The Philosopher’s Stone Myth From Harry Potter- Where It Came From?

One of the best things about the Harry Potter series undoubtedly is the rich store of references that it contains. In the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone, the philosopher’s stone is an essential object. It is owned by Nicholas Flamel and becomes Voldermort's object of ultimate desire which leads to a clash between him and Harry and his friends, in the race to acquire the stone.  Are you curious, as to where this myth came from? Where did JK Rowling get the inspiration for this? Here are some facts, about this philosopher’s stone if you are interested!

The Myth

The Philosopher’s stone was a popular concept in Europe. It was believed to be an alchemical substance with magical properties and could turn anything into gold and silver. It is also referred to as tincture powder, which was also instrumental in making life eternal. This was a popular concept all over Europe ever since the Middle Ages and is still very popular today. It has befuddled various philosophers and has also been a source of interest in the literary world.

Where it Originated

The philosopher’s stone was first mentioned in Cheriokmeta by Zosimos of Panpolis in 300CE. Later other authors discussed it, saying that it went back to the time of Adam. In the middle ages, this myth became more popular. Alchemists of the Byzantine empire and the Arab empires were fascinated by this and attempted to uncover more about this stone and reinvent it. Massive debates were also initiated about this stone. Later it was taken up by Sir Thomas Browne, as well as other scholars. It has always remained a source of interest. It became a widely popular theory and was a source of much fascination. It also featured in many theological paradigms in later years, in different parts of the globe.

How it is remembered today

Today it remains a popular myth, and one can explore it through various books, literature, and fiction. It also remains imbibed in the memory of various cities and historical anecdotes about the city. For example, in Prague, there is a clock tower, which, as per the guide books was supposed to be a tower, where alchemists would sit and decipher the mysteries of the Philosopher’s stone. In another book, by Teresa Edgerton, called the Goblin Moon, there is an interesting reference to the philosopher’s stone when discussing the intellectual old man, Jenks’s scholarly pursuits.