Eating Death

[Nacht]

We can't be sure that the death eaters themselves choose that name. Could be given to them by the scared wizard community.

[Mistress Siana]

That's a point...but on the other hand, Voldie himself refers to his followers as DE's...

[Reverie Revenge]

Eating is a thing you need to do to live. Perhaps these evil people live for death and destruction that they feed on the the evils of wrongful death

The coolest explanation so far! *thumbs up*

But I'm surprised noone's mentioned the movie 13th Warrior. It's about Nordic mythology. There the Vikings (their main god Thor) were fighting mysterious villains, Berserks (followers of god Odin). Berserks were dressed up in bears' fur to look more intimidating and they devoured bits of flesh of their victims , and left the bitten corps to scare the Vikings. Vikings called their opponents very accuratelly: ''Eaters of the Dead''.
Could this be an inspiration for name of DEs? This movie is at least 6 yrs old, the book 13th Warrior must be older, so ... maybe JKR got the idea there. No mentions of DEs before book 4 !
I've checked something about Nordic mythology but it never mentioned any ''Eaters of the Dead''. The only time I heard this term was in the movie ...
... any suggestions???

[Meg Boyd]

Actually "The 13th Warrior" is loosely based on the ancient legend of Beowulf. We watched the film in my AP English Lit and Comp class last school year after reading and studying Beowulf. It is plausible that they are the inspiration for the Death Eaters. They live for death and destruction, almost to the point of obsession. If one controls death and destruction, one has nearly absolute power...and that's what LV wants