Why Are Magic Spells In Latin All The Time?

Magical amulets, spells written on curse tablets, and forms of ancient voodoo were present in Ancient Greece and Rome. The Romans spoke Latin, which passed down these traditions, making Latin an essential language in magic. This is likely due to the historical precedent set in the Middle Ages. One of the earliest popular forms of magic was alchemy, a mix of chemistry and speculative philosophy.

Most spells in Harry Potter (magic in general) are in Latin, but at least two spells, Stupefy and Obliviate, are in English. The reason for this is that Latin is an old and sacred language, and it enhances the experience of the spell. The Latin magic community became the default because they were better organized or had a better understanding of magic. Word of God says that the book containing most of those spells was written by a magus working for Emperor Augustus, and Latin was his first language.

The energy put into learning a learned language, whether Latin or old Norse, is used to enhance the experience of the spell. By using Latin, spells call upon a sense of power and hearken to the idea that simply knowing Latin words imbued them with power. Harry Potter spells are based on more languages than just Latin, including ancient Greek, French, Aramaic, and other ancient “Magic Languages”.

In conclusion, the use of Latin in magic is not only a historical precedent but also a reflection of the ancient magic realm.