well-established that there are significant links between the Arthurian legends and Harry Potter, so no surprise if the deathly hallows is based in the same legend.  Pauli at Muggle Matters found a fascinating link on the use of “hallows” in legend.  If we’re going to start digging into the meaning of “deathly hallows,” scouring the use of hallows in previous literature, especially stories Rowling is likely to have read, is key. 

Alas, horcrux theorists will find no definite answer along these lines: the link gives all of the following possibilities as hallows based in English and Irish legend: spear/pole/sceptre, cauldron, sword, stone, pentacle, dish/cup, crown.  Some of the links are obvious: Sword (Gryffindor’s), Cup (Hufflepuff’s), Pentacle (Slytherin’s).  But it looks like Auntie Muriel’s tiara (crown) and a wand (spear/pole/sceptre) are still on the table.  Adding “cauldron” to the mix is interesting.

Things get really fascinating with the final comment paragraph at that link:

In early Arthurian legend it was said that thirteen treasures existed in the Otherworld, and these were reputed to have been retrieved from Annwn by Arthur. These were collectively known as the ‘Thirteen Treasures of Britain’ (See Hallows of Britain). The story of their recovery is told in the poems of ‘Taliesin’ (See Taliesin).

“Otherworld” ties in the theme of death, perhaps even the veil at the Department of Mysteries, and “Hallows of Britain” sounds a lot like a rumored alternative title for Book 7: “Harry Potter and the Hallows of Hogwarts.” 

A PubCast by the end of the week will wrap up the theories thus far.