AlaskanSandman Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 So i thought id make a post, it's not really a theory or anything but really just a look at the mythical inspirations of Asoiaf and chance for others who may not be familiar with them to discover some of our own real world myths These are a fun look Blackstone of real world myth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Stone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blarney_Stone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaaba https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaaba Islamic tradition holds that it fell from heaven as a guide for Adam and Eve to build an altar. Sounds alot like the First Dayne who may have been Azor Ahai/Light Bringer Which leads to a fun tour through Christianity[edit] Lucifer, sometimes translated from Latin as "morning star" Jesus, self-described as "the bright Morning Star" in the Christian Bible Sounds alot like Azor Ahai, is he good, is he bad? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_Star The Hebrew word, transliterated Hêlêl[10] or Heylel (pron. as HAY-lale),[11] occurs once in the Hebrew Bible[10] and according to the KJV-based Strong's Concordancemeans "shining one, light-bearer".[11] The Septuagint renders הֵילֵל in Greek as ἑωσφόρος[12][13][14][15][16] (heōsphoros),[17][18][19] a name, literally "bringer of dawn", for the morning star.[20] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer More Azor Ahai stuff Which ties to tree's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Trees "Five Trees" in Paradise is a mysterious allegory or concept from famous Coptic Gospel of Thomas NHC 2: (gnostic library from Nag Hammadi in Egypt) 19th saying/logia of Jesus and other sources of religious mythology. Blatz Translation: (19) Jesus said: Blessed is he who was before he came into being. If you become disciples to me (and) listen to my words, these stones will minister to you. For you have five trees in Paradise which do not change, either in summer or in winter, and their leaves do not fall. He who knows them shall not taste of death. Which is a fun look through Tree Mythology and sacred groves protected by sacred orders. Tree's that were gods and were prophetic and could speak. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trees_in_mythology Which, brings you in a circle to the Black stone Black Stone - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Stone Worship at that time period was often associated with stone reverence, mountains, special rock formations, or distinctive trees. And we can't forget Dragons https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dragons_in_mythology_and_folklore https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon With my favorite being the Pakhangba https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakhangba Pakhangba is a mythical hybrid dragon of Manipur which originated in an ancient deity of the Meitei people preceding Hinduism in the region. It was the traditional heraldic emblem of the Princely state of Manipur.[25] A Pakhangba is a dragon with deer antlers. It usually has the body of a snake, but in some sculptures at the Kangla Palace in Imphal, it is represented with a short body and four sturdy legs, looking more like a lion.[26] The Pakhangba is the supreme God. He is a man who can change his body to any form, like animals, and others as he is a powerful God. In certain sculptures, known as Kangla-Sa, at the citadel of the Kangla Palace in Imphal, there is a related type of creature represented with a short body. The sculptures are large and were built of brick, standing at each side of the northern gate. They have a similar head and four sturdy legs, but their body is shorter and bears more of a resemblance to a lion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon - Above passage comes from bottom link. And we can't forget Giants. Earth Giants, Fire Giants, and Ice Giants https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_mythology While most are described as being roughly human sized, some are indeed portrayed as huge, such as frost giants (hrímþursar), fire giants (eldjötnar), and mountain giants (bergrisar). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jötunn For fun too, this is a blurp from me but also ties kinda to this all and possible inspirations. Also just fun stuff to think about when considering real world myths and history. This is true, though i would argue that some historians do trace Zeus and such to ancient Greek Kings before the Democracy. Some legends have passed over from Greek to Roman, but that's not the whole story. Those myths were middle eastern in origin. Which alot in those regions trace back to the same sources possibly as the Old Testament which mentions Noah and the Flood while the Greeks mention it and Deucalion. That Old Testament that many trace myths to, leaves out other scripts that could be argued are part of the older belief. This Old Testament mentions Lightbringer and Dragons, Giants, and the giver of Fire/Knowledge in the Devil, or Prometheus. The Bible also goes on to mention the sons of god and the daughters of man. It also goes on to mention other people in the world when Adam and Eve are created. Which these people are dubbed evil peoples. This could be seen both in the Novel and mythically in our own world as humans having come from apes or some other primitive thing that was touched by god when we bred into his divine children. Sons of god, and daughters of man. This same thing could be said of our Empire of the Dawn who had dragons, giants, and lightbringer. Let us not forget the Tree of Knowledge = Weirwoods = Grey King legend = Prometheus/Lightbringer/Lucifer So what could possibly give Martin cause to say that Azor Ahai, Huzhor Amai, or who ever may be connected? Idk. Lucifer=Prometheus, and Deucalion = Noah. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deucalion Who is son of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah I would also like to add that in the real world. Written language can be traced to 3 areas of independent origins, but only 2 are agreed upon. The 3 being the Indus, the Middle East, and Meso-America. The Middle East and Meso-America are the only 2 agreed upon independent origins of writing. One could argue that the link between the pyramids of Meso-America and the Middle East suggest a connection. Cortes was welcomed by the Indians based on old beliefs of theirs that they were visited by what sounds like a white man from the east as told by some people Quote Hernán Cortés: Conqueror of the Aztecs - Live Science https://www.livescience.com › History Sep 28, 2017 - Unbeknownst to Cortés, his arrival coincided with an important Aztec prophecy. TheAztec god Quetzalcoatl, whom they credited with the creation of humans among other notable feats, was set to return to Earth. Thinking that Cortés could be Quetzalcoatl, Montezuma greeted the party with great honor. Quote https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_gods For the 2014 film, see White God. White gods is the belief that ancient cultures around the world were visited by Caucasian races in ancient times, and that they were known as "White gods". It is claimed by some authors that white missionaries or "gods" visited America before Christopher Columbus. Authors usually quote from mythology and legends which discuss ancient gods such as Quetzalcoatl to conclude that the legends were actually based on Caucasians visiting those areas, and that the caucasians were really the gods.[1][2] Spanish chroniclers from the 16th century claimed that when the conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro first encountered the Incas they were greeted as gods, "Viracochas", because their lighter skin resembled their God Viracocha.[3] This story was first reported by Pedro Cieza de León (1553) and later by Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa. Similar accounts by Spanish chroniclers (e.g. Juan de Betanzos) describe Viracocha as a "White God", often with a beard.[4] Quote To the Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl was, as his name indicates, a feathered serpent, a flying reptile (much like a dragon), who was a boundary-maker (and transgressor) between earth and sky. He was a creator deity having contributed essentially to the creation of Mankind. Quetzalcoatl - Wikipedia In the era following the 16th-century Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, a number of sources were written that conflate Quetzalcoatl with Ce Acatl Topiltzin, a ruler of the mythico-historic city of Tollan. It is a matter of much debate among historians to which degree, or whether at all, these narratives about this legendary Toltec ruler describe historical events.[7]Furthermore, early Spanish sources written by clerics tend to identify the god-ruler Quetzalcoatl of these narratives with either Hernán Cortés or Thomas the Apostle—an identification which is also a source of diversity of opinions about the nature of Quetzalcoatl.[8] So it could be argued that their is only 1 origin. Further that these gods transcend cultures and signs can even be found in their name, take Jupiter, the head Roman god, which is a dialect shift from Zeus Pater, meaning Father Zeus. Who is the sky god also known as Amun-Ra originally. Which in Christianity became God, Elohi. Translated from hebrew Elohim. Which actually means plural God's. They just decided to go with the other possible meaning, which would be Magnificent God or something to the sorts. Uthor, Hugor, Huzhor, Azor? Quote The name Elohi is a Biblical baby name. In Biblical the meaning of the name Elohi is: God. Elohi name meaning - SheKnows www.sheknows.com/baby-names/name/elohi Elohim is a grammatically plural noun for "gods" or "deity" in Biblical Hebrew. ... - plural) for the sole god (as opposed to "Allah"). The exact equivalent, in modern Arabic, of Elohim as meaning plural gods would be Ilāhīn (إلاهين), although it is rarely used in Arabic parlance. Elohim - Wikipedia Was the bible even translated right? Is there one god? or many? With another fun look being at Abraham, the father of many faiths. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religions Then there is Original sin, which mirrors stolen fire of Prometheus or similar ASOIAF myths such as the Grey King. Quote www.dictionary.com/browse/original-sin original sin definition. The eating of the forbidden fruit by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden followed by the First Sin committed by man when Cain killed Abel. Quote Cain and Abel (/keɪn, ˈeɪbəl/; Hebrew: הֶבֶל ,קַיִן Qayin, Heḇel; Arabic: قابيل، هابيل Qābīl, Hābīl) were sons of Adam and Eve in the biblical Book of Genesis. Cain, the firstborn, tilled the soil, and his brother Abel was a shepherd. ... According to Genesis, Cainwas the first human born and Abel was the first to die. The first sin commited by siblings over jealousy seen played out by the Bloodstone Emperor and the Amethyst Empress. The Bloodstone Emperor who is not just the father of many faiths, but also many civilizations, almost like the 12 Tribes or Israel. Quote Twelve Tribes of Israel According to the Hebrew Bible, the Twelve Tribes of Israel or Tribes of Israel were said to have descended from the 12 sons of the patriarch Jacob by two wives, Leah and Rachel, and two concubines, Zilpah and Bilhah. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Tribes_of_Israel Just thought id share for those that enjoy real world myth and possible inspiration of ASOIAF. Which is just fun to think about to me and consider Hp Love Craft mythos wrapped up in all this real world myth. If there is any i missed that you think are great influences and also wonderful real world myths worth learning about, please feel free to add in the comments and ill amend them to the main post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskanSandman Posted December 13, 2017 Author Share Posted December 13, 2017 Forgive me, i did a copy and past on some of these and for some reason it's not showing me the Quote part to delete and allow to be seen with out clicking on. :/ My bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskanSandman Posted December 13, 2017 Author Share Posted December 13, 2017 There is much to be said of these real world myths and that of the Empire of the Dawn, fair skinned, bright eyed, and platinum gold hair, who worship both magical trees that can talk and involve prophecy, but also a mysterious (black stone) that may have fallen to earth. Later possibly forged into a sword, and giving birth to dragons, tied to the Light Bringer Myth that closes out the cycle and involves a great flood or cataclysm that divided the faiths and man in after years. A peoples born about by the gods, and mixed with those of mortal man. Who traveled the world building mysterious architecture and leaving mysterious traces of their existence. Peoples who's gods may be thought of as aliens from beyond our realms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskanSandman Posted December 13, 2017 Author Share Posted December 13, 2017 I can't help but wonder if Garth's entire family were Others. Equivalent to dark/Ice elves of a sorts. Garth being the God on Earth and the Empire of the Dawn being Garth's Family. Starting with his eldest, Garth the Gardener, the Pearl Emperor. Ending with his younger brother, Brandon of the Bloody Blade, the Opal Emperor. Father of the Amethyst Empress and the Bloodstone Emperor, Brandon Stark (Brave one of the Beacon Hill, or Last Hero of the Hightower), Brandon the Builder. Uthor of the Hightower, Hugor of the Hill, Huzhor Amai of the Silver Sea, and Azor Ahai. Uthor, Hugor, Huzhor, Azor. Azor who some how brought back the day and banished the Others. But howwwwwww????? hahahha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zandru Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 You're talking only to yourself again, man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskanSandman Posted December 14, 2017 Author Share Posted December 14, 2017 57 minutes ago, zandru said: You're talking only to yourself again, man. No, im talking to the people clearly reading it. Now im talking to just some rude person. Thanks though. Not every post made needs to be a burner that get's every one talking and debating. Sometimes people just like to learn or read new things. Get over it, im not gonna stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maudisdottir Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 7 hours ago, AlaskanSandman said: Sometimes people just like to learn or read new things. On 13/12/2017 at 11:24 PM, AlaskanSandman said: Brandon Stark (Brave one of the Beacon Hill, or Last Hero of the Hightower), Nobody's learning anything from that, though. You made it up in another thread and now you're treating it as though it's accepted mythology, because one meaning of Brandon that you googled is beacon on the hill. Google also says it means hill covered with broom, but that's not really sexy enough to fit in with the whole Bloodstone Hightower Empire of the Hugazors thing you're so sold on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Weirwoods Eyes Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 This is kinda one of my favourite areas of ASOIAF but am about to serve dinner and switch off for the evening. Am commenting for ease finding the topic in the morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskanSandman Posted December 14, 2017 Author Share Posted December 14, 2017 9 hours ago, maudisdottir said: Nobody's learning anything from that, though. You made it up in another thread and now you're treating it as though it's accepted mythology, because one meaning of Brandon that you googled is beacon on the hill. Google also says it means hill covered with broom, but that's not really sexy enough to fit in with the whole Bloodstone Hightower Empire of the Hugazors thing you're so sold on. LOL you crack me up. Im glad you feel that way but that's your opinion. One of which is definitely wrong lol i didn't make that up about Brandon. I even provided the link to surname meanings. A lil more helpful than just looking up the Adjective for either which is what most do. Nice try though. Also, that's only one part about his potential name meaning. Has little to do with the OP real world mythologies, all of which have nothing to do with proving who Brandon is. Again, nice try, but this is mostly just a look at real world myths and possible inspirations for the book. Im sure you know everything though so it's all above you haha Thanks for dropping some love though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskanSandman Posted December 14, 2017 Author Share Posted December 14, 2017 5 hours ago, The Weirwoods Eyes said: This is kinda one of my favourite areas of ASOIAF but am about to serve dinner and switch off for the evening. Am commenting for ease finding the topic in the morning. Agreed!! I have a real love of real world myth and a romantic sense that all have truth, along with all of the religions of the world. I think they're very entertaining and i think their employment by authors such as Martin and Tolkien to be really cool too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tygett Lannister Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 so Jesus = Lucifer? Plot twist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskanSandman Posted January 3, 2018 Author Share Posted January 3, 2018 On 12/15/2017 at 6:19 AM, Tygett Lannister said: so Jesus = Lucifer? Plot twist. Lmao, just saw this lol No, not really. Its a twist in language brought about by the romans use of a particular word. That part is explained more on the Wiki page about the Morning Star. Of which the romans used a word i think it was that was applied to both Jesus and Lucifer. Jesus often associated with the Morning Star, but so is Satan. Lucifer is also known as Lightbringer. There is also a religion known as Luciferianism in which they worship him as the giver of knowledge. Worked off the idea that God created the Tree of Knowledge then forbade man from eating of it and knowing knowledge. Thus keeping us ignorant. Untill Eve listened to the snake in the garden that was lucifer (snakes and dragons often mixed up in myth, look to Chinese dragon as example.). So by their logic, the world we live in is credited to Lucifer. As the knowledge we gained allowed us to rise from the darkness and build the world we live in now. Now there is a flip side to this obviously as eating of the fruit also cost us expulsion from paradise. Also, some could say this world we built is sinful and thus we played right into the devils hands. Something people of the Middle East do think in general of our culture and ways as they seek to live simpler lives. Just some interesting real world myths, beliefs and such. Not that i believe any of them, but they do exist and are out there. I think though that they serve as inspiration for Martin. The Tree of Knowledge could easily be seen as the Weirwood Tree's and Azor Ahai is Light Bringer but may have also turned into the Night's King. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tygett Lannister Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 Azor was also name of Jesus's ancestor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlaskanSandman Posted January 6, 2018 Author Share Posted January 6, 2018 2 hours ago, Tygett Lannister said: Azor was also name of Jesus's ancestor. I think i might have seen that but going through so much stuff hahah definitely a great point and addition though! Ill have to go and find a quote and link to add to the OP. There is a few others i kind of wanted to add and debated on adding in the HP Love Craft nods yigg (Prolly spelt wrong) along with the one Order of the Green Hand mentioned are some interesting ones that really add into the mythos and inspiration. When looking at Love Craft references and considering GRRM's Thousand Worlds Universe, it is rather hard to ignore certain similarities. Ygg could very easily have been some Old One- Deep One from space. Not that it is, but it's very easy to see that concept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tygett Lannister Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 51 minutes ago, AlaskanSandman said: I think i might have seen that but going through so much stuff hahah definitely a great point and addition though! Ill have to go and find a quote and link to add to the OP. There is a few others i kind of wanted to add and debated on adding in the HP Love Craft nods yigg (Prolly spelt wrong) along with the one Order of the Green Hand mentioned are some interesting ones that really add into the mythos and inspiration. When looking at Love Craft references and considering GRRM's Thousand Worlds Universe, it is rather hard to ignore certain similarities. Ygg could very easily have been some Old One- Deep One from space. Not that it is, but it's very easy to see that concept. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogy_of_Jesus#Matthew's_genealogy number 33. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fattest Leech Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 9 minutes ago, Tygett Lannister said: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogy_of_Jesus#Matthew's_genealogy number 33. This is interesting reading. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tygett Lannister Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 On 1/6/2018 at 3:43 PM, The Fattest Leech said: This is interesting reading. Thanks for sharing. I had to attend Christmas mass and mcPriest was spitting these names and they sounded interesting so I googled them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Asher Forrester Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 On 14/12/2017 at 9:28 PM, AlaskanSandman said: LOL you crack me up. Im glad you feel that way but that's your opinion. One of which is definitely wrong lol i didn't make that up about Brandon. I even provided the link to surname meanings. A lil more helpful than just looking up the Adjective for either which is what most do. Nice try though. Also, that's only one part about his potential name meaning. Has little to do with the OP real world mythologies, all of which have nothing to do with proving who Brandon is. Again, nice try, but this is mostly just a look at real world myths and possible inspirations for the book. Im sure you know everything though so it's all above you haha Thanks for dropping some love though I always tought Bran was named after the Irish mitholgy giant king Brân the blessed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brân_the_Blessed "The name "Brân" in Welsh is usually translated as crow or raven." Role in the Mabionogion The Irish king Matholwch sails to Harlech to speak with Bran the Blessed high king of the Island of the Mighty and to ask for the hand of his sister Branwen in marriage, thus forging an alliance between the two islands. Bendigeidfran agrees to Matholwch's request, but the celebrations are cut short when Efnisien, a half-brother to the children of Llŷr, brutally mutilates Matholwch's horses, angry that his permission was not sought in regard to the marriage.[1] Matholwch is deeply offended until Bran offers him compensation in the form of a magic cauldron that can restore the dead to life. Pleased with the gift, Matholwch and Branwen sail back to Ireland to reign." "murders Gwern by burning him alive, and, as a result, a vicious battle breaks out. Seeing that the Irish are using the cauldron to revive their dead, he hides among the Irish corpses and is thrown into the cauldron by the unwitting enemy. He destroys the cauldron from within, sacrificing himself in the process." Might it indicate a foreshadowing of Bran sacrficing himself to end with the others and/or whights? "Only seven men survive the conflict, among them Manawydan, Taliesin and Pryderi fab Pwyll, prince of Dyfed, Branwen having herself died of a broken heart." Reminds me of Ashara Dayne The survivors are told by a mortally wounded Bran to cut off his head and to return it to Britain.[3] For seven years the seven survivors stay in Harlech, where they are entertained by Bran's head, which continues to speak. They later move on to Gwales (often identified with Grassholm Island off Dyfed) where they live for eighty years without perceiving the passing of time. Eventually, Heilyn fab Gwyn opens the door of the hall facing Cornwall and the sorrow of what had befallen them returns. As instructed they take the now silent head to the Gwynfryn, the "White Hill" (thought to be the location where the Tower of London now stands), where they bury it facing France so as to ward off invasion. The imagery of the talking head is widely considered to derive from the ancient Celtic "cult of the head"; the head was considered the home of the soul" Dick Crab aproves these story "According to the Welsh Triads, Brân's head was buried in London where the White Tower now stands. As long as it remained there, Britain would be safe from invasion. However, King Arthur dug up the head, declaring the country would be protected only by his great strength." "Several scholars have noted similarities between Brân the Blessed and the Arthurian character the Fisher King, the keeper of the Holy Grail" Don't the Fisher King reminds of the fisher queens from who descented Huzor Amai and the Tall Men? And if i remid well King Arthur had two swords: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caladbolg Caladbolg was the one Merlin arranged to Arthur pull from the stone and clearly have Irish realations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excalibur While Excalibur (wich is often associated with Dawn and or Lightbringer in this forum) was in fact given by the Lady of the Lake in Avalon, and not taken from any stone to kill any dragon, sorry folks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curled Finger Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 Well, Sandman, it sure wasn't the usual comparisons. It never hurts to have multiple options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Asher Forrester Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 I've been studying mythologies from Europe, Asia, America and Africa for 15 years now, along with ocultism and mysticism, the three great Abrahamic religions and many other religions in comparation, etc; And so can assure these royal and/or heroic lineages descending from gods exits in many world traditions. I included in these studies Jesus genealogy of course, and recently even some demonology as i got intrested for thsi very aspect of the fallen angles bringing sacred forbidden knowledge (as astronomy, meteorology and weapon crafting) to the human race, and paying the price with expulsion and war. And i am as well an avid reader of the AWOIAF book which provides us most of this parallels to non european myths in GRRM works, so your iniciative is very pleasant and welcome in this forum, specially to me, my friend. There are many matters that you brought up i like to study, and that i have tons of related stuff from wiki and onther encyclopedias saved do my hd, so i will be glad to contribute going deeper into any of this associations and bring up a few more if i can. So to start... The sacred groves you mentioned as well as the Trees of life are a very special study that goes deep in faith and culture of many world cultures, and aswe can see in the link you posted about trees in mithology: "Sacred Groves Many of the world's ancient belief systems also include the belief of sacred groves, where trees are revered and respected and there are priests and priestesses attending to them who also serve as guardians, preventing those who wish to tear down the trees by means of ancient magic and elaborate protection rituals.[1]" Clearly the children of the forest will be the ones most deeply associated to this, and the first men by consequence. "From ancient Norse, Baltic and Celtic mythologies, to the Nigerian, Indian and Mongolian cosmological thought, extending far east in the ancient Shinto faith of Japan and the special habits of the 19 tribes of the forest peoples of Malaysia,[15] sacred groves provide relief and shelter from the mundane aspects of life and are considered living temples. A place of meeting where ancient rituals are performed, it is also a place of refuge for many in times of danger. " This maskes it kinda undoubtful, GRRM has indeed inspiration from archetyipes of world cultures/myths to construct his own world, just as many more did. And there are tons more of related info, a real web of it. The Trees of Life arround the world are often related to knowledge, but also to imortallity and at sometimes to the Axis Mundi, like Yggdrasil. And if i am not remembering wrong, also to sacrfices, like in the Old Gods culture where the blood sacrfices happened. I remind also of the fruits of imortallity taken by the norse and greek gods from their golden groves preotected by a woman, Freya in norse and the Hesperides in greek: "The Garden of the Hesperides The Garden of the Hesperides by Frederick, Lord Leighton, 1892. The Garden of the Hesperides is Hera's orchard in the west, where either a single apple tree or a grove grows, producing golden apples that grant immortality when eaten[citation needed]. The trees were planted from the fruited branches that Gaia gave to Hera as a wedding gift when Hera accepted Zeus. The Hesperides were given the task of tending to the grove, but occasionally picked apples from it themselves. Not trusting them, Hera also placed in the garden a never-sleeping, hundred-headed dragon named Ladon as an additional safeguard. In the myth of the Judgement of Paris, it was from the Garden that Eris, Goddess of Discord, obtained the Apple of Discord, which led to the Trojan War." So these fruits might also be considered the fruits of discord,as we can see in chinese mithology too, in wich the immortals had to eat the peaches immortality of a sacred tree (in order to achieve imortallity obviously), and those fruits were presumbly forbidden to ape folks like Sun Wukong too, even tough he were given the task to be the guardian of the fruits: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaches_of_Immortality "Journey to the West It is a major item featured within the popular fantasy novel Journey to the West. The first time in which these immortal peaches were seen had been within heaven when Sun Wukong had been stationed as the Protector of the Peaches. As the Protector, Sun quickly realized the legendary effects of the immortal peaches if they were to be consumed – over 3,000 years of life after the consumption of a single peach – and acted quickly as to consume one. However, he ended up running into many fragments of trouble such as a certain queen that was planning on holding a peach banquet for many members of Heaven. " And so, again a banquet is the origin of the troubles among the holy nobles. Now linking it to the black stone to the Bloodstone Emperor: http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Bloodstone_Emperor He is from the culture associated to China in real world, the Great Empire of Dawn. And if i am correct he used his dark dark arts and blood magic to try achieving imortality by eating people brains (their souls), and there is no suprise that this odd figure you pointed before has even a relation to the kaaaba as we can state by the words found in the wiki of ice and fire, an in the WOIAF: http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Bloodstone_Emperor "The Bloodstone Emperor's reign was a reign of terror. His usurpation became known as the Blood Betrayal in the annals of the Further East, which claim that the act of usurping his sister's throne ushered in the Long Night. " "He practiced torture, dark arts, and necromancy. He enslaved his own people, took a tiger-woman for wife, feasted on human flesh and cast down the true gods of Yi Ti to worship a black stone that fell from the sky.[1]" This all seems to point to a maniqueist view of world with the dicotomies black/white, bad/good, night/day, ice/fire, death/life, or even an more equilibristic one whre all these opposite/complementing elements oscilating between ballance and unballance but never stop being tied, like in chinese taoism. I'm going for a pause now, but i will be back with some insights about the tree of life of the Hebrew culture, and some other intresting archetypes wich i think GRRM got inspiration from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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