Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has been the home for some of the most amazing magic users in history, and it was the very school that Harry Potter and his friends attended in their incredible story. From the moment they made their way onto the school grounds, these individuals knew that they were in for something special, and Hogwarts has since become one of the most iconic settings in entertainment history.

While attending Hogwarts, all students will be sorted into one of four Houses that they will spend their days in. The House that a person is sorted into says a lot about who they are as a person and the potential that they have. Slytherin is known for being one of the most powerful houses at Hogwarts, but there is a hint of darkness here follows its students around.

Today, we are going to take a look at some interesting facts about Slytherin’s history!

15 Salazar Slytherin Wanted House Members To Be Cunning, Resourceful, And Ambitious

Slytherin
via harrypotter.wiki.com

Each Hogwarts House chooses children that have specific traits, and when establishing his House at the school, founder Salazar Slytherin wanted very specific traits in his students. Cunningness, resourcefulness, and ambition are all traits that make a good Slytherin, and this is evident by the notable students that were in the house.

14 A Feud With Godric Gryffindor Caused Salazar Slytherin To Leave Hogwarts

SalazarGodric
via wizardingworld.com

Things have not always been peaches and cream at Hogwarts, and even the founders themselves had their share of issues when getting the school up and running. Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor took drastically different stances during their time together, and this rift would eventually lead to Salazar leaving the school altogether.

13 Salazar Slytherin Made A Wand Of Snakewood And Taught It To Sleep

Wand
via fanpop.com

Most wizards are chosen by their wand, but there are occasions where things are done a bit differently. It is said that Salazar Slytherin made a wand himself, and it was actually made from Snakewood. Furthermore, he was able to teach his wand to sleep and to follow his command.

12 The House Element Of Slytherin Is Water

Water
via bustle.com

This is one of those details that isn't revealed during the movies, so we just had to include it here. Given the location of their common room and the fact that a snake is a representation of the House, it really should not come as a surprise to know that the element of Slytherin is water.

11 Merlin Was A Slytherin

Merlin
via fantheories.com

Many powerful witches and wizards called Slytherin home while attending Hogwarts, and this is perhaps the most famous Slytherin outside of Salazar himself. Merlin is considered the most famous and possible greatest wizard ever, and he donned the Slytherin green while attending Hogwarts as a young man back in the day.

10 The Slytherin Dungeon Has Only One Known Password

Dungeon
via pinterest.com

Each common room is meant for the House students to relax and unwind in, but accessing these rooms is not as easy as one would think. People got familiar with the passwords that Gryffindor used, but as it stands now, there has only ever been one known password for Slytherin. What was the password? “Pure-blood.”

9 The Slytherin Common Room Is Located Beneath The Black Lake

commonroom
via wattpad.com

The greenish tint that shines through in the Slytherin common room is no accident. As it were, the Slytherin common room is located beneath the Black Lake, which is why the green comes through the window. It is also partially why the element for the House is water. Salazar was a man with a plan.

8 Being Pure-Blood Is Preferred To Be In Slytherin

Pure
via harrypotterwiki.com

There was a lot of fuss that was made about being pure-blood in the franchise, and it is something that Salazar was passionate about. He had no interest in people that were not pure-blood being at Hogwarts in general, but especially in his own House. Naturally, students that were pure got a clearer path into his House.

7 Despite This, Tom Riddle Is A Half-Blood That Was Sorted Into Slytherin

Riddle
via factinate.com

Tom Riddle is one of the most famous Slytherin of all time, but of course, most people would come to know him as Lord Voldemort later on. Even though he did not fit the certain mold that Salazar was looking for, he was still sorted into Slytherin and wound up becoming the Dark Lord.

Related: 15 Things About Voldemort Most Harry Potter Fans Don't Know

6 Horace Slughorn Was A Slytherin

Slughorn
via time.com

Horace Slughorn may have been the man to tell Tom Riddle about Horcruxes, but at the end of the day, he was a great Head of Slytherin that wanted the best for his students. Even though Slytherin alumni get a bad reputation, he is an example of one that did a lot of good in his life.

5 The Feud Between Slytherin And Gryffindor Stems Back To Its Founders' Feud

Feud
via comicbook.com

Many people noticed that Slytherin and Gryffindor have quite a distaste for one another, and this was something that carried on throughout the movies. In fact, it seemed like Slytherin would rather do anything else than lend Gryffindor a hand. This all stems from the feud between Godric and Salazar.

Related: 15 Weird Rules Hogwarts Makes Its Students Follow

4 Salazar Slytherin Is The Creator Of The Chamber Of Secrets

Chamber
via amazon.com

The Chamber of Secrets was opened in Harry's second year and a whole lot of trouble went down at Hogwarts. This particular area of the school was created by none other than Salazar himself, and it was a parting gift of sorts that he left behind for a successor to one day find.

3 The Basilisk In The Chamber Of Secrets Belonged To Salazar Slytherin

Basilisk
via youtube.com

Of course, once the Chamber of Secrets was opened, there was something terrorizing Hogwarts, and Harry and his friends would have to investigate and eventually put an end to it. This monster, a basilisk, belonged to Salazar, and it was lying in wait to strike down students as soon as the Chamber of Secrets was opened.

Related: 15 Hogwarts Teachers Officially Ranked From Worst To Best

2 Gilderoy Lockhart Was A Slytherin In Spirit

Gilderoy
via wizardingworld.com

Looking back at it now, this House would have been such a perfect fit for Gilderoy. After all, he was ambitious and cunning, and he duped the Wizarding World as he became one of its most famous faces. It’s a shame that he did not spend his days in Slytherin.

1 Slytherin's House Ghost Is The Bloody Baron, Who Was In Love With Helena Ravenclaw

Baron
via zimbio.com

Every House at Hogwarts has a specific haunt that the children must live with and endure, and for Slytherin, the Baron is the ghoul they share their time with. What is interesting to note here is that this character had the hots for Helena Ravenclaw, but those feelings were not reciprocated.

Next: 8 Harry Potter Fan Theories That Could Be True (And 7 Totally Ridiculous)