Editing Dragon egg (section)

==Characteristics==
===Appearance===
{{See also|:Category:Images of Dragon Eggs|l1=Images of Dragon Eggs}}
[[‎File:Counting FavorsKatherine DingerII.png|thumb|350px|right|[[Daenerys Targaryen]] holding a [[Rhaegal|green egg]], by Katherine Dinger © Fantasy Flight Games]]
Dragon eggs are large eggs with tiny scales, which shimmer like polished metal in the sunlight.{{Ref|AGOT|11}} Dragon eggs come in a variety of rich colors. The color of the eggshell appears to indicate the coloring of the dragon within: from the deep green egg, with burnished bronze flecks{{Ref|AGOT|11}} hatches [[Rhaegal]], a [[dragon]] with jade-green scales{{ref|ADWD|11}}{{Ref|ADWD|68}} and wings,{{Ref|ACOK|40}} and bronze eyes;{{Ref|ADWD|68}} from the pale cream egg streaked with gold and bronze{{Ref|AGOT|11}}{{Ref|AGOT|68}} hatches the dragon [[Viserion]], who has golden eyes{{Ref|ADWD|11}}{{Ref|ADWD|68}} and cream-colored and golden-colored scales;{{Ref|ACOK|12}}{{Ref|ASOS|8}} from the black egg with scarlet ripples and swirls{{Ref|AGOT|11}} hatches the dragon [[Drogon]], whose scales{{Ref|ADWD|52}} and teeth{{Ref|ASOS|8}}{{Ref|ADWD|52}} are black, and whose horns, spinal plates, and eyes are red.{{ref|ADWD|52}}

The three eggs given to [[Daenerys Targaryen]] are warm to her touch,{{Ref|AGOT|23}}{{Ref|AGOT|68}} although other people do not feel the heat.{{Ref|AGOT|68}}

Dragons have been known to lay eggs in a [[w:Clutch (eggs)|clutch]] of up to at least five,{{Ref|TMK}} and a dragon may lay several clutches during its lifetime.{{ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Although the subject of [[Dragon#Reproduction|dragon mating habits]] is debatable, some [[maesters]] believe that if a dragon never laid an egg in its lifetime, it must be male.{{ref|TWOIAF|The North: Winterfell}} Whether an egg has to be fertilized by a male dragon in order to hatch is not known.

===Hatching===
[[File:Black Dragon Egg JulepeII.png|thumb|350px|right|The [[Drogon|black egg]] of [[Daenerys Targaryen]] in the flames of Khal [[Drogo]]'s funeral pyre, by Julepe © Fantasy Flight Games]]
There were dragon hatcheries on the island of [[Dragonstone (island)|Dragonstone]] under the [[Dragonmont]], where many eggs and young hatchling dragons could be found.{{ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold}}

Grand Maester [[Benifer]] believed that dragon eggs might not hatch if far away from the heat of [[Dragonstone]], explaining that some instead turn to stone.{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}} 

When King [[Aegon II Targaryen]] attempted to hatch a dragon egg, according to [[Mushroom]] he sat on one of the eggs for a day and a night.{{Ref|FAB|The Dying of the Dragons - The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II}}

After the extinction of their dragons in {{date|153}}, the [[House Targaryen|Targaryen]]s made numerous attempts to hatch the dragon eggs left behind. King [[Aegon III Targaryen]], the Dragonsbane, sent away for [[nine mages]] from [[Essos]] at the suggestion of his [[Hand of the King|Hand]], Prince [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys]]. However, the attempt to use their [[magic]] to kindle a clutch of eggs proved both a debacle and a failure.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III}}{{ref|ASOS|54}} King [[Baelor I Targaryen]] prayed over his eggs, while other Targaryens sought to hatch theirs with sorcery,{{Ref|AFFC|5}} and still others had [[maesters]] study them.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}} The [[tragedy of Summerhall]] has been blamed on King [[Aegon V Targaryen]]'s attempt to hatch dragons.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V}}{{ref|ASOS|25}} During his reign, King [[Aerys II Targaryen]] tried to hatch dragons from the eggs that had found in the depths of Dragonstone, some of which had turned to stone because of their great age, but his attempts yielded nothing.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}} 

Fossilized dragon eggs are more precious than [[ruby|rubies]]{{Ref|ACOK|12}} and could be used to purchase ships.{{ref|AGOT|72}} 

===Targaryen Traditions===
Princess [[Rhaena Targaryen (daughter of Aenys I)|Rhaena Targaryen]] supposedly placed a dragon egg in the cradles of her younger siblings [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys]] and [[Alysanne Targaryen|Alysanne]] shortly after their birth,{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I}}{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}} Her brother, King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]], placed an egg in the cradle of his newborn son, [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Jaehaerys I)|Aemon]], in {{Date|55}}.{{Ref|FAB|Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies}} During the reign of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]], it became truly customary to place a dragon's egg in the cradle of a newborn child.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

It was considered a sign that a child was a true Targaryen if an egg placed within their cradle hatched.{{ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} If the egg did not hatch, however, it was considered an ill omen.{{ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}The tradition of placing an egg in the cradle of a newborn royal continued even after the [[last dragon]] died and the eggs stopped hatching.{{ref|TMK}} These dragon eggs were cherished possessions of their owners.<ref name="Elaena"/>