InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Help! I'm being repressed!"

Singer of Unheard Songs (bluestocking79) wrote,
@ 2008-09-22 17:26:00

Current mood:	curious
Entry tags:	azkatraz, please for help

Diadem Question
Okay, so I have my Rowena gown for Azkatraz more or less squared away, and now I'm working on the accessories. My question is this: did we ever get a detailed description of her diadem is the books?

I can't remember ever reading a true description of it, besides the notes that it's "discolored" (mentioned in both HBP and DH) and that it contains the inscription "Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure." Rowling also describes it variously as a diadem, a tiara and a circlet, which is as much help to me as a parka on a desert island, because these are all different designations. A circlet is different from a tiara, and a diadem is clearly not a circlet. ~curses inexact word usage~

Anyway, I've found promising specimens of both circlets and tiaras, but am not sure which would be best. Thoughts? Suggestions? How did you all envision it when reading? In any case, I think I'll be going without a veil, even though that's more period-accurate, because she's never mentioned as wearing one and I've yet to see her depicted anywhere with a veil.

So... circlet? Tiara? Miss America thingie? Burger King paper crown?

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nehalenia
2008-09-22 07:17 pm UTC (link)

A diadem is like what Wonder Woman wears. It's similar to -- and probably based on -- an ancient Greek diadem called a stephane. It would have been worn like a tiara rather than right across the forehead like WW wears.

Not that historical authenticity has anything to do with the Potterverse, but seems to me if Rowena made the diadem in the Founders Age -- let's say around 1000 AD, give or take a century -- it likely would have been a simple metal band. However, if it was an ancient artifact, I'd probably argue for a stephane-type thing.

Just my 2 pence.

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bluestocking79
2008-09-22 08:36 pm UTC (link)

Thank you for the great input! ~sigh~ It's so true that historical authenticity very rarely intersects with the Potterverse. Add the imprecise language to that, and very few things are clear.

I think Rowena must have been the originator of the diadem, because of its fabled magical properties--that seems to be more a testament to her brilliance in creating it, don't you think? But yes, a metal band is what I had in mind, although possibly with some wirework--given that Rowena probably crafted it through magical means, I'd guess that her techniques might be on the sophisticated side, compared to more typical wear for the era.

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	sylvanawood 2008-09-23 06:12 am UTC (link)
	Yeah, the same. When I did a little research for my WIP about the tiara before DH came out, I learned that it could have also been the celtic type which could be a circlet, like this I find them very pretty. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	bluestocking79 2008-09-23 06:57 am UTC (link)
	Yes, I do find the circlets very pretty as well. That is the sort of thing that I had in mind. From a period standpoint, it seems more likely for Rowena... (Reply to this) (Parent)

	ellid 2008-09-23 06:27 am UTC (link)
	It also wouldn't say "wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure," unless it has a language-updating charm. Unless of course Rowling retconned when Hogwarts was founded, the engraving would be in Old English, not modern or pseudo-Shakespearean. throws up hands in despair (Reply to this) (Thread)

bluestocking79
2008-09-23 07:02 am UTC (link)

~snerk~ Oh, I know, I know. The engraving's way off. I already have one of my medievalist friends coming up with a more accurate rendering, because it certainly wouldn't have been written in Modern English. Unless the diadem sharpened Rowena's wits so much that she was able to look 1000 years in the future and anticipate it...

Hmm, yeah. Not likely.

Doesn't the lack of even rudimentary research drive you crazy? For one of the horcruxes, you'd think she could have gone to the trouble of doing a simple Google search, if nothing else. The imprecise language makes me want to tear out my hair.

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