Salazar Slytherin
- Dan
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
A New Portrait from "The Nerd Side" Collection
You might be wondering how this slightly jarring, snake-wrapped portrait of a wizard from Harry Potter ended up in my otherwise architecture-heavy portfolio.
I’ll admit, while this fantasy-inspired piece fits into the category I’ve labeled “The Nerd Side,” it doesn’t neatly align with my usual focus on architectural subjects. And depending on what circles you run in, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling may also stir some degree of controversy.
I grew up in a house that, at the very least, was very cautious of these books and disapproved of much of their content. My wife, on the other hand, grew up in a household that purchased multiple copies of every book so everyone could read it cover to cover at once.
The world of Harry Potter can be visceral and violent, and as a Christian parent, I do have to tread carefully. For me, the greater challenge is helping my kids navigate the confusing spiritual content, and making sure they understand the biblical worldview clearly before handing them a fantasy world that presents a very different one.
So why Salazar?
If you’re not familiar with the storyline, here’s a very brief introduction. In the history of this world, before the events of the books, four powerful witches and wizards come together to form a school called Hogwarts. They are each incredibly different in their personalities, leadership styles, and even beliefs about how magic should or shouldn’t be used. They come together with the belief that they’re better united than divided.
Their goal was to teach different kinds of students in different ways, while still cultivating unity.
Salazar was one of these founding leaders, and there was plenty of good in what his “house” came to stand for. He championed among his students a drive to achieve great things and to overcome obstacles. He taught them to be resourceful and pragmatic, while leading decisively.
However, his lack of a moral compass leads him to prioritize power over all else. The end result is a warped view of people, in which their value is based on their power and their bloodline. His cold view of the world is reflected in the stone face that I’ve illustrated in this piece.
It’s a worldview that is rightly challenged in the books and leads to a complex series of conflicts. This is a worldview where the “bad guys” aren’t one-dimensional, but are acting according to a clear set of principles; albeit broken ones.
What captivates me isn’t just the fantasy or the lore of this story, it’s how this character reflects something painfully real.
In the book of Genesis, you find a long list of people who, because of sin, are operating with a similarly warped set of principles. They believe themselves to be superior, and their pursuit of power or knowledge becomes the driving force behind their lives. Their blood runs with a sense of superiority instead of a desire to serve others.
In his letter to a group of Christians in Rome, Paul writes:
“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” — Romans 12:3
This is a very different view of ourselves and of the world than Salazar Slytherin had.
For the Christian, our own blood is not a matter of pride, but rather the pride that runs in our blood is the issue. Sin has twisted our vision so that we are great in our own eyes, instead of fixing our eyes on the greatness of God. Without the sacrifice of Jesus, and His blood shed on our behalf, we would be just like this sculpture of Salazar — dead in our sin, with a heart of stone colder than this statue.
That’s why Salazar.
Because it reminds me of what I am without Jesus, and how grateful I am for His work on my behalf.
Because of Jesus, I am able to see the lie of the snake for what it is, and turn to the truth that God is worthy of all the glory.
Because of Jesus, I am free to turn from a life prioritizing my own glory, and instead joyfully fulfill the purpose I was made for, to glorify God.
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