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{{HogwartsMysterySpoiler}}
 
{{Potion infobox
  
{{Potion infobox
 
|name=Elixir of Life
  
|name=Elixir of Life
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|image=[[File:Elixir of Life.jpg|250px]]
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|image=
  
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|effect=[[Immortality]]<ref name=":0">{{PS}}</ref>
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|effect=Grants extended life for as long as the drinker continues drinking it
  
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|side-effects=
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|side-effects=Drinker becomes dependent upon advanced age
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|characteristics=
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|characteristics=
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|time=
  
|time=
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|difficulty=
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|difficulty=One of a kind
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|ingredients=Derived from the [[Philosopher's Stone]]
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|ingredients=
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|inventor=[[Nicolas Flamel]] (when invented the [[Philosopher's Stone]])
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|inventor=[[Nicolas Flamel]] (indirectly by inventing the [[Philosopher's Stone]])
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|first=''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' {{Mention}}
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|manufacturer = The [[Philosopher's Stone]]}}
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{{Quote|The Philosopher's Stone is a legendary substance with astonishing powers. It will transform any metal into pure [[gold]] and produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker [[Immortality|immortal]].|A [[Hogwarts library]] book|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)}}
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|latest=
  
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The '''Elixir of Life''' was a [[potion]] procured from the [[Philosopher's Stone]] that made the drinker [[Immortality|immortal]], as long as they consume the potion on a regular basis.<ref name=":0">{{PS}}</ref>
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|last=''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' {{Mention}}
  
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}}
  
   
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==Powers==
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The '''Elixir of Life''' is a [[potion]] produced by using the [[Philosopher's Stone]] that grants the drinker an extended life for as long as they keep drinking it. Its ingredients and the Philosopher's Stone’s role in the creation process are unknown. A person that relies on the elixir will die if the potion becomes contaminated or runs out, though in theory they could simply make more.
 
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The Elixir of Life will extend the lifespan of those who drink it, and so long as they keep drinking it regularly, they will remain [[Immortality|immortal]].
   
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[[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] planned to steal the [[Philosopher's Stone]] to use the power of the elixir, but he was thwarted by [[Harry Potter]] in [[1992]].
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The Elixir was also able to restore a disembodied but earthbound [[soul]] to full life, creating a body. Indeed, [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], surviving as a lingering spirit due to his [[Horcrux]]es planned to steal the [[Philosopher's Stone]] to use the Elixir for that purpose, but was thwarted by [[Harry Potter]] in [[1992]].<ref name=":0" />
   
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===Limitations===
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The Elixir does not make the drinker immortal, but only lengthens the lifespan (or possibly stops the person from aging). [[Nicolas Flamel]] and his wife [[Perenelle Flamel|Prenelle]] lived for more than 650 years because of this elixir, but eventually died when the Stone was destroyed and their supply of Elixir depleted. The couple had lived a long, fulfulling life, so they did not meet their deaths with sorrow.
 
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The Elixir of Life was not infallible. If a person used the Elixir to age beyond their natural lifespan, they will become completely dependent on it, and ceasing its consumption will lead to [[death]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name="HBP23">{{HBP|B|23}}</ref> Furthermore, while the Elixir extends one's lifespan, it does not cease one's body from ageing, and if using it to reach an exceptionally advanced age, it will leave them with a decrepit appearance.<ref>{{COG}}</ref> For example, [[Nicolas Flamel]], who created the [[Philosopher's Stone]], lived for a little over six-hundred and sixty years along with wife [[Perenelle Flamel|Perenelle]], but took on a senile and ancient appearance, dying when he and his wife decided to have the Stone destroyed which subsequently depleted their supply of Elixir.<ref name=":0" />
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In addition, the supply of Elixir can become contaminated, which may either annul the drinker's immortality or outright become [[poison]].<ref name="HBP23" />
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
  
==Behind the scenes==
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*In the [[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|first film]], [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] claims that unlike [[Unicorn blood|Unicorn Blood]] or the living off [[Quirinus Quirrell|another]], the Elixir of Life can give him a body; however, in the film, it is not made clear that the Elixir can supply one with a spare body.
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*The Elixir was also featured in the popular game The Sims 2, as the highest aspiration reward, relating the game to the [[Harry Potter series]].
  
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*On {{PM}}, the image used to illustrate the Elixir of Life for the "Favourites" screen is the same used for [[Infusion of Wormwood]]. Whether this is merely a placeholder image or is meant to imply the two are somehow related is unclear.
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*Voldemort refused to rely on the Elixir of Life for his immortality, as he would be required to drink it for eternity, and the possibility of contamination or the stone's loss would result in his death. His streak of independence made it intolerable for him to rely on the Elixir to survive, and only desired it to recreate his body.<ref name="HBP23" />
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*One of the three main goals of [[alchemy]] was to create [[panacea]], a remedy that would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely. The creation of the Elixir of Life can be considered to be the success of this goal, as the potion extends life if drunk for eternity, and can bring a disembodied soul back to a physical form.
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*In the Muggle world, many past Muggles, believing themselves to be true alchemists, attempted to create what they believed to be an Elixir of Life. Many of these substances, far from contributing to longevity, were actively toxic, one such that [[Wikipedia:Qin Shi Huang|Qin Shi Huang]] of [[China]] died from a large dosage of [[mercury]] that he believed to be elixir.
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==See also==
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*[[Alchemy]]
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*[[Panacea]]
   
 
==Appearances==
  
==Appearances==
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*{{PS}} {{1st Mention}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' {{Mention}}
  
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' {{Mention}}
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*{{PS|F}} {{Mention}}
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*{{GOF}} {{Mention}}
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*{{HBP}} {{Mention}}
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*{{DH|G1}}
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*{{HPK}} {{Mention}}
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*{{TCG}} {{1st}}
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*{{PM}}
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*{{HM}} {{Mention}}
   
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==Notes and references==
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{{Potion-stub}}
  
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{{Reflist}}[[es:Elixir de la Vida]]
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[[fr:Élixir de longue vie]]
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[[it:Elisir di Lunga Vita]]
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[[pl:Eliksir Życia]]
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[[Category:Nicolas Flamel's possessions]]
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[[Category:Philosopher's Stone]]
 
[[Category:Potions]]
  
[[Category:Potions]]

Revision as of 22:11, 12 May 2020

LogoHarryPotterHogwartsMystery Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. Spoilers will be present within the article.

"The Philosopher's Stone is a legendary substance with astonishing powers. It will transform any metal into pure gold and produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal."
— A Hogwarts library book[src]

The Elixir of Life was a potion procured from the Philosopher's Stone that made the drinker immortal, as long as they consume the potion on a regular basis.[1]

Powers

The Elixir of Life will extend the lifespan of those who drink it, and so long as they keep drinking it regularly, they will remain immortal.

The Elixir was also able to restore a disembodied but earthbound soul to full life, creating a body. Indeed, Lord Voldemort, surviving as a lingering spirit due to his Horcruxes planned to steal the Philosopher's Stone to use the Elixir for that purpose, but was thwarted by Harry Potter in 1992.[1]

Limitations

The Elixir of Life was not infallible. If a person used the Elixir to age beyond their natural lifespan, they will become completely dependent on it, and ceasing its consumption will lead to death.[1][2] Furthermore, while the Elixir extends one's lifespan, it does not cease one's body from ageing, and if using it to reach an exceptionally advanced age, it will leave them with a decrepit appearance.[3] For example, Nicolas Flamel, who created the Philosopher's Stone, lived for a little over six-hundred and sixty years along with wife Perenelle, but took on a senile and ancient appearance, dying when he and his wife decided to have the Stone destroyed which subsequently depleted their supply of Elixir.[1]

In addition, the supply of Elixir can become contaminated, which may either annul the drinker's immortality or outright become poison.[2]

Behind the scenes

  • In the first film, Lord Voldemort claims that unlike Unicorn Blood or the living off another, the Elixir of Life can give him a body; however, in the film, it is not made clear that the Elixir can supply one with a spare body.
  • On Pottermore, the image used to illustrate the Elixir of Life for the "Favourites" screen is the same used for Infusion of Wormwood. Whether this is merely a placeholder image or is meant to imply the two are somehow related is unclear.
  • Voldemort refused to rely on the Elixir of Life for his immortality, as he would be required to drink it for eternity, and the possibility of contamination or the stone's loss would result in his death. His streak of independence made it intolerable for him to rely on the Elixir to survive, and only desired it to recreate his body.[2]
  • One of the three main goals of alchemy was to create panacea, a remedy that would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely. The creation of the Elixir of Life can be considered to be the success of this goal, as the potion extends life if drunk for eternity, and can bring a disembodied soul back to a physical form.
  • In the Muggle world, many past Muggles, believing themselves to be true alchemists, attempted to create what they believed to be an Elixir of Life. Many of these substances, far from contributing to longevity, were actively toxic, one such that Qin Shi Huang of China died from a large dosage of mercury that he believed to be elixir.

See also

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 23 (Horcruxes)
  3. ↑ Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
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