R'hllor
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R'hllor is a prominent god Across the Narrow Sea, but has only a few followers in Westeros. He is also called the Lord of Light, the Heart of Fire, and the God of Flame and Shadow. His symbol is a fiery heart.
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[edit] Beliefs
The followers of R'hllor worship him as the god of light, heat, and life. Shadows, being creations of light, are considered part of his realm. R'hllor's enemy is the Great Other, the god of darkness, cold, and death, whose true name is never to be spoken. R'hllor and the Great Other wage an eternal war over the fate of the world. Followers believe that Azor Ahai, the messianic figure prophesized to return in ancient books of Asshai, will tip the balance of this war. Azor Ahai is also called the Prince that was Promised, the Warrior of Light, and the Son of Fire. Prophecy holds that he will wield a flaming sword called Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes, and raise dragons of stone.
Followers also believe that R'hllor will occasionally answer his followers' prayers by granting magical favors. They often gaze into flames in an effort to see visions of the future. Trials by combat are an accepted practice in the R'hllor faith; prayers before the combat ask R'hllor to give strength to the just party. "The night is dark and full of terrors", is a common phrase in prayers to R'hllor.
[edit] Clergy
One type of clergy of R'hllor are called "red priests" due to the loose, crimson robes they wear. In the east, children are often given to temples of R'hllor to be raised into the priesthood. Every evening, red priests light fires and sing prayers at their temples, asking R'hllor to bring back the dawn. Thoros of Myr is one red priest.
Melisandre of Asshai is a follower of R'hllor whose association with other groups of clergy is uncertain. Like the red priests, she wears red robes.
[edit] History
The worship of R'hllor is an ancient tradition across the Narrow Sea, but did not gain much popularity in Westeros. Like other types of magic, the magic of R'hllor seems to have faded after the last Targaryen dragons died. While serving at his temple at Myr, Thoros did not see any visions in the flames. Seeking to spread the faith to Westeros, the red priests sent Thoros to King's Landing to convert the fire-obsessed Aerys II. Thoros was not able to perform any impressive fire magic, and Aerys ignored him.
During the War of the Five Kings, magic increased in strength, and two circles of worship appeared in Westeros around magic-wielding followers of R'hllor. After Thoros resurrected Beric Dondarrion during a traditional R'hllor burial ritual, Beric and Thoros founded the Brotherhood Without Banners, an outlaw organization bound in part by their worship of R'hllor. At Dragonstone, Melisandre wielded fire magic and convinced Stannis Baratheon to claim the mantle of Azor Ahai. However, after the final death of Beric and the defeat of Stannis at the Blackwater, Thoros and Melisandre's influence over their congregations waned.
[edit] References and sources
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This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at Westeros. |
