Gryffindor House

The Hogwarts house of courage, chivalry, nerve and determination.

Gryffindor was one of the four Houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and was founded by Godric Gryffindor. Gryffindor instructed the Sorting Hat to choose students possessing characteristics he most valued, such as courage, chivalry, nerve and determination, to be Sorted into his house.

Quick Facts

Founder: Godric Gryffindor
Colours: Scarlet and gold
Animal: Lion
Element: Fire
Ghost: Nearly Headless Nick
Common room: Gryffindor Tower

Facts from the source article.

Background

The emblematic animal was a lion, and its colours were scarlet and gold and its house point hourglass was filled with rubies. Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, also known as "Nearly Headless Nick", was the House ghost.

Gryffindor corresponded roughly to the element of fire, and it was for this reason that the colours scarlet and gold were chosen to represent the house. The colour of fire corresponded to that of a lion as well, with scarlet representing the mane and tail and gold representing the coat.

The Gryffindor motto was "Forti Animo Estote", which was displayed on a stained glass window in the common room.