Stygai - Drawing conclusions based on what we know

[Nutellaeron]

So based of what we know of Asshai, the shadow lands and the little we are told about Stygai. As well as basic geology, this is how I imagine Stygai to be from a more architectural/environmental point of view.

We know there are caves that were dragons are said to dwell. We also know that Asshai is made of oily stone. The water of the river running though the shadowlands isn't fit for drinking and the air is thick and hard to breathe (may need a reference for the last one)

These all point to the presence of volcanic activity:

-Dragons used to live in the volcanos of Valyria (they like extreme heat) therefore the mountains of the shadow lands must be home to some active volcanoes.

- oily stone most likely points to the appearance of obsidian/dragon glass

-volcanic water is undrinkable due to the high levels of sulphur. Even acidic.

- Ash and dense air that is hard to breathe from the sulphur dioxide emitted by volcanos which is extremely toxic (may explain why people rarely leave) and general ash from volcanic activity

So based of these deductions, i picture Stygai as an obsidian city. How? Just like real world Petra, it is carved into the cliffs of the shadow mountains.

The city is surrounded by ghost grass.

Is heated by the volcanic activity. Similar to Winterfell.b

The cave like city is shielded from the worst of the ash.

Natural springs with drinkable water are found in these caves.

Ships who are unused to the waters of the river may be consumed by the acidic nature/sulphuric acid making it difficult to reach by boat or from inland. Giving it a haunted reputation.

[TheSovereignGrave]

Wait, are you theorizing that there are people actually living in Stygai?

[Nutellaeron]

In the past no doubt. Perhaps still, though I'd if so I would imagine they'd have either major health issues/adaptations making them quite different from your average human. Would also help to explain the myth of demons, ?mancers others who live in the shadowlands and how they may have remained quite secret.

It wouldn't be the first time a civilization was hidden in a geological formation (think the children)

[Falcon2908]

Stygai is said to be a haunted corpse city. Twisted creatures, such as demons and dragons, are said to live in its vicinity, and even shadowbinders fear the city.^[1] Little is known of Stygai, bar that its byname comes from the fact it only sees the light of the sun for a brief period of time each day, around noon.^[3]

The inhabitants of the city are the dead. that is, the white walkers (or volcanic walkers) dwell here

[JaimetheConciliator]

The inhabitants of the city are the dead. that is, the white walkers (or volcanic walkers) dwell here

And maybe there's a reason ghost grass is called ghost grass. And that there are prophecies that it will encompass the earth and kill all other living grasses.

Not enough comparisons are made between the Shadowlands and Valyria.

[TheSovereignGrave]

Well of course it was inhabited in the past. I don't see why someone would go to the trouble of building an entire city and then just leave it. Unless it was like a literal necropolis or something for the civilization that built it; but there's no evidence to support such a thing so I'm going to go with people living there in the past.

But I'm inclined to think that Stygai has its reputation because it's an abandoned city almost perpetually shrouded in darkness in the middle of a wasteland.

The inhabitants of the city are the dead. that is, the white walkers (or volcanic walkers) dwell here

I always read that quote as Stygai being described as a corpse of a city, not a city of corpses.

[ummester]

Wait a minute,

Stygia from Robert E Howards Hyperborea is ruled by sorcerers and the river Styx runs through it.

Stygai in GRRMs ASoIaF is related to sorcery and there is a poison river running through it.

Is Planetos just Hyperborea at a different time, like future Hyperborea, after the Stygian sorcerers broke their lands? Were the First Men just Cimmerians under another name?

[TheSovereignGrave]

Wait a minute,

Stygia from Robert E Howards Hyperborea is ruled by sorcerers and the river Styx runs through it.

Stygai in GRRMs ASoIaF is related to sorcery and there is a poison river running through it.

Is Planetos just Hyperborea at a different time, like future Hyperborea, after the Stygian sorcerers broke their lands? Were the First Men just Cimmerians under another name?

No. It's just a reference.