Bran the Builder and Bran the Breaker

[level52]

The legends have attributed many structures across Westeros to Bran the Builder. But as we know and are reminded many times, history tends to shroud the truth in ASOIAF.  Wouldn’t it be apt for GRRM to have made the “builder” moniker a red herring and that whatever Bran the Builder built wasn’t a physical structure?  It would make sense as the legend of Bran the Builder was passed down through oral history and could accidentally take on a literal meaning over thousands of years.

Also, isn’t it striking we have another legendary character named Bran the Breaker?  Doesn’t the Builder/Breaker dichotomy jump out and smack you right in the face, like it was an intentional hint planted by GRRM about the role of these two Starks in ancient history? 

Do you think it’s reasonable that Bran the Breaker “broke” whatever Bran the Builder “built“? Whether it was a pact, an alliance, or even a physical structure, it seems like a possibility worth pursuing.  (I’m aware the Breaker is known for taking down the Night’s King and the Builder for raising the Wall and many other structures, but to solve these ancient Stark mysteries we probably have to engage in some deeper conjecture about their roles.)

[LynnS]

2 hours ago, level52 said:

The legends have attributed many structures across Westeros to Bran the Builder. But as we know and are reminded many times, history tends to shroud the truth in ASOIAF.  Wouldn’t it be apt for GRRM to have made the “builder” moniker a red herring and that whatever Bran the Builder built wasn’t a physical structure?  It would make sense as the legend of Bran the Builder was passed down through oral history and could accidentally take on a literal meaning over thousands of years.

Also, isn’t it striking we have another legendary character named Bran the Breaker?  Doesn’t the Builder/Breaker dichotomy jump out and smack you right in the face, like it was an intentional hint planted by GRRM about the role of these two Starks in ancient history? 

Do you think it’s reasonable that Bran the Breaker “broke” whatever Bran the Builder “built“? Whether it was a pact, an alliance, or even a physical structure, it seems like a possibility worth pursuing.  (I’m aware the Breaker is known for taking down the Night’s King and the Builder for raising the Wall and many other structures, but to solve these ancient Stark mysteries we probably have to engage in some deeper conjecture about their roles.)

I'm going to say that all these Brans of special significance were greenseers or Stark greenseers.  Bran the Builder may be responsible  for the wards and magic lore contained in the Wall, Storm's End and possibly Winterfell.

Bran the Breaker sounds like the greenseer who broke the Arm of Dorne.  If the Brans have influence over ice, then breaking the Arm of Dorne could be a matter of breaching a vast glacial lake in the North to inundate the Narrow Sea.

ETA:  Right now, we have Bran the Broken who will likely become Bran the Blessed.