paramount Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 As I have read the series I am starting to notice lots of similarities between A song of Ice and Fire and Imperial Byzantium and for a while I have wondered weather Byzantium and its politics would have influenced George RR Martin. Reasons why I think that is because I would say that Qarth is based off the Byzantine capital Constantinople and Imperial Volantis would be largely based off Byzantium as an empire. If we assume that Valyria was Rome and Volantis Byzantium it would match since Volantis is claiming to be successor to Valyria just like Byzantium was to Rome. Also the Volantene factions the Elephants and Tigers may actually be based off the Byzantine factions Blues and Greens. I can see much influence in politics and intrigue as well especially since the Byzantines had eunuchs in their government as officials just like Varys was to the kings of Westeros. Also in the power play between houses such as Doukas, In terms of characters I can also see Byzantine influence Justinian II is almost a historical equivalent of Viserys both went made in exile but only in Justinian's case he was able to restore himself to the throne. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paramount Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 bump.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight Of Winter Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 With 1000 year long Byzantine history, there are bound to be some similarities between it and elements of ASOIAF. Some of them were likely intentional (e.g. Qarth=Constaninopole or Rome=Valyria), but others just fall short: Viserys (who can just as easily be compared to any exiled prince) was delusional and dumb, while Justinian II was pretty intelligent (prior to getting crazy); Volantis conquered two cities and held them for a century, while Byzantine Empire at its height held large parts of Europe, western Asia and northern Africa (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-51Fr-fjUNOg/TrXZ0Zagy2I/AAAAAAAABgU/aZ7K4fMXw80/s1600/ByzantMapJustinian1st565.jpg) ; power play between powerful houses exist in every empire... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanF Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Volantis is clearly influenced by Constantinople. Other than that, I'd say the viciousness of the politics in Kings Landing is Byzantine or Roman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgrnosfe Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 The dothraki threat also is similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
House Hendrix of Rock Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 George knows his history that is certain and Byzatium is one of them, but he mixes it all so I would not say largely no.Areo Hotah also reminds of a Varangian Guard, that is a clear one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunkSister Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Wildfire and the chain at the King's Landing harbour = Greek fire and the chain spanning golden horn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhaegal Targaryen Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 It is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali Colak Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 There are a couple of tropes commonly associated with the nobility and with imperial societies, quite a few of which were derived from the Byzantine Empire. Byzantium and Rome would be the ones that we are most familiar with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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