Editing Religion

[[File:Godswood Noth by Kim Pope.jpg|thumb|450px|A [[godswood]] in the [[north]], by Kim Pope ©]]
'''Religion''' is an important of ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'', with numerous faiths existing throughout the [[known world]]. Belief in higher powers and supernatural threats runs deep in many cultures and influence multiple aspects of life.

==Westeros==
[[File:The Seven by guad.jpg|thumb|450px|The [[Faith of the Seven|Seven]], by Isabel ©]]
Relatively few religions have a significant following in [[Westeros]]. They include:

* The [[old gods]] are nameless deities{{Ref|AGOT|70}} of stream, forest, and stone.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Dawn Age}} They were worshiped across Westeros by the [[children of the forest]], and eventually by the [[First Men]], some time after signing the [[Pact]].{{Ref|AGOT|66}} Since the arrival of the [[Andals]] who brought with them their [[Faith of the Seven|own religion]], the old gods are no longer dominantly worshiped in the south of Westeros.{{Ref|AGOT|66}} Only in the [[north]] does a majority of houses still worship the old gods. [[Beyond the Wall|North of the Wall]], the [[free folk]] continue to worship the old gods. Although some accounts state that there are clans who worship different gods (dark gods beneath the ground in the [[Frostfangs]], gods of snow and ice on the [[Frozen Shore]], or [[crab]] gods at [[Storrold's Point]]), there is no reliable confirmation off this.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Wall and Beyond: The Wildlings}}
* The [[Faith of the Seven]] is the dominant religion in the southern part of the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. The Faith worships the Seven Who Are One, a single deity with seven aspects or faces.{{Ref|ACOK|10}}{{Ref|AFFC|25}}{{Ref|AFFC|28}}{{Ref|ACOK|33}}{{Ref|ACOK|57}}{{Ref|ASOS|71}} For the less educated, this concept is often difficult to grasp, leading to the common belief that there are indeed seven different gods.{{Ref|AFFC|25}} The number seven is considered holy.{{Ref|AFFC|36}}
* The [[Drowned God]], also called He Who Dwells Beneath the Waves,{{Ref|ADWD|42}} is a sea deity worshiped by the [[ironborn]] of the [[Iron Islands]]. The religion of the Drowned God is old, predating the [[coming of the Andals]]. All attempts of the [[Andal]] invaders to supplant it with the [[Faith of the Seven|Seven]] have failed. The Drowned God's nemesis is the [[Storm God]].
[[File:MagaliVilleneuve cleansinglight.jpg|thumb|400px|Worshippers asking [[R'hllor]] to bring back the dawn, by Magali Villeneuve © Fantasy Flight Games]]
* [[R'hllor]], also known as the Lord of Light, the Heart of Fire, and the God of Flame and Shadow,{{Ref|ACOK|0}} is a prominent god in [[Essos]] with a small but growing following in the Seven Kingdoms, where he is more commonly known as the red god.{{Ref|ASOS|36}}{{Ref|AFFC|17}} Based on a dualistic, Manichean view of the world, R'hllor, the god of light, heat, and life, is eternally at war against the [[Great Other]], also known as the Lord of Darkness, the Soul of Ice, and the God of Night and Terror, he is the god of darkness, cold, and death.{{Ref|ASOS|25}} 
* [[Mother Rhoyne]], the chief goddess of the [[Rhoynar]], is still worshiped by the [[orphans of the Greenblood]], descendants of the Rhoynar.{{Ref|AFFC|21}} She has lesser gods under her like the [[Crab King]] and the [[Old Man of the River]], both of whom are said to be among her many children whilst the Old man of the River is also said to be her consort.{{Ref|AFFC|21}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Long Night}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: Ten Thousand Ships}} The side rivers that flow into the river [[Rhoyne]] are called her daughters, but it is unknown at this time if they are also considered gods.{{Ref|ADWD|14}}

Additionally, the [[Lady of the Waves]] and the [[Lord of the Skies]] were once worshiped on the [[Three Sisters]] before the Andals introduced the Seven.{{Ref|ADWD|9}} There are also the [[sea god]] and the [[goddess of the wind]] from the legend of [[Durran Godsgrief]] and their child [[Elenei]] who as the child of two gods should technically also be a god.{{Ref|ACOK|31}}{{Ref|TWOIAF| The Stormlands: House Durrandon}} As a child, [[Renly Baratheon]] once pretended to be the "rain god" during a game. It is possible the rain god was a deity from the stormlands alongside Elenei's parents.{{Ref|ACOK|0}}
In some tales the legendary figure [[Garth Greenhand]] is called a god.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach}}
The [[Merling King (god)|Merling King]],{{Ref|AFFC|22}}{{Ref|ASOS|5}}{{Ref|ADWD|19}} a deity worshiped by sailors in [[Essos]] was also worshiped in Westeros at least until the coming of the Andals.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Vale}}

The [[First Men]] worshiped different gods before the [[Pact]] with the [[children of the forest]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Coming of the First Men}}

==Essos==
[[File:Many-Faced-God.png|350px|right|thumb|The [[Many-Faced God]], as depicted in ''[[Game of Thrones]]'': ''Histories & Lore''. [[God]]s depicted include the [[Weeping Lady of Lys]], the [[old gods]], the [[Drowned God]], the [[Stranger (the Seven)|Stranger]], the [[Black Goat of Qohor]], the [[Lion of Night]], and [[R'hllor]].]]
In [[Essos]] [[across the narrow sea]], there are numerous different religions. In [[Braavos]], one can find temples and shrines to almost every god one can imagine.{{ref|ADWD|64}} Named religions in Essos include:

* [[Aquan the Red Bull]], whose priests sacrifice calves.
* [[Bakkalon]] of the Sword, the Pale Child favored of soldiers
* the [[Black Goat of Qohor|Black Goat]], a deity worshiped in [[Qohor]].
* the [[Great Shepherd]], the deity of the [[Lhazareen]].
* the [[Hooded Wayfarer]], a patron of the poor.
* the [[horse god]], the deity worshiped by the [[Dothraki]].
* the [[Lady of Spears]], the deity of the [[Unsullied]].
* the [[Lion of Night]], a god preferred by rich men.
* the [[Many-Faced God]] of [[Braavos]], whose followers believe him to be the true face of all gods.
* the [[Merling King (god)|Merling King]], a deity worshiped by sailors.{{ref|AFFC|22}}{{ref|ASOS|5}}{{ref|ADWD|19}}
* the [[Moon-Pale Maiden]], another deity worshiped by sailors.
* the [[Pattern]], a labyrinth leading to wisdom.
* [[R'hllor]] and the [[Great Other]], a dualistic religion spreading throughout the known world.
* [[Semosh and Selloso]], brother gods with twin temples.
* the [[Silent God]], who is worshiped at the [[Stones of the Silent God]].
* the [[Stone Cow of Faros]], a deity worshiped on [[Faros]].
* [[Trios]], a three-headed deity.{{ref|ADWD|33}}
* the [[Weeping Lady of Lys]], a favorite of old women.
* [[Father of Waters]], His temple on the [[Isle of the Gods]] is rebuilt anew whenever the Father takes a new bride{{ref|AFFC|6}} each year on his feast days.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Braavos}}
* [[Pantera]], a six-breasted cat goddess of Lys.{{ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}
* [[Yndros of the Twilight]], who is male by day and female by night.{{ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}
* [[Saagael]], the giver of pain, known as faceless Saagael.{{ref|FAB|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}
* [[Maiden-Made-of-Light]], a goddess in [[Yi Ti]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
* The [[Church of Starry Wisdom]], also known as the Cult of Starry Wisdom,{{ref|ADWD|45}} is a sinister religion that persists in many port cities throughout the [[known world]].{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
* The [[Moon Mother]] a deity mentioned to [[Arya Stark]] by the [[Kindly man]].{{ref|AFFC|34}}
* [[Mother Rhoyne]] She and here associated lesser gods are still worshiped in Essos by [[orphans of the Greenblood]] who have returned to the river [[Rhoyne]],{{ref|ADWD|14}} and there also seem to be descendants of the [[Rhoynar]] still living around the river, who still tell the stories associated with the religion.{{ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Long Night}}

Unnamed religions include:
* A small household idol which looked like a pregnant woman with swollen breasts and a [[bat]]'s head that was worshiped by [[Rego Draz]].{{Ref|FAB|Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under Jaehaerys I}}
* The [[Gardens of Gelenei]] is a temple on the [[Isle of the Gods]] in Braavos, Gelenei may possibly be the name of the god or goddess worshiped there but this not confirmed.{{Ref|ADWD|64}}
* The love goddess of [[Lys]],{{ref|ASOS|59}} whose naked figure is on Lysene coinage;{{ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh}} it is at present unknown if she is the same as the [[Weeping Lady of Lys]].
* The [[Moonsingers]] are the priestesses of the [[Jogos Nhai]]{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: The Plains of the Jogos Nhai}}, but they are also an important presence in [[Braavos]].{{ref|AFFC|6}}{{ref|AGOT|61}} The [[Temple of the Moonsingers]] is the largest temple in Braavos.{{ref|TLOIAF|Braavos}}{{Ref|AFFC|6}} The Jogos Nhai worship more then one god but it is not known how many or what there names are.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: The Plains of the Jogos Nhai}}
* The [[Fountain of the Drunken God]] may or may not be dedicated to a god.{{ref|ADWD|33}}
* The many gods honored in the [[Holy Refuge]] also called The Warren, it is a temple in Braavos, within it the forgotten gods are honored.{{ref|AFFC|6}}
* The [[Dothraki]] believe that the [[Sun]] and the [[Moon]] are a god and goddess and that they are husband and wife.{{Ref|AGOT|23}}
* The [[Temple of Memory]] is a temple in [[Qarth]] where petitioners seeking audience with the Pureborn must perform a traditional sacrifice. It is unknown which god or gods are worshiped there.{{Ref|ACOK|40}}
* The god of the [[bearded priests]] of [[Norvos]] whose name is unknown, because the sect is so secretive the name of their god is revealed only to initiates.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Norvos}}
* The hundred gods of the [[Tall Men|Sarnori]], who since the [[Century of Blood]] are only worshiped in the city of [[Saath]].{{ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: The Grasslands}}
* In the ancient (now lost) city of [[Lyber]] on the grasslands of Central Essos they worshipped a spider goddess, as well as a serpent god; the acolytes of the two gods waged a bloody and endless war between one another.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: The Grasslands}}

Gods that are no longer worshiped include:
* [[Boash]]{{ref|TWOIAF| The Free Cities: Lorath}}
* The Gods in the Braavosi temple known as the [[Holy Refuge]] which is also called the Warren.{{ref|affc|6}}

==Valyria==
At least four [[dragons]] of [[House Targaryen]] were named after [[old gods of Valyria]]:
* [[Balerion (god)|Balerion]], a god and the namesake for [[Balerion|a dragon]].{{Ref|ACOK|12}}{{Ref|ASOS|57}}
* [[Meraxes (god)|Meraxes]], a god and the namesake for [[Meraxes|a dragon]].{{Ref|ACOK|12}}{{Ref|ASOS|57}}
* [[Vhagar (god)|Vhagar]], a god and the namesake for [[Vhagar|a dragon]].{{Ref|ACOK|12}}{{Ref|ASOS|57}}
* [[Syrax (goddess)|Syrax]], a goddess and the namesake for [[Syrax|a dragon]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I}}{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}
* The followers of [[Boash]] settled on the main isle of [[Lorath]] after leaving Valyria 1,322 years before the [[Doom of Valyria]].{{ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Lorath}}
* Worshipers of the [[Black Goat of Qohor|Black Goat]] abandoned [[Valyria]] in rejection of the [[Valyrian Freehold|Freehold's]] tenet of religious tolerance and founded the city of [[Qohor]].{{ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Qohor}}
* The [[bearded priests]] were a sect which abandoned [[Valyria]], finding the religious tolerance of the [[Valyrian Freehold|Freehold]] intolerable. The sect is so secretive that even the name of their god is revealed only to initiates. They founded the city of [[Norvos]].{{ref|TWOIAF|The Free Cities: Norvos}}

==Yi Ti==
* The [[god-emperor]] is worshiped in Yi Ti.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
* The [[Lion of Night (god)|Lion of Night]].{{ref|AFFC|34}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
* The [[Maiden-Made-of-Light]].{{ref|AFFC|34}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
* The first god-emperor of the mythic [[Great Empire of the Dawn]], the [[God-on-Earth]] son of the Lion of Night and the Maiden-made-of-Light.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}
* Many more gods, as Yi Ti is called the land of a thousand gods.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti}}

==Other regions==
* On the isle of [[Naath]] off the northwestern coast of [[Sothoryos]], they worship the [[Lord of Harmony]].{{ref|ASOS|71}} There is also a wooden hall dedicated to the god in [[Braavos]].{{ref|ADWD|64}} 
* In [[Leng]] there are they [[Old Ones]], gods who live deep below the ruined subterranean cities on the island and who instructed the [[Empress of Leng|God-Empress]] on at least four occasions to massacre all foreigners.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Leng}}
* The [[Empress of Leng|God-Empress]] is worshiped in [[Leng]].{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: Leng}}
* In the [[Summer Isles]] they worship a score of gods whose many laws are written upon the [[Talking Trees]], the god and goddess of love, beauty, and fertility being the most favored.{{ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: The Summer Isles}}
* On the [[Isle of Toads]] in the [[Basilisk Isles]] there is an ancient idol, a greasy black stone crudely carved into the semblance of a gigantic toad of malignant aspect, some forty feet high.{{ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: The Basilisk Isles}} 
* The corsairs of the Basilisk Isles offer the skulls of their victims to a dark god on [[Skull Island]].{{ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: The Basilisk Isles}}
* In [[Sothoryos]] the [[Sothoryi]], often called the Brindled Men, worship dark gods with obscene rites.{{ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: Sothoryos}}
* The [[Jogos Nhai]] worship several gods.{{ref|TWOIAF|The Bones and Beyond: The Plains of the Jogos Nhai}}
* The dark and hungry gods of the [[Patrimony of Hyrkoon]] are still worshiped in the cities of the [[Bone Mountains]].{{ref|twoiaf| The Plains of the Jogos Nhai}}
* The gods of [[Ibben]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: Ib}}
* The gods of the [[Thousand Islands]], squamous, fishheaded gods, whose likenesses rise from their stony shores, visible only when the tide recedes.{{ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: East of Ib}}
* In [[Slaver's Bay]] the [[Ghiscari]] still worship the gods of Ghis, with [[Graces]] as their priestesses.{{Ref|ASOS|71}}

==Influences and Theology==
{{See also|Themes in A Song of Ice and Fire}}

Unlike [[w:J. R. R. Tolkien|J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s ''[[w:The Lord of the Rings|The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' addresses religion in some detail and portrays several competing religions. More than any other novel in the series, ''[[A Dance with Dragons]]'' explores the different religions of Westeros and Essos. Each of the religions reflects its culture's temperament. [[George R. R. Martin]] based the series' faiths on real religions, tweaking or expanding them a little. However, no religion is presented as the true faith, although there are displays of power on many sides, nor do any have a monopoly on virtue. 

Known influences include: 
* The old gods are "based on [[w:Animism|animism]] and traditional Pagan beliefs of Wicca and various other Celtic systems and Norse systems", melted into one construct.<ref>[https://youtu.be/QTTW8M_etko?t=48m38s George R.R. Martin | Talks at Google (Published August 6, 2011)]</ref> They are nameless and numerous.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/948/ Gods of Westeros (November 18, 1998)]</ref> 
* The Faith of the Seven is based on the medieval [[w:Catholic Church|Catholic Church]], although it borrows other elements as well. The Faith's central doctrine of one God with seven aspects is partly based on the Christian [[w:Trinity|Trinity]]: one God in the divine persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. In the Faith of the Seven, God has seven aspects: three males, the Father, the Smith, and the Warrior, three females, the Mother, the Maiden, and the Crone, and the Stranger who represents Death.<ref>Bullseye: [http://www.maximumfun.org/sound-young-america/george-r-r-martin-author-song-ice-and-fire-series-interview-sound-young-america George R. R. Martin, Author of "A Song of Ice and Fire" Series: Interview on The Sound of Young America] {September 19, 2011}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTTW8M_etko Google Talks: George R. R. Martin]</ref> The Faith Militant, the Faith's military order, is loosely based on crusading orders such as the [[w:Knights Templar|Knights Templar]] and [[w:Knights Hospitaller|Knights Hospitaller]].<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/2765 Faith Militant’s Inspiration and Ice and Fire Dream Cast (April 15, 2008)]</ref>
* Similarities between the religion of the [[Drowned God]] and the Norse mythology can be found. For example, the ironborn believe they will feast eternally in the Drowned God's watery halls after they die, similar to Norse warriors, who hoped to feast in [[w:Valhalla|Valhalla]].
* The [[Mother Rhoyne]] religion is a polytheistic worshiping of the [[Rhoyne]] and many lesser river-dwelling deities such as the [[Old Man of the River]] and the [[Crab King]]. The [[Rhoynar]] may be inspired by the [[w:Romani people|Roma]].<ref>[http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/04/the-many-gods-a-dark-faiths-of-a-song-of-ice-and-fire Many Gods & Dark Faiths] article by [[User:Ran|Ran]] and [[User:Linda|Linda]]</ref>

Martin tries to slowly reveal how the many different kinds of [[magic]] in the ''Ice and Fire'' world may be manifestations of the same mysterious supernatural forces. This leaves readers free to wonder about the validity, teachings and supernatural power of the competing religions, allowing for a sense of wonder, for things that escape the net of explanation in terms of the physical sciences. Martin regards any religion's claim to truth with suspicion, as he does the claims of real religions. The series' gods, he said, are unlikely to appear [[w:deus-ex-machina|deus-ex-machina]] in Westeros.<ref name=io9_gods />

==Prophecy==
*See [[:Category:Prophecy|list of prophecies]].

==References==
{{References|2|refs=
  <ref name=io9_gods>{{cite web |last=Anders |first=Charlie Jane |url=http://io9.com/5822939/george-rr-martin-explains-why-well-never-meet-any-gods-in-a-song-of-ice-and-fire |title=George R.R. Martin explains why we'll never meet any gods in ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' |publisher=io9.com |date=July 21, 2011 |accessdate=2012-02-13}}</ref>
}}

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