The Harry Potter Compendium
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Damocles, Order of Merlin, was a potioneer who invented the Wolfsbane Potion. This achievement was likely the reason he was awarded an Order of Merlin.

Biography[]

Early life[]

While being educated at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Damocles was a favourite student of Horace Slughorn, the Potions master, who remarked that he was an "outstanding" wizard. He may have been a member of the Slug Club and probably obtained a high graded O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. in Potions.

Later life[]

After graduating from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Damocles went on to become a Potioneer and invented the Wolfsbane Potion sometime after the mid-1970s. This potion, made up mostly of Aconite, was able to relieve (but not cure) the effects of Lycanthropy. The Potion's development led to werewolves gaining a better chance to integrate themselves into wizarding society, which presumably resulted in his Order of Merlin Award. Damocles had a nephew, Marcus Belby, who stated that his uncle and father did not get along. As such, Damocles had little contact with his relatives, and was not very well known to his nephew Marcus. This is probably why Marcus failed to be accepted into the Slug Club.

Etymology[]

Latinized form of the Greek name Δαμοκλης (Damokles), which was derived from δαμος (damos) "the people" (a Doric Greek variant of δημος (demos)) and κλεος (kleos) "glory". In Greek legend Damocles was a member of the court of Dionysius the Elder, the king of Syracuse. Damocles expressed envy of the king's station so Dionysius offered to switch roles with him for a day. To illustrate to Damocles the peril of a man in his position he suspended a sword over the throne.

Appearances[]


Potions (class)
Books chapterart hbp 09
Professors: Vindictus Veridian · Severus Snape · Horace Slughorn
Textbooks: Magical Drafts and Potions · One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi · Advanced Potion-Making · Moste Potente Potions
Potions at Hogwarts: Potions Classroom · Potions Staircase · Potions basement · Potions Club · Potion Master's office · Potion Master's storeroom · Dungeon Five · Cauldron cupboard
Potioneers: Arsenius Jigger · Damocles · Glover Hipworth · Golpalott · Gregory the Smarmy · Gunhilda of Gorsemoor · Hector Dagworth-Granger · Hesper Starkey · J. Pippin · Laverne de Montmorency · Libatius Borage · Regulus Moonshine · Rubens Winikus · Sacharissa Tugwood · Tilden Toots · Dr. Ubbly
Potions Studied: Boil-Cure Potion · Forgetfulness Potion · Hair-Raising Potion · Shrinking Solution · Undetectable Poisons · Wiggenweld Potion · Girding Potion · Antidotes · Strengthening Solution · Everlasting Elixirs · Felix Felicis · Draught of Living Death · Amortentia · Elixir to Induce Euphoria · Hiccoughing Solution · Poison Antidote · Swelling Solution · Draught of Peace · Wit-Sharpening Potion · Polyjuice Potion
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