I think JKR is well versed in all these old tales and I'm sure she will put something in the mix of this. Certainly Harry is going into the underworld now, and Snape has always struck me as a very underworld figure, lurking in his dungeons, dressed in black ... and now he is the bringer of death. But I see Snape as the one that must replace Harry in the underworld, and be lost forever. But unlike Dumuzi, Snape's will be a willing sacrifice.
Incidentally, I've always found the Epic of Gilgamesh to be quite an interesting text as well, especially the section where Gilgamesh wins the flower of eternal youth from Utnapishtim the Faraway (I love that name) and then loses it to the serpent, and realises that he, Gilgamesh, must one day die just like his closest friend Enkidu. It is only then that Gilgamesh really begins to appreciate life.
Intersting stuff and fascinating tales. Hopefully JKR has encouraged people to have a look at some mythology.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-07-18 08:47 pm (UTC)Incidentally, I've always found the Epic of Gilgamesh to be quite an interesting text as well, especially the section where Gilgamesh wins the flower of eternal youth from Utnapishtim the Faraway (I love that name) and then loses it to the serpent, and realises that he, Gilgamesh, must one day die just like his closest friend Enkidu. It is only then that Gilgamesh really begins to appreciate life.
Intersting stuff and fascinating tales. Hopefully JKR has encouraged people to have a look at some mythology.