The 4 founders of hogwarts each had their own item which was the symbol for their house. For example Godric Gryffindors was a sword which symbolised the house vaule bravery it takes a true gryffindor can pull it out of a hat. Salazar Slytherins was a locket with a snake inside of it which is slytherins mascot animal of their house. Rowena Ravenclaws which was a diadem and for a while wa know as the lost diadem of ravenclaw as at a time not a person alive had ever seen it till it was recovered from the room of requirnments.The diadem respresented wisdom which is one of ravenclawas And lastly Helga Huffle puff, hers was a gold cup which had been past down in her family for decades. 3 of these items where then turned into horcruxes by Tom Riddle also know as Voldemort. The 3 were the cup, the locket and the diadem. While the sword was used to get rid of the horcrues