Warning!
At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery & Harry Potter: Magic Awakened & Hogwarts Legacy. |
Professor Dame[4] Phyllida Spore was a witch who lived during the 15th century.[6][5] A celebrated Herbologist, she was the author of the textbook One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi[5] and also served as Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.[3]
Biography[]
- "Wish I could've studied here when Phyllida Spore was Headmistress. Greatest Herbologist of all time. I've read One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi at least a thousand times."
- — An Hufflepuff student at Hogwarts in 1890[src]
Phyllida Spore lived in the 15th century.[6] She studied Herbology, writing One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, a textbook that was still used at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the 1990s.[5][7]
Spore became the Headmistress of Hogwarts during her lifetime.[3] At some point, she also earned the title "Dame",[4] the female equivalent of the honour of knighthood in Great Britain.[8]
Professor Spore died sometime in or before 1995.[1] Two portraits of her hung at Hogwarts: one painted in 1408 depicted a middle aged woman,[6] and another, hung in the Headmaster's office,[3] depicted her as a younger witch with long dark hair sitting in a chair with skull-shaped finials.[4]
Magical abilities and skills[]
- Herbology: Phyllida was a very skilled and knowledgeable Herbologist, having thorough knowledge of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi and having written several books about the subject.[5]
- Healing magic: One of her books (Healing at Home with Herbs) specialised on the healing properties of such herbs, showing she also had good knowledge of healing magic.
Behind the scenes[]
- Phyllida's portrait at the Headmaster's office appears only in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. In Chamber of Secrets, a large painting of Antonia Creaseworthy occupies that space, and in Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince, the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black is hung there.
- The portrait of Spore that is featured in the Goblet of Fire film was based on an 1858 portrait of poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861), by Michele Gordigiani.
Etymology[]
Her first name is from Greek for "leaf" or "plant". A spore is a body produced by fungi, algae and non-flowering plants that is very protective and resistant to drought.
Appearances[]
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First mentioned)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) (Appears in portrait(s))
- Pottermore (Mentioned only)
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Appears in portrait(s))
- The Art of Harry Potter Mini Book of Graphic Design (Appears in portrait(s))
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (Appears in portrait(s))
- Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (Mentioned in History of Magic classes)
- Hogwarts Legacy (Mentioned only)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J. K. Rowling stated at the Edinburgh Book Festival on 15 August 2004 (source) that all portraits at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are of deceased individuals. Thus, Spore must have died sometime in or before 1995, given her portrait's appearance in the Headmaster's office in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
- ↑ "World Exclusive Interview with J K Rowling," South West News Service, 8 July 2000 - "Hogwarts just serves Britain and Ireland."
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film), Chapter 21 (The Pensieve) (see this image)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 The Making of Harry Potter (see this image)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 5 (Diagon Alley)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (see this image)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 25 (The Seer Overheard)
- ↑ Dame (title) on Wikipedia