Voldemort’s giant snake Nagini was a mysterious and ominous presence throughout the Harry Potter series. As Voldemort’s closest companion and one of his Horcruxes, the enormous serpent unnerved readers and characters alike with her power and menace. Though we know Nagini played a pivotal role in Voldemort’s rise to power and his eventual defeat, many details about the sinister snake remain uncertain – including what she ate. As both an animal and a vessel for a piece of Voldemort’s soul, Nagini’s dietary needs were undoubtedly unique and particular. Examining clues from the books and movies can provide some possible insights into what gruesome dishes may have been on the menu for the Dark Lord’s darling pet.
What Kind of Snake was Nagini?
The first step in figuring out Nagini’s diet is identifying what type of snake she was. This provides context on the eating habits and nutritional requirements of real world snakes that she may have resembled. Unfortunately, Nagini’s exact species is never made clear in the Harry Potter canon. We know she is some type of extremely large venomous serpent, perhaps as long as 12 feet. Based on this description, Nagini most closely resembles a Reticulated Python or an Anaconda – both of which are non-venomous constrictor snakes found in Southeast Asia that can reach similarly giant proportions. Their typical diets consist primarily of small mammals, birds, and other reptiles. Knowing Nagini’s apparent zoological lineage is helpful for speculating what meats and organs Voldemort may have used to feed her.
Feeding Behaviors Witnessed in the Books
While Nagini’s backstory is vague, we do get a few direct glimpses of her predation throughout the Harry Potter narrative. These moments in the books offer insights into how Voldemort and even Nagini herself perceived her dietary needs and desires. Some critical scenes include:
- In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Voldemort feeds a Muggle man to Nagini after murdering him in the Riddle graveyard. This indicates Voldemort was willing to offer human prey to satisfy Nagini’s appetite.
- In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Nagini consumes Charity Burbage, the Muggle Studies professor, after Voldemort murders her. Again highlighting Voldemort’s readiness to provide human meat.
- In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Nagini willingly eats Bathilda Bagshot after murdering her. This shows Nagini acting on her own instincts to eat a human victim.
Based on these scenes, it seems evident that Voldemort recognized and encouraged Nagini’s cravings for human flesh. Whether this was due to her status as a Horcrux, her magical enhancement by Voldemort, or simply her natural predatory instincts as a giant serpent, Nagini repeatedly indulged in cannibalistic meals.
Symbolic Significance of Human Sacrifice
Beyond nutritional value, there may have been a deeper symbolic purpose behind Voldemort habitually sacrificing humans to feed Nagini. In many cultures, offering ritual human sacrifices to venerated animals, deities, or monarchs was a way to demonstrate power, prestige, and absolute dominion over life and death. By providing Nagini with murdered Muggles and unfaithful followers as food, Voldemort may have been making a strong statement about his own supremacy and ruthless authority. The vicious cycle also created an unbreakable bond of dependence between master and servant – Nagini relied on Voldemort to supply her cherished human morsels, and he relied on her undying loyalty and lethalness in return.
Other Possible Additions to Nagini’s Diet
While she clearly enjoyed feasting on humans whenever the opportunity presented itself, Nagini likely did not subsist on human flesh alone. As a true snake, she would have needed a balanced diet of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients – which human meat alone could not provide long-term. Here are some other menu items Voldemort may have used for Nagini’s dining pleasure:
Animals
Snakes like Nagini in the wild prey on a wide variety of small vertebrates for food, including rodents, birds, fish, amphibians, and eggs. Voldemort could have supplied Nagini with freshly killed rabbits, chickens, rats, or other animals to meet her nutritional requirements.
Animal Organs
The internal organs of animals also offer essential nutrients. Liver, kidneys, heart, brain and other organs from creatures like cows, pigs, deer, or goats could have provided Nagini with important fat and protein.
Nutrient Potions
Given Voldemort’s expertise with brewing potions, he may have concocted magical elixirs packed with vitamins and minerals just for Nagini. These could have supplemented her diet and contributed to her massive size.
Eggs
Snakes often enjoy eggs from birds and reptiles for the excellent source of protein and fatty acids. Goose, duck, turkey, crocodile or snake eggs could have made a nice treat for Nagini.
Conclusion
What did the terrifying Nagini feast on under Voldemort’s care? While human meat seems to have been her favorite, a balanced diet of animals, organs, potions, and eggs likely accounted for most of her nutrition. Ultimately, Nagini’s diet served not only to sustain her physical form, but also to symbolize the Death Eater ideology of pure-blood supremacy and feed her master’s insatiable hunger for power. Her appetite was central to Voldemort’s ambitions, making Nagini one of the darkest and most bloodthirsty creatures in the wizarding world.