Tower of joy
The tower of joy[1] or Tower of Joy[2] was a round tower in the northern edge of the Red Mountains of Dorne.[1] It was located at the north end of the Prince's Pass,[3][2] with Kingsgrave to the south and Nightsong to the north.[4]
Contents
History
The structure was named the tower of joy by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.[1][5]
At the end of Robert's Rebellion, Lord Eddard Stark and six of his companions (Howland Reed, Lord Willam Dustin, Ethan Glover, Martyn Cassel, Theo Wull, and Ser Mark Ryswell) approached the tower. They found it guarded by three members of the Kingsguard (Ser Arthur Dayne, Ser Oswell Whent, and Lord Commander Gerold Hightower). Eddard and Howland were the only survivors of the resulting battle. Eddard had the tower torn down to build cairns for the eight deceased.[1]
According to a semi-canon source, Lyanna Stark was found dying inside the tower by her brother, Eddard, after the fight.[5]
Quotes
It was said that Rhaegar had named that place the tower of joy, but for Ned it was a bitter memory.[1]
—thoughts of Eddard Stark
Behind the scenes
According to George R. R. Martin, readers should not take the details of the event of the Tower of Joy from Eddard Stark's fever dream too literally. Martin also teased that other details will be revealed in the future.[6]
Martin may have been inspired by the Joyous Gard. According to Arthurian legend, Lancelot names the castle himself. He later rescues Queen Guinevere, and brings her to the Joyous Gard. Martin is a keen reader of the Matter of Britain.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 39, Eddard X.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Tower of Joy.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Map of the South
- ↑ The Lands of Ice and Fire, Westeros.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Lyanna Stark.
- ↑ So Spake Martin: Concerning the Tower of Joy (January 2, 2002).
- ↑ Not a Blog: Life After Death (August 26, 2020)
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