Funeral

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Funeral pyre of Aegon I Targaryen by Shen Fei for The Rise of the Dragon

A funeral is a ceremony connected with the final disposition of a corpse, such as a burial, entombment or cremation with the attendant observances.

Customs

Traditional services

The bodies of the deceased are given over to the silent sisters for ritual cleansing.[1] They prepare the bodies for funerals,[2][3] removing the bowels and organs, and drain the blood from the corpses in their care. They may also stuff the body with fragrant herbs and salts to preserve it and hide the smell of decomposition.[4] Silent sisters can be skilled barbers, as they might need to trim beards and cut hair,[5] and often dress the deceased in their finest attire, such as tunics[2] or armor.[3]

The body of the deceased, especially if it concerns a nobility of high importance, might be placed on a bier.[6][3] During funerals for such dignitaries, which can last several days, prayers are held on three occasions. While the morning services are open only to nobility, the afternoon prayers are open to the smallfolk and the evening prayers are available for all.[7] People of lesser importance or status might be placed upon a bier elsewhere.[2] A family member, friend, or even a concerned stranger can stand last vigil.[2][3]

A great lord who dies away from home will usually be escorted back home. A funeral procession of a lord of high nobility can include an escort of knights, vassal lords, members of the household guard, and others.[8][9] In any case, several silent sisters will accompany the body.[9][8] Especially among the nobles, great importance is placed on returning the body to the family of the deceased,[10] and failing to do so might be cause for resentment.[11]

Burials

Ned and Robert visiting Lyanna Stark's tomb, by Thomas Denmark © Fantasy Flight Games

The Starks of Winterfell, followers of the old gods, bury their dead in the crypts in the castle,[12] where the Kings of Winter and Lord of Winterfell are given a statue.[13] According to Roose Bolton, another worshipper of the old gods, the bones of his deceased son Domeric "lie beneath the Dreadfort with the bones of his brothers".[14] At many other places in the north, barrows of the First Men can still be found.[15]

When a man is laid in his grave, a septon usually says some prayers for him.[16] The prayer begins with, "Father Above, judge [person] justly".[17] Followers of the Faith of the Seven can be buried with a crystal on their grave.[18] The deceased of House Manderly have their bones placed in the Snowy Sept of White Harbor, surrounded by burning candles.[19]

Cremations

Drogo's funeral pyre, by Kim Pope, for Game of Thrones

The funeral rites of the Tully's of Riverrun have their deceased members released into the Red Fork on a small boat, which is then set on fire with a fire arrow, with the burning boat and its occupant then sinking into the river.[20]

The Targaryens have the tradition of cremating their dead.[21][16] It is unknown whether this tradition was practiced in the entire Valyrian Freehold, by all the dragonlords, or by House Targaryen alone, but it was described as a custom since the days of Old Valyria.[22] If a dragon is available, it is used to light the flame of the pyre. The ashes are traditionally interred on Dragonstone,[22][23][24][N 1] but some have been interred elsewhere or scattered on the wind.[25] Tradition dictates that when a rider of the Dothraki dies, his horse is slain and the two bodies are burned on a funeral pyre so they can ride together to the night lands.[26]

Tradition dictates that when a rider of the Dothraki dies, his horse is slain and the two bodies are burned on a funeral pyre so they can ride together to the night lands.[26] The pyre is a great square made from wood, in the middle of which the khal's slain horse is positioned. Over the horse, the platform is constructed on which the khal will be placed. The wood of the platform is laid east to west, from sunrise to sunset. The platform consists of three levels, with the body of the khal being placed in the third. The khal is placed upon the pyre with his head in the direction of the Mother of Mountains and with his treasures positioned around him. The pyre is only lit after the first star has been seen in the sky.[27]

Mourning

Mourning clothes are black of color.[28][29] Some might tear up their clothes as a sign of mourning.[30] Houses can show marks of mourning as well,[31] though these remain unspecified.

History

Funeral of Corlys Velaryon by Francisco Vegas for The Rise of the Dragon

For instance, the funeral pyre of Aegon I Targaryen was lit by the dragon Vhagar in 37 AC, while the pyre of Aenys I Targaryen by the dragons Quicksilver, Vermithor and Silverwing at Dragonstone in 42 AC, with his wife, Alyssa Velaryon, singing a dirge for him. She then left Dragonstone within hours of the funeral, fleeing to her father on Driftmark.[22]

The day after the funeral of Lord Marq Farman, his son Franklyn expelled the Four-Headed Beast from Faircastle, but commanded his sister Elissa to stay and be wed to a man of his choice.[32]

The funeral pyre of Baelon Targaryen, the Spring Prince, was personally lit by his father, King Jaehaerys I.[24][33]

Laenor Velaryon's funeral was held at High Tide in 120 AC, and King Viserys I Targaryen and his court attended his pyre. So many dragonriders and their dragons were present that Septon Eustace wrote that Driftmark had become "the new Valyria". While at Driftmark to attend the funeral, Prince Aemond Targaryen claimed the dragon Vhagar, riderless after the death of Laenor's sister Laena.[24][34]

When Lady Caswell sent Maelor Targaryen's head to his aunt Queen Rhaenyra at King's Landing in 130 AC, she ordered that the head be cremated per Targaryen funeral customs (according to Eustace).[35]

When Lord Corlys Velaryon, Hand of the King at the time of his death, died in 132 AC, his body was placed beneath the Iron Throne where it remained for seven days.[6] Corlys was then buried at sea east of Dragonstone on his ancient Sea Snake.[36]

Following Baelor Targaryen's death in Ser Duncan the Tall's trial of seven, Valarr Targaryen stood vigil by his body at the funeral, and was cremated at Ashford.[16]

When Lord Tully passed away, he was sent down the Red Fork in a boat following the Tully funeral customs. The boat was set aflame by his eldest son, Hoster, who missed his first shot, but his second arrow found the sail.[20]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

After being mortally wounded by a boar during his hunt in the Kingswood, King Robert I Baratheon, on his deathbed, asks his friend, Lord Eddard Stark, to serve the boar during his funeral feast.[37]

After Beric Dondarrion's death in the battle at the Mummer's Ford, he is accidentally resurrected when Thoros of Myr performs the last kiss of the Lord of Light at his funeral.[38]

Following the death of Khal Drogo, Daenerys Targaryen has the remaining Dothraki build him a funeral pyre, placing her three dragon eggs onto the pyre, beside Drogo's body, as well as a dragonbone bow and Drogo's arakh. She also has Mirri Maz Durr bound to the pyre, claiming "only death can pay for life". Drogo's pyre is lit when the first star, a fiery red comet, is seen in the sky. Once the entire pyre is afire, Daenerys walks into the flames.[27] The next morning, when the flames have gone out, Daenerys's new khalasar finds her amidst the ashes, naked but unharmed, holding three newly-hatched dragons, the first living dragons since 153 AC.[27]

A Clash of Kings

A white raven approaching Dragonstone, by Sandara Tang © Fantasy Flight Games

Queen Regent Cersei Lannister recalls that the boar which had killed King Robert was served with mushrooms and apples at his funeral feast.[1]

A Storm of Swords

Lord Hoster Tully's funeral in the Red Fork, by Jauma ©

At his funeral, Hoster Tully's body is put in a boat and set down the Red Fork by Robb Stark, King of the Trident, and six of his bannermen: Lord Jonos Bracken, Lord Tytos Blackwood, Lord Karyl Vance, Lord Jason Mallister, Ser Marq Piper, and Lothar. Hoster's armor, shield, hunting horn, and a wooden sword are added to the boat. As part of the funeral custom, a flaming arrow is fired to light the sails as the boat travels downriver. Lord Edmure fires the arrows, but misses three times in his grief. Brynden Tully, seeing this, takes the bow from his nephew's hands and succeeds in lighting the sail before the boat disappears downriver.[20]

Following the Red Wedding, Catelyn Tully's naked corpse is dumped into the river by the Freys in mockery of House Tully's funeral custom.[39]

After the death of King Joffrey I Baratheon, his funeral bier is laid out in the Red Keep's royal sept, and when Ser Jaime Lannister returns to King's Landing, he makes love to his sister Cersei in front of the corpse.[40] Joffrey is ultimately laid to rest in the Great Sept of Baelor.[41]

A Feast for Crows

When Lord Tywin Lannister, Hand of the King and the grandfather of King Tommen I Baratheon, died in 300 AC, his body was placed in the Great Sept of Baelor, where it was supposed to remain for seven days.[3] The smell of the body is so bad that many of the mourners grow sick or faint from being too near. A drying of the mouth also causes Tywin's lips to curl up and make him appear to smile.[7][3] During the funeral service, Queen Margaery Tyrell places a great bouquet of golden roses at Tywin's bier, while King Tommen flees from the bier out of disgust while trying to pray.[3] Six silent sisters eventually take his bones west with an entourage of knights and lords from the westerlands.[9]

Lord Randyll Tarly's casualties are buried as heroes in Duskendale's septs, while northern casualties are buried in a mass grave north of the town.[42]

Maester Aemon dies while aboard the Cinnamon Wind, so his funeral is held on the ship off the shore of Dorne, where Samwell Tarly's eulogy is translated by Kojja Mo for the rest of the crew. Although House Targaryen's funeral custom is cremation, the captain Quhuru Mo will not allow a pyre aboard the ship, so Aemon's body is placed in a cask of rum to preserve it until they reach Oldtown. After the funeral, Xhondo Dhoru has the crew open a cask of spiced rum to drink his memory, and Summer Islanders have sex to honor the dead.[21]

A Dance with Dragons

On the way to Volantis, Cletus Yronwood and Ser Willam Wells are killed by pirates near the Disputed Lands. The sailors give them an honorable funeral, but when Quentyn Martell and his companions are asked to say a few words about the deeds of their friends, Ser Gerris Drinkwater is forced to lie in order not to reveal their identity.[43]

On the fifteenth day of the March on Winterfell, Stannis Baratheon's young squire Bryen Farring succumbs to the cold and hunger, and his body is burnt in a funeral pyre.[44]

Quotes

The Targaryens never bury their dead, they burn them. Aerys meant to have the greatest funeral pyre of them all. Though if truth be told, I do not believe he truly expected to die. Like Aerion Brightfire before him, Aerys thought the fire would transform him... that he would rise again, reborn as a dragon, and turn all his enemies to ash.[45]

—Jaime Lannister to Brienne of Tarth

Notes

  1. ↑ The World of Ice & Fire and The Rogue Prince stated that King Jaehaerys I and Queen Alysanne Targaryen's ashes were interred beneath the Red Keep, but this was corrected to Dragonstone in Fire & Blood.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 3, Tyrion I.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 8, Jaime I.
  4. ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
  5. ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 65, Cersei II.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 7, Cersei II.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 39, Catelyn V.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 16, Jaime II.
  10. ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 33, Jaime V.
  11. ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 41, The Turncloak.
  12. ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 4, Eddard I.
  13. ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 66, Bran VII.
  14. ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 32, Reek III.
  15. ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 12, Eddard II.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 The Hedge Knight.
  17. ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 60, Tyrion VIII.
  18. ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 1, Arya I.
  19. ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 15, Davos II.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 35, Catelyn IV.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 35, Samwell IV.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
  23. ↑ Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
  25. ↑ Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 64, Daenerys VIII.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 72, Daenerys X.
  28. ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 38, Tyrion V.
  29. ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 51, Sansa IV.
  30. ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 44, Jaime VII.
  31. ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 10, Davos II.
  32. ↑ Fire & Blood, A Surfeit of Rulers.
  33. ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I.
  34. ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I.
  35. ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant.
  36. ↑ Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand.
  37. ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 47, Eddard XIII.
  38. ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 39, Arya VII.
  39. ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 58, Tyrion VII.
  40. ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 62, Jaime VII.
  41. ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 67, Jaime VIII.
  42. ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 9, Brienne II.
  43. ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 6, The Merchant's Man.
  44. ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 62, The Sacrifice.
  45. ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
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