Phillipus von Hohenheim

"Paracelsus (1493—1541): Contemporary of Copernicus and Leonardo Da Vinci. A medical genius whose bold theories challanged medieval thought. Credited with discovering Parseltongue."

- Chocolate Frog Card.

Phillipus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim (1493—1541), more commonly known as Paracelsus, was a secretive alchemist about whom very little is known. He also contributed to the field of medicine, having been a notable physician. Paracelsus's bold theories challenged medieval thought. Paracelsus was credited with the discovery of Parseltongue.

He was featured on a Chocolate Frog Card. Harry Potter received this card from a Chocolate Frog on his first ride aboard the Hogwarts Express in 1991.

There was a bust of Paracelsus in a corridor at Hogwarts. In 1995, while on his way to the Owlery, Harry Potter ran into nearly Nearly Headless Nick, who warned him that Peeves was planning to drop the bust on the head of the next person who walked down the corridor. Harry thus chose to take an alternate route to the Owlery.

Behind the scenes
The actual Paracelsus was a man born in 1493 in Austria. He was born Phillip Von Hohenheim, but changed his name to Philippus Theophrastus Aureolus Bombastus von Hohenheim, then to Paracelsus. He has made many contributions to medicine. He believed every human needed a balance of minerals and metals in their body and he was the first to use minerals and metals as medicine. Paracelsus also studied psychotherapy, and was the first to understand the subconscious.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
 * Pottermore

Notes and references
Paracelse Paracelsus