Putin Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Was it ever said which one of those 9 cities is the biggest in size ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Commentator Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 I don’t have the books with me but if memory serves, it is Volantis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putin Posted March 3, 2020 Author Share Posted March 3, 2020 44 minutes ago, Widowmaker 811 said: I don’t have the books with me but if memory serves, it is Volantis. are you sure or just guessing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The hairy bear Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 It is Volantis. Tyrion says in Dance that it is the grandest and most populous of the Nine Free Cities. It also says, though, that it was far greatest in its glorious past that it is now, and apparently it has lost a lot of population in the last centuries. It is possible that Braavos has already surpassed Volantis in terms of influence or wealth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyn Oakenfist Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 10 minutes ago, The hairy bear said: It is possible that Braavos has already surpassed Volantis in terms of influence or wealth. In terms of influence it's clear that it already has a long time ago, you don't see Volantis dictating the laws of other Free Cities. As for wealth, there was I think something in TWOIAF about how Braavos of all the daughters, became the wealthiest. In terms of population we really don't know. It's probably either Volantis or Braavos, with Volantis clearly having previously held that title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Leftwich Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 "Old Volantis, first daughter of Valyria, the dwarf mused. Proud Volantis, queen of the Rhoyne and mistress of the Summer Sea, home to noble lords and lovely ladies of the most ancient blood. Never mind the packs of naked children that roamed the alleys screaming in shrill voices, or the bravos standing in the doors of wineshops fingering their sword hilts, or the slaves with their bent backs and tattooed faces who scurried everywhere like cockroaches. Mighty Volantis, grandest and most populous of the Nine Free Cities. Ancient wars had depopulated much of the city, however, and large areas of Volantis had begun to sink back into the mud on which it stood. Beautiful Volantis, city of fountains and flowers. But half the fountains were dry, half the pools cracked and stagnant. Flowering vines sent up creepers from every crack in the wall or pavement, and young trees had taken root in the walls of abandoned shops and roofless temples." This is the quote from Tyrion VII, ADwD. His tone implies it is not grand nor populous anymore. What does it matter which of the Free Cities is "largest/biggest"? The actual influence of any one city varies with time, people, politics, power, etc. along with the people, politics, power, etc. of all the other cities. None of them is the "largest/biggest/most powerful" that is the literary reason for them in the story; it changes over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The hairy bear Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 10 minutes ago, Alyn Oakenfist said: In terms of influence it's clear that it already has a long time ago, you don't see Volantis dictating the laws of other Free Cities. In some ways Volantis does more than that, since it "owns" at least three other cities (Volon Therys, Valysar, and Selhorys). Those cities are larger than some of the other Free Cites. 1 minute ago, Ser Leftwich said: His tone implies it is not grand nor populous anymore. I can see how one could interpret it that way, but I'd disagree. While Tyrion is clearly highlighting the decline of the city and using his usual sarcastic tone, all the other statements that he is juxtaposing in the paragraph are true: There are nobles of the most ancient blood, but also naked children, braavos and slaves. There are plenty of fountains, but half of them are dry. It is the most populous, but the population is declining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TedBear Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Volantis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Varys Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 Volantis is the biggest city, Braavos is the most powerful city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanF Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 All the greatest slave cities, Qarth, Volantis, Meereen, are gradually waning. There is a theme there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyn Oakenfist Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 7 hours ago, The hairy bear said: In some ways Volantis does more than that, since it "owns" at least three other cities (Volon Therys, Valysar, and Selhorys). Those cities are larger than some of the other Free Cites. Here there is a bad lack of information, as we don't see much else in the free cities lands besides the Volantenese cities on the Rhoyne. There could be pretty big cities in the Disputed Lands and in Andalos, we just don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Leftwich Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 [Not a Mod] But shouldn't this really be a "Small Question"?? This is not really a question about the text, right? But really a clarification question, therefore, should be in "Small Questions." (Not that the endless 'What If" bullsh*t topics that come up that are not at all about the text are about the text because they aren't they are about people voicing nonsense opinions about "well, I think thing A is stronger as wielded by person X and thing B is by person Y, therefore, Z!!!"" which is all nonsense and NOT FURTHERING ANALYSIS OF THE TEXT!!!!") Please can we talk about literary analysis at some point again and not endless shitty "What if" threads!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Northman Reborn Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 Braavos is more powerful and presumably richer. Volantis has more people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reekazoid Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 8 hours ago, Ser Leftwich said: [Not a Mod] But shouldn't this really be a "Small Question"?? This is not really a question about the text, right? But really a clarification question, therefore, should be in "Small Questions." (Not that the endless 'What If" bullsh*t topics that come up that are not at all about the text are about the text because they aren't they are about people voicing nonsense opinions about "well, I think thing A is stronger as wielded by person X and thing B is by person Y, therefore, Z!!!"" which is all nonsense and NOT FURTHERING ANALYSIS OF THE TEXT!!!!") Please can we talk about literary analysis at some point again and not endless shitty "What if" threads!! Idk sometimes those threads generate some really good discussion and lead to good textual analysis. I’ve also learned quite a bit of setting history from some of the ensuing discussions. Perhaps we could view them as writing prompts to generate ideas for text topics to analyze. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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