Many people wonder about House animals and what they represent. Like Ravenclaw, Gryffindor is a hot topic for debate, and as many fans that many theories circle the fandom.
We know that Gryffindor’s animal represents the House very accurately, and without a doubt, it was a wise choice of Gryffindor to associate with it.
What is the Gryffindor Animal?
The Gryffindor animal is a lion.
The proud and strong king of the animals, the lion, is a suitable mascot for Gryffindors. Ther colors are gold and red, which are associated with regal and noble people, but also correlate with the color of lion’s fur and fire, which is the element of the Gryffindor House.
Gryffindors play a big part in the book, and after a lot of struggle, they end up victorious. Just like lions in their kingdom, they preserve and stand proudly against their opponents.
Why Does Gryffindor Have a Lion?
Gryffindor chose a lion because he valued the traits the lion represents – bravery, chivalry, and courage.
We think it is a very suitable animal for Gryffindor House because Gryffindors, just like lions, would put their lives in danger to save their friends, family, and they would fight till the end for what is right.
A lion is a proud and majestic animal, very territorial. Gryffindors are exactly the same. They also look for approval from their pack, and they would challenge their foes without hesitation.
A lion is also associated with strength. As we progress with the books, we learn how much strength (not only physical but also mental) is required from all the main characters (most of them Gryffindors) to overcome all the obstacles during the fight with evil.
Why Does Gryffindor not Have a Griffin?
Similar to the situation with Ravenclaw, many people think that House animal should represent the founder’s name. Fan theory states that Gryffindor should have a golden griffin as a mascot.
Well, that’s not the case here. The animal represents the character traits that a founder cherished the most, or simply their favorite animal. As we already know, the lion is a proud and brave animal, always protecting its family with its own life.
While the griffin also symbolizes bravery and courage, it was portrayed more as a guardian of a treasure. Moreover, his eagle part symbolizes intelligence, and as we know, this is the main trait of Ravenclaws.
Some people say that the crest of Gryffindor depicts an actual griffin. It shows only the front part of it. We can confidently say that it’s not true because a real griffin has the front of an eagle with pointy ears, and the lion is his rear part.
Conclusion
Gryffindor is the Hogwarts House we got to know the best because of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who belonged to the House of the brave.
It is curious how well the lion represents the main hero of the series. Both fight courageously for what’s theirs and to protect their family and territory from the enemy.
Godric Gryffindor wisely chose the lion to represent his House, warning others of what might wait for them if they ever cross a Gryffindor’s path.
