I’m not the biggest fan of spiders.
Their creepy bodies frighten me.
And God only knows how dangerous a bite can be.
However, there’s a giant spider in the wizarding world.
A mythical creature living in the Forbidden Forest.
And it’s about time we meet Aragog.
The King of Arachnids…
Continue reading to discover:
- 11 facts about Aragog that you might not know about.
- How an Acromantula snuck into the Forbidden Forest in the first place.
- Why a giant spider could’ve ended the Harry Potter series much sooner.
- And so much more…
About Aragog
Born | 1942 |
Purity | Acromantula |
House | N/A |
Character Traits | Respectful, Good Father |
Patronus | N/A |
Wand | N/A |
Zodiac Sign | Unknown |
Aragog background
“He’s just a spider. What’s there to know about?”
Surprisingly, quite a lot.
Aragog may seem like the stuff of nightmares.
And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid too.
But this large mythical creature’s got a very rich history.
A story that would normally go unnoticed…
Unless you picked up clues from the movies and books.
For starters, let’s look at his species.
Aragog’s an Acromantula.
A type of spider that can grow to monstrous sizes.
And their lengths can be greater than 15 ft (4.5 m).
Not to mention their females, which are generally larger.
What’s more, these creatures are capable of many great things.
It’s not just their appearance that sets them apart from normal spiders.
They have near-human intelligence.
And with their smarts, they can speak rather fluently.
On top of that, these spiders are actually from the rainforests of Southeast Asia.
Particularly from Borneo, where the lowlands are rich and dense.
So it’s no surprise why Aragog made himself at home in the Forbidden Forest.
Which is a dark place, with large, ancient, and dense trees.
It’s the closest thing to a rainforest near Hogwarts.
A school for young wizards and witches.
“Hold on. How’d a giant spider travel from Borneo to Britain?”
While I’d like to imagine a secret expressway for arachnid travel.
That’s a bit too far-fetched.
Even for a world where magic exists.
But as impossible as it sounds for Aragog to reach Hogwarts.
There’s a simple theory we can follow.
You see, the Acromantula was owned by Rubeus Hagrid.
An English half-giant wizard.
And he was still a student when he first got the spider as an egg.
Even Aragog says:
“I come from a distant land. A traveler gave me to Hagrid when I was an egg.”
And who could this traveler be?
Is there any wizard we know of that explores the world?
Yes, there’s a particularly dedicated magizoologist.
An expert in the study of magical creatures.
And this wizard’s none other than Newt Scamander.
Author of the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Which would become a standard text in the wizarding school of Hogwarts.
According to his foreword, he stated:
“I have visited lairs, burrows and nests across five continents, observed the curious habits of magical beasts in a hundred countries, witnessed their powers, gained their trust and, on occasion, beaten them off with my traveling kettle.”
Eventually, Mr. Scamander returned to Hogwarts.
And during this time, he supposedly met a young Rubeus Hagrid.
This moment’s when many fans suspect the half-giant received a spider egg.
An Acromantula that would later go on to be the Aragog we know today.
“Wait a minute. How’d Hagrid keep a giant spider hidden from everyone?”
Well, the creature didn’t come out of the egg the size of a small elephant.
Even Aragog was small back then.
Much closer to the proportions of a cat or dog.
Hagrid kept him in a small cupboard.
Hidden in one of the wizarding school’s dungeons.
A place where nobody would dare look.
And to keep little Aragog alive, Hagrid would feed him scraps.
Eventually, this would be the spark of a loyal friendship.
A relationship built on respect and care.
In fact, research shows how basic needs build bonds.
And providing them can increase friendship quality and happiness.
So judging by how Hagrid kept Aragog safe and fed.
It’s no surprise why they’ve become close.
However, this would only go on for so long.
You can’t expect to hide a giant spider forever.
And by a stroke of misfortune, the worst possible person found Aragog.
“What wizard could be extremely dangerous? It can’t be that bad, right?”
Well, if it’s a teacher, maybe a stern scolding would be the worst.
But this wasn’t just anyone that caught Hagrid tending to an Acromantula.
It’s Tom Riddle.
A man that would be later known as Lord Voldemort.
Someone that’s considered to be the most powerful and dangerous Dark Wizard of all time.
Back in their younger days, Tom opened Salazar Slytherin’s Chamber of Secrets.
It was a dungeon that was home to an ancient Basilisk.
A savage serpent that would end up killing Myrtle Warren.
Your usual budding witch studying in Hogwarts…
But would go on to haunt the girl’s bathroom due to her tragic death.
Tom passed on the blame to Hagrid and his pet Acromantula.
However, before anyone could take little Aragog away.
The half-giant helped him escape to the Forbidden Forest.
Sadly, Hagrid didn’t fare as well as his spider.
He’s sent to Azkaban for what happened.
A prison in the middle of the North Sea for magical criminals.
Aragog occupation
While I’d like to imagine a giant spider working a part-time job.
The world of Harry Potter’s not that kind of magical.
And if I’m being completely honest…
Aragog doesn’t fit the typical description of going to work.
Plus, I’m not too sure if anyone’s going to hire an Acromantula in the first place.
That type of employee would only scare people away.
However, that doesn’t mean he sits on his butt all day.
Aragog’s still pretty busy.
And that’s because he’s the leader of his own colony.
In fact, the Acromantula’s carved out a small section of the forest for himself.
Alongside the hundreds of other giant spiders under his command.
Could you imagine what kind of strength you’d need to lead such magical creatures?
It’s a feat only the strongest characters can try and manage.
What’s more, it’s one of the reasons why Harry Potter’s so popular.
Fans can’t help but look in awe at the beasts.
“Wow, sounds like he’s doing great. What’s Aragog up to now?”
Sadly, not that good.
And, to be blunt, the Acromantula’s not doing anything at all.
He’s actually dead.
All the way back in 1996, he contracted an unknown illness.
The news came as a shock to Hagrid.
So he tried everything possible to save his giant spider friend.
He even comforted Aragog by feeding him giant grubs.
At that point, it’s pretty dangerous for Hagrid to go anywhere near him.
The smaller Acromantulas grew restless.
And Aragog didn’t have the power to keep them under control.
The giant spider eventually died on April 20, 1997.
Aragog character

I know it feels like the Acromantula can be your chum.
He’s pretty close with Hagrid.
So, with enough time, anyone can be his friend, right?
Sadly, it doesn’t work that way.
Aragog’s respect extends only to the half-giant.
No more, and no less.
And can you remember when Harry and Ron first met the Acromantula?
Well, it didn’t go as planned.
Sure, they did learn a bit more about the Chamber of Secrets.
But there’s one thing you should know about magical spiders.
They have a thirst for human blood.
And while Aragog didn’t chase the young wizards himself.
He didn’t hold any of the spiders from his colony back.
In fact, if Ron’s car hadn’t saved them.
That would’ve been a quick end to the Harry Potter story.
The Acromantula even says:
“Go? I think not. My sons and daughters do not harm Hagrid on my command, but I cannot deny them fresh meat when it wanders so willingly into our midst. Goodbye, friend of Hagrid.”
Plus, if you’re itching to watch that scene again.
Here’s a clip from the movie I can’t help but replay:
However, despite the unfortunate build-up.
Aragog’s not a bad spider.
He’s a good friend to Hagrid.
And a great father and leader to his colony.
“Well, doesn’t Aragog have any weaknesses? He can’t be that overpowered.”
I’ll give you that one.
As scary as a giant spider sounds.
Even Acromantulas experience fear.
Most especially when facing their sworn enemies, the Basilisks.
You see, these serpents are the perfect counter to the giant spiders.
Because their eyes can turn anyone to stone.
And what makes that so bad, you ask?
Well, the Acromantulas have 8 eyeballs in total.
And all of them the spiders can’t close.
So if they’re to meet them in battle.
It’s a pretty decisive victory for the Basilisks.
5 facts about Aragog
#1: Aragog’s the King of Arachnids

While being monarch of all spiders doesn’t sound like a cool title.
You’ll be surprised at how badass Acromantulas can be.
Plus, arachnids play an important role in the ecosystem.
And research stresses the importance of learning about them.
Especially if we want to reduce the fear and disgust around spiders.
So just imagine what kind of prestige Aragog carried.
Of course, I won’t be shocked if you question this claim.
I’ve never personally seen the giant spider lead an army.
Or, even found a kingdom for the Arachnids other than his colony.
But it was stated in his eulogy:
“Farewell, Aragog, king of arachnids, whose long and faithful friendship those who knew you won’t forget! Though your body will decay, your spirit lingers on in the quiet, web-spun places of your forest home.”
And, if you ask me…
I recognize Aragog as a king too.
Because there’s no other Acromantula out there as cool as him.
#2: Aragog’s venom costs a fortune
Acromantulas are deadly.
Not just because of their sheer size, but also their poison.
And with how hard it is to get near a giant spider.
Their venom fetches a very high price.
Specifically, these things can go for 100 Galleons for 1 pint.
The most expensive currency in the wizarding world of Harry Potter.
#3: Aragog’s got a wife named Mosag
The Acromantula didn’t magically pop out babies.
Even Harry Potter respects biology.
He actually had a wife.
And her name was Mosag.
She’s born sometime before 1993.
Hagrid brought her to the Forbidden Forest.
As a result, Mosag and Aragog would eventually reproduce.
And the two elder spiders would create a large colony of Acromantulas.
#4: Aragog’s actually blind
Yes, it’s true.
The great Acromantula can’t see.
A spider’s eyes should be black.
But what about Aragog?
Well, his eyeballs were milky white.
No one knows for certain why it happened.
However, fans guess he became blind sometime after moving into the Forbidden Forest.
Amazingly, it didn’t stop him from being a cool character.
#5: Aragog’s colony would’ve eaten him
Acromantulas are cannibalistic.
They’re not picky about eating their own kind.
And when Aragog was growing weak.
Everyone else in the colony became uneasy.
In fact, when the elder spider finally passed away.
They saw Aragog’s body as prey.
Luckily enough, Hagrid got the corpse out.
Way before any other spider could cannibalize it.
However, it’s a pretty dark alternate ending.
And it’s one of the reasons why Harry Potter’s banned.