LordBluetiger

@Legitimate_Bastard May I ask why you shared my essay in this thread? Were you referring to some specific section from The Tolkienic Song of Ice and Fire? As its author, I'm simply curious why you decided that it's relevant here...

Although I'm not posting on this forum as often as I one have, I'm glad that this thread is still active. So, I have a blog where I publish Polish translations of ASOIAF essays, chiefly @LmL's Mythical Astronomy, but few months ago I've started a series of my own, The Tolkienic Song of Ice and Fire, where I explore how JRRT's works inspired GRRM, where the two disagree etc. - and seeing this discussion still active, I thought that some of you might find it interesting. The Tolkienic Song of Ice and Fire, Episode I is one of those mega-long essays, it's more like three essays merged into one. In Part I: GRRM's Approach to Tolkien I try to refute the claim that GRRM is anti-Tolkienic in his writing, and describe how GRRM-Tolkien relationship works, at least in my view. Part II is about references to LOTR, The Silmarillion and The Hobbit in ASOIAF, but those that are easy to decode, stuff like names taken from Tolkien's language (Melian-Meliana of Mole's Town, Daeron & Dareon - Daeron of Doriath, Beren & Berena Stark, Barth Blacksword as Turin Blacksword, Durin and Duran Ravenfriend from TWOIAF and such). And for no good reason I've also included my old theory that Coldhands is GRRM's inversed, grim version of Coldhands, his response to this one element of Arda GRRM never liked. Part III has a title that's an obvious reference to Poe, Oh, that land which the Eldar name Númenórë, lost to us for evermore and talks about parallels between Westernesse and the Great Empire of the Dawn from TWOIAF. Ar-Pharazôn & Tar-Miriel as Bloodstone Emperor and Amethyst Empress + my theory that GRRM's Daynes, Hightowers and Valyrians parallel the two main groups that survived the Downfall of Numenor, the Faithful (Dayne & Hightower as the Dunedain) and the King's Men (Black Numenoreans, Corsiars of Umbar). And how Narsil is basically Dawn and also Lightbringer because Narsil symbolises the same unity of the Sun and the Moon Earendil the Lightbringer does. The Sword of Elendil was forged anew by the Elvish smiths, and on its blade was traced a device of seven stars set between a crescent Moon and the rayed Sun, and about them was written many runes; for Aragorn son of Arathorn was going to war upon the marches of Mordor. Very bright was that sword when it was made whole again; the light of the sun shone redly in it, and the light of the moon shone cold, and its edge was hard and keen. And Aragorn gave it a new name and called it Andúril, The Flame of the West. This episode briefly discusses Turin as well, and Lightbringer & other ASOIAF meteoric swords as Anguirel and Anglachel/Gurthang. The Tolkienic Song of Ice and Fire, Episode II /has long sections where I just talk about the history and cosmology of Arda, trying to encourage people who read my series just because they want to see how Tolkien inspired GRRM, and don't care about Tolkien himself, to read Tolkien because he's so great. Then I talk about some gods and goddesses of Planetos might have been influenced by Tolkien's Ainur, the Valar and the Maiar. After this, I discuss the Long Night of Valinor from The Silmarillion, and how it might have influenced ASOIAF Long Night. Then about Fingolfin & Fingon and other Noldor as basis for some symbolism and language used to describe the Others (Ringil, Aeglos the Icicle etc.). And how some language from Oberyn vs. Gregor duel might be inspired by Fingolfin vs. Morgoth after Dagor Bragollach. And then I try to show my readers how much GRRM loves the Fall of Gil-galad song and the character, and how it's becuause of Gil-galad that GRRM became enamoured with LOTR. ‘Things got more interesting in the barrow downs, though, and even more so in Bree, where Strider strode onto the scene. By the time we got to Weathertop, Tolkien had me. ‘Gil-galad was an elven king’, Sam Gamgee recited, ‘of him the harpers sadly sing’. A chill went through me, such as Conan and Kull had never evoked’. (Dreamsongs) There's a chapter about how GRRM's symbolism surrounding Azor Ahai & Lightbringer might be based on Earendil & Narsil, and how Tolkien uses ancient Mornignstar/Evenstar symbolism in his books. Then there's a section about references to Arnor in the North of Westeros, and to Gondor in the South, especially at Starfall and Oldtown, with the Citadel, Starry Sept and the Hightower. And then I explore Minas Morgul references in ASOIAF, and what's their point. The Tolkienic Song of Ice and Fire: Sansa & Lúthien is the shortest essay so far, and it explores similarities between the two, things like Sandor the Hound as Huan the Hound of Valinor (and the Gravedigger as mute Huan who can speak only thrice). And how lines like this: The northern girl. Winterfell’s daughter. We heard she killed the king with a spell, and afterward changed into a wolf with big leather wings like a bat, and flew out a tower window. (George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords) are hidden references to Tolkien (in this specific case, it's a nod to that scene where Beren & Luthien infiltrate Angband disguised as a vampire bat and a werewolf). The Brief History of Gondor, Its Rise, Zenith, Decline and Fall of Kingship is an extra episode for ASOIAF fans who're not huge into LOTR, but would like to read about the history of Gondor, and Arnor's fall, and why there's no king and the Ruling Stewards govern the realm. The Tolkienic Song of Ice and Fire: Minas Tirith and the Hightower discusses parallels between Minas Tirith and the Hightower, the Citadel of Oldtown with the Citadel of Osgiliath, glass candles and the palantiri stones, and how Oldtown being made entirely from stone is a reference to Gondor, which means Stoningland. And about how Hightower banner shows a Beacon of Gondor, and that's why Lord Leyton is called the Beacon of the South... and that the Voice of Oldtown moniker might be all about Saruman and his Voice. Then I talk about how the upcoming siege of Oldtown by Euron might parallel the Siege of Minas Tirirth, with Aegon coming to the rescue as the returning king, or if GRRM choses to subvert this trope, Euron (with his Eye of Sauron sigil) might take the city. And the crux of this essay is how black oily stone of Moat Cailin, Yeen, Asshai and all those places is obviously an homage to Lovecraft, but that it owes something to Tolkien as well, as black wet stone is the hallmark of Numenorean and Dunedain architecture (Orthanc is made from gleaming wet & black stone, Morannon as well)... and how the first level and the foundations of the Hightower are made from black stone, just like the first level of Minas Tirith, which supports my older theory that Houses Dayne and Hightower are based on the Dunedain, as they're survivors of the Great Empire (or some other lost advanced civilization) and parallel the Dunedain.

dân = fire Therefore, Dan + nerys = Daenerys, The Lady of Fire This explains Queen Naerys' name as well. Fits too well to be a coincidence, especially when we know that GRRM often uses Welsh as source of inspiration (Tyrion, Gwen from Dying of the Light etc.)

Do we know who those brothers are? Or did Pycelle mean Mace's 'brothers in law' - Alerie Hightower's brothers? (Baelor Brightsmile, Garth Greysteel and Humfrey). Taking the connections between House Hightower and The Citadel into consideration, Pycelle might be trying hard not to paint his patrons in a bad light - there can't be even a shadow of a hint that they're not loyal to King Joffrey.

The World of Ice and Fire provides such table, but if you don't have it, The Wiki of Ice and Fire provides such list as well: you can find it here, under section 'Targaryen Family Tree'. Here is a thread listing many known errors in The World of Ice and Fire: I'm certain similar threads about ASOIAF exist, but the only ones I found are in Polish, so that won't help you much. But googling or using the search option on this forum should bring something on this topic. And welcome to the forums Lady Cerwyn!

Maybe she feared that someone will find it and even without understanding the content start wondering why Catelyn Stark receives encrypted letters from the Eyrie?

I just wanted to thank you for this awesome atlas. Good luck!

Maybe Illyria and Illyrian Wars?

You're welcome, but I wasn't the one to notice Corn King references in ASOIAF.

First of all, Westeros isn't medieval Europe, so even if it had maize, tomatoes and potatoes it woudn't be an 'oversight'. GRRM can choose to add anything he wants to his world. It seems that GRRM knows which plants did and which didn't grow in medieval Europe - Westeros has no potatoes and tomatoes, but he chose to include corn for some reason. On the other hand , 'corn' simply means grain. For example there is mythical figure named Corn King which is often referenced in ASOIAF. From Wiktionary: However, corn in American English meaning of this word is mentioned in ASOIAF: Turkeys live in Westeros as well:

Some have speculated it's Septon Barth's 'Unnatural History' - Baelor had all copies he could find burned, but Dorne wasn't part of the Seven Kingdoms back then.

That's House Bolling - their sigil is 'Vairy orange and blue, upon a black canton, a golden stag beneath an orange bend sinister' (Vairy tenné and azure, on a canton sable a stag or debruised by a bend sinister of the first). But they might be a branch of House Durrandon, not of Baratheons... There's another house with Durrandon/Baratheon stags - House Wensington (Two golden trumpets crossed on a blue field, beneath a gold chief with three black stags).

It seems that the state-owned warships have green sails:

Just put @ before starting typing some name. A list of posters will appear. Find and choose the one you need. Test: @Clegane'sPup