King of Winters Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 For those of you who haven't read the poem 'Ozymandias', here it is:I met a traveller from an antique landWho said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stoneStand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,Tell that its sculptor well those passions readWhich yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed:And on the pedestal these words appear:"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"Nothing beside remains. Round the decayOf that colossal wreck, boundless and bareThe lone and level sands stretch far away.By Percy Bysshe ShelleyPeople usually take the meaning of this poem as nothing lasts forever, no matter how powerful a kingdom is it will always come to an end. Ozymandias is the Greek name for the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses, who is perhaps the most famous Egyptian Pharaoh because of the grand statues he built of himself. The name 'Ozymandias' means king (mandias) of air (ozy) or king of nothing. It's a reminder that nothing lasts forever.So I was thinking about which ASOIAF fits the "Ozymandias title". I think Aegon I fits it quite well since he believe that Westeros should be one kingdom and that his family would rule over it. His dream of the Targs ruling over the Seven Kingdoms became real for 283 years until his dynasty ended. The Targ dynasty didn't last forever and neither will Aegon's idea of a united Westeros if the North's independence goes through.Another character I think fits the "Ozymandias title" well is Tywin who rebuilt his family's reputation by crushing a rebellion when he wasn't even Lord of Casterly Rock yet, became Hand of the King for 20 years or so and generally made his house stronger than what his father did to it. But after he died his children have slowly lost the power their father gained over the years for them. Cersei is on trial, Tyrion is widely known to be a "Kingslayer" and Kinslayer.Who else is an "Ozymandias"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Bronn Stokeworth Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Definitely Tywin. I find the poem particularly accurate of him since many of the things coming back to haunt the Lannisters (ie his legacy) are a direct result of him. I don't blame his kids too much. His unleashing Gregor on the Riverlands means that they are likely just waiting for an excuse to rise up again. His desire to "Rains of Castamere" a Great House is going to backfire when the Starks and the North come back with a vengence. He thought he was in control of everything, he never considered how truly dangerous the Tyrells are. The Martells have been plotting for 15+ years due to his murder of Elia and her children. Tyrion and Jamie have rejected him (Tyrion by murdering him, Jaime refused to leave the Kingsguard as Tywin expected and genuinely seems to start rejecting him morally). This is just the stuff off the top of my head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veltigar Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Tywin of course. Not seeing the Aegon I connection though, if the Kingdoms had split up again after his death then yes but reaigning over Westeros for almost 300 years is not bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPaulGualtieri Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Walter White, aka Heisenberg Probably Tywin or the Mad King. To a lesser degree Roose and Old Lord Walder too I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King of Winters Posted October 23, 2013 Author Share Posted October 23, 2013 Tywin of course. Not seeing the Aegon I connection though, if the Kingdoms had split up again after his death then yes but reaigning over Westeros for almost 300 years is not bad.Yes, Aegon isn't as good as Tywin an example but his dynasty didn't last, as I'm sure he would have thought it would, and his dynasty has only monuments as a reminder of their previous rule, such as the Dragon Pit, and the dragon skulls in the cellar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juanml82 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 King Mudd, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The guy from the Vale Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Harren Hoare, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPaulGualtieri Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Harren Hoare, too. I think he might be the Ozymandias of Westeros, good call there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Arryn Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Aegon's family went from lords of a small outpost island to overlord of a unified continent for 3 centuries, and we're supposed to presume disappointed hubris? It was the biggest and most rewarded individual power play we have read about in the books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Arryn Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Harren Hoare, too.Better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King of Winters Posted October 23, 2013 Author Share Posted October 23, 2013 Harren Hoare, too.I think he might be the Ozymandias of Westeros, good call thereYes, Harrenhal is the Ozymandias statue of Westeros. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King of Winters Posted October 23, 2013 Author Share Posted October 23, 2013 Aegon's family went from lords of a small outpost island to overlord of a unified continent for 3 centuries, and we're supposed to presume disappointed hubris? It was the biggest and most rewarded individual power play we have read about in the books.Yes, but the way he wanted to rule Westeros as one empire, it makes it seem as if he thought his Targ dynasty would always endure as Kings of Westeros and things like the Dragon Pit are like his Ozymandias statue with it in a ruin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arya kiddin' Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 I also agree with Tywin and Harren. Can't really think of someone else right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jentario Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Mountains blow in the wind, like leaves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCrannogDweller Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Dany in Astapor. ETA: And yes, I completely agree about Tywin and Harren Hoare - and I disagree about Aegon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyse Stark Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Tywin obiviously. I think by the end of the series the Lannisters will be nothing more than a impoverished noble house that had their holdings given to others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Bronn Stokeworth Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Good call on Harren! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dire-Lion Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Yes, but the way he wanted to rule Westeros as one empire, it makes it seem as if he thought his Targ dynasty would always endure as Kings of Westeros and things like the Dragon Pit are like his Ozymandias statue with it in a ruin. Aegon made a huge contribution to Westeros simply by uniting the kingdoms. It (eventually) brought peace and stability that allowed the kingdoms all to flourish, something that could never happen if the kingdoms were frequently at war with each other. When the Targaryen rule ends the kingdoms stay united under another leader, allowing for the stability to continue. In this way, Aegon's influence is still relevant to Westeros. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Red Pope Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Dany in Astapor. ETA: And yes, I completely agree about Tywin and Harren Hoare - and I disagree about Aegon. The Astapori themselves fits in far better. Dany didn't really try to build a legacy there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearIslander Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Walder Frey. He tried so hard to rise his house higher. Let him see a most gruesome end of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.