Valyrians are a race of humans originating in the eponymous Valyrian peninsula of Essos.
Appearance
[edit]Valyrians are famous for having silver-gold hair, and their shades of purple eyes are not found amongst any other peoples of the known world.[1] This can vary from white to silver-gold to blond hair, and from lilac, to deep purple, and pale blue eyes. An aquiline nose is also common among Valyrians.[2]
The most noble of Valyrians were considered strikingly, some say inhumanly,[3] beautiful.[4] The species of lemur living in the Forest of Qohor sharing similar physical features is called Little Valyrian.[5]
History
[edit]Valyrians were originally a civilization sheltered in the Fourteen Flames, a ring of volcanoes on the Valyrian peninsula.[N 1][7] Valyrian stories claim that dragons originated in their lands, although tales from Asshai claim the beasts were brought to Valyria from the Shadow Lands.[1] The Valyrians tamed the dragons with magic, taught by a vanished people according to the Asshai'i,[1] and made the beasts into devastating weapons of war.[8] With the aid of dragons, the Valyrians established the Valyrian Freehold.[9]
Valyrians survive in Lys, where even the smallfolk have the pale skin, silver-gold hair, and purple, lilac, and pale blue eyes of the dragonlords of old,[10] as well as in Volantis, among the Old Blood, which traces its descent to the Freehold itself.[11][12] Other survivors are the members of House Targaryen, the sole surviving family of dragonlords, as well as those of Velaryon and Celtigar.
Due to the practice of the first night, Valyrian features were also passed unto the so-called dragonseeds.
Though unrelated to the Valyrians, the members of House Dayne, an ancient Westerosi noble house, also possess violet eyes.
Quotes
[edit]The great beauty of the Valyrians—with their hair of palest silver or gold and eyes in shades of purple not found amongst any other peoples of the world—is well-known, and often held up as proof that the Valyrians are not entirely of the same blood as other men.[1]
—writings of Yandel
The Valyrians were more than dragonlords. They practiced blood magic and other dark arts as well, delving deep into the earth for secrets best left buried and twisting the flesh of beasts and men to fashion monstrous and unnatural chimeras.[13]
—writings of Barth
An empire built on blood and fire. The Valyrians reaped the seed they had sown.[14]
—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister
Behind the Scenes
[edit]The word "Valyrian" may be inspired by the character Valerian from Dragonslayer (1981), which George R. R. Martin has cited as one of his favorite fantasy movies.[15]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 21, The Queenmaker.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Qohor.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 23, Daenerys II.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 22, Arya II.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 34, Catelyn VI.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Volantis.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 6, The Merchant's Man.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 33, Tyrion VIII.
- ↑ The Daily Beast: ‘Game of Thrones' Author George R.R. Martin's Top 10 Fantasy Films, 16 July 2017