|
"Is this all real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"
The topic of this article is of a real-life subject that has been mentioned "in-universe" in a canon source. The Harry Potter Wiki is written from the perspective that all information presented in canon is true (e.g., Hogwarts really existed), and, as such, details contained in this article may differ from real world facts. |
Goliath was a giant mercenary employed by the Philistines to fight for them in the war they fought with the Israelites in Biblical times. He was ultimately slain by a young boy armed only with a sling.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
- Goliath is based on the biblical figure of the same name, recorded in the book 1 Samuel of the Old Testament. His defeat is commonly attributed to King David but other sources suggest that this may not have been the case. The Chocolate Frog Card for Goliath only refers to the giant's slayer as a "young boy" without explicitly naming David. It is thus possible that Goliath was not slain by David in the Harry Potter universe.
- Giants in the Harry Potter universe are said to be between 20 and 25 feet tall. According to a common version of the story, Goliath's height was "6 cubits and 1 span" (about 9 feet 6 inches), making him extremely short by giant standards, though still taller than the tallest recorded human. This suggests that he may have been a half-giant. Other interpretations of the passage place his height at "4 cubits and 1 span" (6 feet 6 inches), a more realistic height for a human who was still very tall by the standards of the time, making the term "Giant" descriptive.
Appearances[]
Notes and references[]
| Giants and half-giants | |
|---|---|
| Giant colony |
Gurgs: Karkus (Former) ·
Golgomath |
| Other giants |
Bran the Bloodthirsty ·
Cyclops ·
Death Eaters' giant army in the First Wizarding War ·
Goliath ·
Grawp's father ·
Grawp's opponent ·
Hengist of Upper Barnton ·
Morholt ·
Morholt's brother ·
Unidentified giant in The Blind Pig |
| Half-giants | |