Dragon

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Daenerys Targaryen and Drogon in Daznak's Pit by Marc Simonetti ©

Dragons are magical creatures, which existed on the continents of Westeros and Essos, but are considered to have been extinct for almost one hundred and fifty years. The only remaining traces of the dragons are skeletal remains and dragon eggs which are thought to have turned to stone.

Dragons are depicted in the sigils of Houses Blackfyre, Targaryen, Toland, Vance of Atranta, Vance of Wayfarer's Rest, and Willum.

Appearance

Dragons are scaled,[1][2] reptilian creatures. They have four limbs: two wings, which are used as forelegs like bats and pterosaurs,[3] and two rear legs.[4][5] George R. R. Martin's dragons thereby differ from the traditional depiction of dragons as six limbed creatures. Martin came to his decision as he was bothered by the fact that no animal in nature has ever evolved in such a way (i.e. four legs and two wings).[4] Nonetheless, some A Song of Ice and Fire artwork shows them with four legs and a detached pair of wings.

Dragons have strong jaws,[6] sharp teeth[7] and claws,[2] leathery wings[8][9] and long necks[10] and tails,[8] with horns upon their heads.[2] As young hatchlings, they are around the size of a cat.[2] Provided it has food and freedom, a dragon never stops growing.[11][8] A dragon given such freedom can reach a span width of twenty feet within a year and a half.[10] Dragons which are locked up, e.g., the Targaryen dragons housed in the Dragonpit in King's Landing, do not grow as large as dragons left free to fly as they wish.[11][8] Although increasing age means increasing size, a larger size is not always an indication of a higher age (e.g., the younger Meraxes was larger than the older Vhagar).[12][N 1] Balerion, the largest Targaryen dragon, was large enough to swallow an aurochs or a mammoth from Ibben whole.[12]

The polished skulls of the Targaryen dragons look like glittering onyx, and their teeth like curved daggers of black diamond. Dragonbones are black due to their high iron content.[12]

Sea dragons in the Sunset Sea and ice dragons in the Shivering Sea are recalled in legends and folklore, but scholars have no proof of their existence.[13][14]

Characteristics

Dragon skulls in the Red Keep cellars by Kim Pope

It is said that dragons are fire made flesh. Great heat emanates from dragons' bodies, to the point that they steam during cold nights. Dragons only eat cooked meat, and use the extremely hot flame which they breathe to cook their meat before eating it.[2]

A dragon's scales are largely, but not entirely, impervious to flame as well, and serve as protection for the more vulnerable flesh and musculature beneath. As a dragon ages, its scales thicken and grow harder, affording even more protection,[6] leaving dragons nearly immune to fire,[4][15] although they can still be wounded by dragonflame (e.g., Moondancer's eyes being blinded by Sunfyre's fire during the Dance of the Dragons). Similarly, as dragons age, the fires they breath become hotter and fiercer. Where a hatchling's flame can set straw aflame, the flames of older dragons, like Balerion and Vhagar in the fullness of their power, could melt steel and stone.[6]The lifespan of dragons is many times that of a human.[11] Balerion, the largest and oldest Targaryen dragon, already alive when House Targaryen relocated from Valyria to Dragonstone in 128 BC[16] died of old age[17] in 94 AC[18] during the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, near two hundred years of age.[11] They are not invulnerable; a scorpion killed Meraxes.[19] When Balerion returned with Princess Aerea Targaryen before Aerea's death, the dragon had large new and bloody wounds from an unknown cause.[20]

Dragons are believed to be intrinsically tied to magic in the world. Since the death of the last dragon in 153 AC, summers grew shorter and the winters colder and crueler,[21] while magical spells became less powerful.[22]

Dragonbone is as strong as steel, but lighter and far more flexible, and impervious to fire.[12] It has been used to make brooches,[23] bows,[24][12] hilts of Valyrian steel daggers,[25] and whip handles.[26]

Reproduction

Historians, like Septon Barth, Grand Maester Munkun, and Maester Thomax, disagree on the mating habits of dragons.[27] Dragons lay large, scaled eggs to reproduce.[28] According to Archmaester Gyldayn, and agreed upon by Maester Yandel, the ability of a dragon to lay eggs is proof that said dragon is female. When a dragon is never observed to have laid eggs, this is taking as proof that it must have been male.[29] However, according to Barth and Maester Aemon, dragons have no fixed gender, but are “now one and now the other, as changeable as flame”.[28] Barth believed that dragons can change sex at need,[29][28] but Maester Anson believes this to be erroneous, and states in his Truth that Barth's statement is simply a misunderstood esoteric metaphor.[29]

Dragons believed to be female, e.g., Syrax,[30][31][18][6] Dreamfyre,[18][6] Tessarion,[18][6] and Meleys,[6] are referred to as a she-dragon. The dragon Caraxes has been referred to as both male and female.[6][18]

Traditionally, Targaryen princes received a dragon's egg in their cradle, allowing them to bond with the dragons as soon as the eggs hatched.[18][31] This tradition supposedly started during the reign of King Aegon I Targaryen, when Princess Rhaena Targaryen placed a dragon egg in the cradles of her younger siblings, Jaehaerys and Alysanne shortly after their births.[32][33] From these two eggs, the dragons Vermithor and Silverwing hatched.[33]

During the rule of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, the king placed an egg in the cradle of his newborn son, Aemon, in 55 AC, at the suggestion of Queen Alysanne Targaryen.[20]

During the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen, placing a dragon egg in the cradle of a newborn princeling became truly customary.[34] Jacaerys Velaryon, Lucerys Velaryon, Joffrey Velaryon,[34] Viserys Targaryen, Jaehaerys Targaryen, Jaehaera Targaryen, and Maelor Targaryen[34] are all known to have received an egg in their cradle during Viserys I's reign. During the reign of King Aegon III Targaryen, eggs were placed in the cradles of Prince Aegon and Lady Laena Velaryon.[35]

Un-hatched eggs can become fossilized at an old age.[24][36]

Dragonriders

Aegon the Conqueror upon Balerion, the Black Dread, by Jordi Gonzalez ©

Dragons are intelligent creatures[4] which can be trained to serve as battle mounts and understand vocal commands. They are said to be capricious in nature,[9] and have to be trained to keep them from laying waste to everything around them.[37] However, dragons will not allow everyone to mount them. In Valyria, the noble-born dragonriding families, the dragonlord families, frequently married brother to sister to keep the bloodline pure,[38] and it is generally believed that Valyrian heritage plays a part; During the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon called upon Targaryen bastards and their descendants, the so-called dragonseeds, to try and mount a dragon. Regardless, men without Valyrian descent made their attempt as well.[6] Nor is the possession of Valyrian blood (no matter how directly) a guarantee that bonding with a dragon will be successful.[18][8]

Once a dragon has bonded with a rider, that dragon will not allow anyone else to mount it while its rider lives, no matter how familiar said person might be to the dragon, although they are willing to accept another person upon their backs when their own rider has mounted as well. When the rider of a dragon dies, that dragon can bond with a new rider.[6] No rider has ever ridden a different dragon while their current dragon was alive.[39] However, when Prince Viserys Targaryen's dragon Balerion died, according to Martin, "[Viserys] did not take a second dragon",[40] leaving the possibility that a rider might bond with a new dragon after their first dragon has died. Indeed, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, following the death of her dragon Syrax, insisted on finding more dragon eggs, as she "must have another dragon". Dragons who have had a rider once before are easier to bond with than wild dragons.[6]

A dragon might to be able to sense when its current rider is in distress or has died. This is implied in the case of the dragon Dreamfyre, who, despite being locked and chained in the Dragonpit, is said to have sensed when her rider Helaena Targaryen committed suicide in Maegor's Holdfast, at the other side of King's Landing.[6] A dragonrider has also screamed out when their dragon was hit by a spear.[10]

History

Ancient Dragons

Dragonlords from the Valyrian Freehold by Magali Villeneuve in The World of Ice & Fire

In Barth's Unnatural History, the septon considered several legends regarding the origins of dragons. The Valyrians claimed that dragons sprang forth from the Fourteen Flames, a ring of volcanoes on the Valyrian peninsula.[41] In Qarth, tales state dragons came from a second moon in the sky, which was scalded by the sun and cracked like an egg, and a million dragons poured forth.[1] Dragons are also said to have originated from the Shadow Lands beyond Asshai and the islands of the Jade Sea.[1] Ancient tales from Asshai claim that an unnamed people first tamed these dragons, brought them to Valyria, and taught the Valyrians their arts before departing from the annals of history.[41] Barth put forth the theory that dragons were created by Valyrian bloodmages using wyvern stock.[42] Dragons may also be related to firewyrms.[43]

Dragons populated most of the known world in ages past,[44] and ancient dragon bones have been found as far north as Ib and as south as the jungles of Sothoryos.[41] The yellow emperor Chai Duq of Yi Ti is said to have kept a dragon at his court.[45]

In Westeros, Ser Galladon of Morne is said to have slain a dragon with the Just Maid,[46] Crackbones allegedly twisted a dragon's neck into a knot,[46] and Serwyn of the Mirror Shield slew the dragon Urrax.[30] Davos the Dragonslayer is a hero beloved in the Reach,[47] and dragons are also said to have once roosted on Battle Isle until the first Hightower put an end to them.[48] Smallfolk claim that the hot springs below Winterfell are warmed by the breath of a subterranean dragon.[29] Nagga is said to have been the first sea dragon.[49]

Valyrian Freehold

The Valyrians mastered the art of raising dragons and used them as weapons of war to carve out a massive empire, the Valyrian Freehold.[41] The Valyrians are said to have used dragon horns to tame dragons.[49]

The Valyrians used dragons to conquer the Old Empire of Ghis in the Ghiscari wars,[41] and hundreds of dragons were employed by Valyria during the Rhoynish Wars.[50]

After the Doom of Valyria, however, the only dragons known to have survived were five dragons on Dragonstone. They belonged to House Targaryen, who had brought them from Valyria when they went into exile. Four of these dragons eventually died on Dragonstone, leaving only Balerion. However, the other dragons left eggs behind, and from these hatched Vhagar and Meraxes.[16]

The Targaryen Dragons

Balerion makes short work of Aegon Targaryen and Quicksilver during the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye, as depicted by Michael Komarck in The World of Ice & Fire

House Targaryen used Balerion, Vhagar, and Meraxes in their Wars of Conquest against the Seven Kingdoms. They were instrumental in the burning of Harrenhal and the Field of Fire, and the threat of dragons led to the submissions of Torrhen Stark and Sharra Arryn.[16] Dragons were also used in the First Dornish War, which caused the death of Meraxes at the Hellholt in 10 AC.[51] The valuable golden coin of the Iron Throne became known as a dragon.[52]

Many dragons were hatched after Aegon's Conquest. During Aegon I's reign, "half a dozen" hatchlings were born on Dragonstone. One of the first was Quicksilver, hatched in 7 AC, who bonded with Aegon I's elder son and heir, Aenys. Another two hatched during the first year of Aenys's reign in 38 AC.[53] Dragon fought dragon for the first time since the Doom of Valyria in the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye, resulting in the death of Quicksilver in 43 AC.[54][53]

Over the course of one hundred and fifty years the Targaryens rode their dragons as a symbol of their power. King Jaehaerys I Targaryen took six dragons with him to the north to visit the Warden of the North. These included Jaehaerys on Vermithor, Queen Alysanne on Silverwing, and four other currently-unknown dragons.[55]

Balerion finally died of old age in 94 AC, late in the reign of Jaehaerys I.[18][56] Jaehaerys's grandson and eventual successor Viserys I was Balerion's rider at the time of its death.[18][57] This left Vhagar as the largest living dragon, and by 129 AC she was approaching Balerion's size.[6]

By 129 AC, on the eve of civil war between Rhaenyra and Aegon II, there were twenty living dragons.[6] The largest and oldest dragons were Vhagar, Vermithor, Silverwing, Dreamfyre, Meleys, Caraxes, and Syrax. Younger dragons still large enough to be ridden to war were Seasmoke, Sunfyre, Tessarion, Vermax, Arrax, Tyraxes, and Moondancer. Stormcloud, Morghul, and Shrykos were hatchlings not yet big enough to ride.

There were also three wild dragons living on Dragonstone which had never been successfully claimed by any rider: Grey Ghost, Sheepstealer, and the Cannibal. Sheepstealer hatched when Jaehaerys I was still young, and the Cannibal was even older (none knew for certain when it had hatched), and thus they were also quite large by the time of the Dance of the Dragons, while Grey Ghost was a younger and smaller beast. Not every hatchling lived to maturity, however, as seen with Rhaena of Pentos, whose hatchling only lived a matter of hours.[6]

Extinction and Revival

Dragons in flight by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

By the end of the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen, twenty dragons were alive. The majority of these died during the civil war called the Dance of the Dragons, which began in 129 AC and would last until mid 131 AC.[6][31] Archmaester Marwyn, however, holds that the order of maesters, with their secret goal to suppress magic, was responsible for the extinction of dragons.[58]

By the end of the Dance in 131 AC, only four dragons remained alive: Sheepstealer, the Cannibal, and Silverwing, who had been born years before the war, and the dragon Morning, which had hatched during the war.[31] There were still many dragon eggs left after the war, and at least one of those hatched. The last dragon was a stunted, sick and misshapen thing, and she died young, in 153 AC, during the reign of King Aegon III Targaryen, the Dragonbane.[59][60] She had been a green female, small with withered wings. She laid a clutch of five eggs,[61] which never hatched.[21]

The Targaryens also had a collection of nineteen dragons skulls of various sizes and ages that they displayed on the walls of the throne room in the Red Keep. Some of these were thousands of years old.[12]

After their extinction, the only remnants of dragons were their skulls[12] and the eggs, some of which were petrified.[61][62][36] The eggs were highly valued for their beauty and exotic nature.[63] According to Ser Arlan of Pennytree, the summers became shorter after the last dragon died, and the winters longer and crueler.[21]

Many futile attempts were made to revive dragons. Aegon III Targaryen, known as the Dragonbane, had nine mages cross the narrow sea to use their magics in attempt to hatch remaining dragon eggs.[60] The pious King Baelor I Targaryen attempted to hatch his egg by praying over it.[62] Aegon IV Targaryen ordered pyromancers to build seven mechanical "dragons" that shot jets of wildfire. Hundreds of men died in a failed attempt to use them to invade Dorne.[64] The tragedy of Summerhall resulted from the attempt of King Aegon V Targaryen to hatch dragon eggs.[65]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Daenerys Targaryen manages to hatch three dragons—Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion—in her husband Drogo's funeral pyre when she steps into the fire while they lay inside it. With Daenerys's exchange of life for life, the first three dragons in over a hundred years are born in the Dothraki sea.[66]

A Clash of Kings

In King's Landing Wisdom Hallyne, a pyromancer of the Alchemists' Guild, tells Tyrion Lannister that their spells are more effective than usual, and wonders if there are any dragons around, as Wisdom Pollitor had once told him that magic had begun to go out of the world the day the last dragon died.[22]

The warlocks of Qarth attempt to kill Daenerys and claim her dragons, but she survives and the House of the Undying is destroyed.[7]

A Storm of Swords

Daenerys uses her dragons to conquer Astapor.[26]

During a small council meeting Varys reports that sailors back from the Jade Sea report that a three-headed dragon has hatched in Qarth, and is the wonder of that city. Lord Tywin Lannister dismisses the report.[67]

A Feast for Crows

The small council of Queen Regent Cersei Lannister discounts rumors of dragons from Essos.[68]

Maester Aemon discusses dragons with Samwell Tarly.[28]

A Dance with Dragons

Daenerys encloses Rhaegal and Viserion within the dragon pit of Meereen's Great Pyramid after the death of Hazzea, although Drogon remains free.[69] Drogon later causes chaos at Daznak's Pit,[10] and Daenerys flies on his back to the Dothraki sea.[70]

Rhaegal and Viserion are freed from the Great Pyramid during Quentyn Martell's ill-fated attempt to tame a dragon.[8][71]

Known Dragons

Dragon Riders Notes
Arrax Prince Lucerys Velaryon Born during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen, between 115 AC and 129 AC.[18] Killed with its rider in 129 AC above Shipbreaker Bay by Vhagar.[6]
Balerion (The Black Dread) King Aegon I Targaryen Born before House Targaryen relocated from Valyria to Dragonstone in 126 BC.[72] Died in 94 AC, of old age.[56][18]
King Maegor I Targaryen
Princess Aerea Targaryen
Prince Viserys Targaryen
The Cannibal None A wild dragon, never ridden.[6]
Caraxes (The Blood Wyrm) Prince Aemon Targaryen Killed with its rider in battle by Vhagar above the Gods Eye in 130 AC.[6][18]
Prince Daemon Targaryen
Dreamfyre Princess Rhaena Targaryen Died in 130 AC in the Storming of the Dragonpit.[6]
Queen Helaena Targaryen
Drogon Queen Daenerys Targaryen Hatched from an egg by Daenerys Targaryen, who placed Drogon's egg on the funeral pyre of her husband, Khal Drogo,[66] whom Drogon is named after.[2] Mounted by Daenerys for the first time in 300 AC.[10]
Grey Ghost None A wild dragon, never ridden. Died in 130 AC when attacked by Sunfyre.[6]
Meleys (The Red Queen) Princess Rhaenys Targaryen Died in 129 AC, during the Dance of the Dragons.[6]
Meraxes Queen Rhaenys Targaryen Born on Dragonstone between 126 BC and Aegon's Conquest.[16] Died at Hellholt in Dorne in 10 AC during the First Dornish War.[6][73]
Moondancer Lady Baela Targaryen. Died in 130 AC, during the Dance of the Dragons.[6]
Morghul Princess Jaehaera Targaryen Born during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen, after an egg was placed in the cradle of Princess Jaehaera.[18] Died during the Storming of the Dragonpit in 130 AC.[6]
Morning Lady Rhaena Targaryen. Born during the Dance of the Dragons.[74]
Quicksilver King Aenys I Targaryen Killed in 43 AC by Balerion in the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye.[54]
Prince Aegon Targaryen
Rhaegal None Hatched from an egg by Daenerys Targaryen, who placed Rhaegal's egg on the funeral pyre of her husband, Khal Drogo.[66] Daenerys named Rhaegal after her oldest brother, Rhaegar Targaryen.[2]
Seasmoke Ser Laenor Velaryon Died during the Second Battle of Tumbleton in 130 AC.[6]
Addam Velaryon
Sheepstealer Nettles A wild dragon, claimed during the Dance of the Dragons.[6]
Shrykos Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen Born from an egg placed in the cradle of Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen during the reign of King Viserys I Targaryen.[18] Died during the Storming of the Dragonpit in 130 AC.[6]
Silverwing Queen Alysanne Targaryen Hatched from an egg placed in the cradle of Alysanne Targaryen.[33] Resided on Dragonstone after Alysanne's death, where she was eventually claimed by Ulf the White. Became wild after the death of her rider, and made her lair in an island on Red Lake.[74]
Ulf the White
Stormcloud Prince Aegon "the Younger" Targaryen Ridden only once, in 129 AC. Died a few hours later.[6]
Sunfyre (The Golden) King Aegon II Targaryen Said to have been young during 120 AC[18] and 129 AC.[74][6] Died during the Dance of the Dragons in late 130 AC at Dragonstone.[6]
Syrax Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen[30] Born during the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, and named by Rhaenyra after a Valyrian goddess.[18] Died during riots in King's Landing in 130 AC.[6]
Tessarion (The Blue Queen) Prince Daeron Targaryen Died during the Dance of the Dragons, in 130 AC.[6]
Tyraxes Prince Joffrey Velaryon Born from an egg placed in the cradle of Prince Joffrey Velaryon.[18] Died in 130 AC, during riot's in King’s Landing.[6]
Vermax Prince Jacaerys Velaryon Born from an egg placed in the cradle of Prince Jacaerys Velaryon.[18] Died in 130 AC.[6]
Vermithor (The Bronze Fury) King Jaehaerys I Targaryen Hatched from an egg placed in the cradle of Jaehaerys I Targaryen.[33] Unclaimed since Jaehaerys's death in 103 AC, until he bonded with Hugh Hammer in 129 AC. Died in 130 AC, during the Dance of the Dragons, at Tumbleton.[6]
Hugh Hammer
Vhagar Queen Visenya Targaryen Born in 51 on Dragonstone. Ridden by Visenya Targaryen until her death in 44 AC.[54] Remained unridden for twenty-nine years until 73 AC with Baelon Targaryen claiming and riding her until his death in 101 AC.[75] Vhagar was eventually claimed by Laena Velaryon, who rode the dragon until her own death in 120 AC.[18] Shortly afterwards, Vhagar was claimed by Prince Aemond Targaryen,[18] and ridden by him until both rider and dragon died in 130 AC.[6]
Prince Baelon the Brave
Lady Laena Velaryon
Prince Aemond Targaryen
Viserion None Hatched from an egg by Daenerys Targaryen, who placed Viserion's egg on the funeral pyre of her husband, Khal Drogo.[66] Daenerys named Viserion after her brother Viserys Targaryen.[2]
The Last dragon. None Born and died during the reign of King Aegon III Targaryen. Was once seen by Ser Arlan of Pennytree when he was still a boy; it was not really combat-worthy.[21]

Of unknown or uncertain chronology

Known Dragon Eggs

Dragon eggs in Game of Thrones
  • Mysaria's egg - When Prince Daemon Targaryen learned his concubine was pregnant, he presented her with a dragon egg, but King Viserys I Targaryen commanded him to return the egg and send Mysaria away.[18] Whereabouts unknown.
  • {hatched} Prince Jacaerys Velaryon's egg - placed in his cradle at his birth by royal decree, hatched into the dragon Vermax.[18][31]
  • {hatched} Prince Lucerys Velaryon's egg - placed in his cradle at his birth by royal decree, hatched into the dragon Arrax.[18][31]
  • {hatched} Prince Joffrey Velaryon's egg - placed in his cradle at his birth by royal decree, hatched into the dragon Tyraxes.[18][31]
  • King Viserys II Targaryen's egg - he possessed an egg during the Dance of the Dragons, so far undescribed – whereabouts unknown.[6]
  • Lady Rhaena Targaryen's eggs - her first egg hatched into a broken thing that died within hours. She possessed another egg at the start of the civil war, and took three eggs to the Vale with her during the war.[6] Only one egg is known to have hatched,[74] the whereabouts of the others are unknown.
  • Prince Maelor Targaryen's egg - he was given an egg at birth,[18] which had not yet hatched by the start of the civil war.[6] It is unknown what happened to the egg after Maelor was killed at Bitterbridge.[74]
  • King Aegon II Targaryen's egg - purple and gold - seeking a replacement for the dead Sunfyre, Aegon choose a new egg in the hopes of hatching a new dragon for himself.
  • Five eggs - from the last dragon's clutch,[61] so far undescribed – whereabouts unknown.
  • Princess Elaena Targaryen's egg - silver and gold in unknown arrangement[78] – whereabouts unknown.
  • Prince Daeron Targaryen's egg - known to exist,[61] but so far undescribed – whereabouts unknown.
  • Prince Aerion Targaryen's egg - gold and silver, with veins of fiery colors[61] – whereabouts unknown.
  • Prince Aemon Targaryen's egg - known to exist,[61] but so far undescribed – whereabouts unknown.
  • King Aegon V Targaryen's egg - white and green swirls[61] – whereabouts unknown.
  • Lord Ambrose Butterwell's egg - red, with golden flecks and black whorls[61] – whereabouts unknown.
  • Seven eggs - used by King Aegon V Targaryen in the ceremony that caused the Tragedy at Summerhall.[65] Some of these may have been the unhatched eggs mentioned above. Whereabouts unknown, but possibly destroyed by the fire.
  • King Euron Greyjoy's egg - Euron claimed he had a dragon egg, but threw it into the sea.[79]
  • {hatched} Drogon's egg - black as the midnight sea, alive with scarlet ripples and swirls.[24]
  • {hatched} Rhaegal's egg - deep green, with burnished bronze flecks.[24]
  • {hatched} Viserion's egg - colored pale cream, streaked with gold.[24]

Books and scrolls about dragons

Quotes

Daenerys Targaryen, the Unburnt, by Michael Komarck ©

For the first time in hundreds of years, the night came alive with the music of dragons.[66]

—thoughts of Daenerys Targaryen

Dragons are fire made flesh, and fire is power.[80]

The last dragon in Westeros was the last dragon. That is well known.[81]

The grief and glory of my house.[82]

Once a man has seen a dragon in flight, let him stay at home and tend his garden in content, someone had written once, for this wide world has no greater wonder.[27]

—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister

All I know of dragons is what my brother told me when I was a girl, and some I read in books, but it is said that even Aegon the Conquerer never dared mount Vhagar or Meraxes, nor did his sisters mount Balerion the Black Dread. Dragons live longer than men, some for hundreds of years, so Balerion had other riders after Aegon died ... but no rider ever flew two dragons.[39]

Death comes out of a dragon's mouth, but death does not go in that way.[83]

—writings of Barth

We shall not pretend to any understanding of the bond between dragon and dragonrider; wiser heads have pondered that mystery for centuries. We do know however, that dragons are not horses, to be ridden by any man who throws a saddle on their back.[6]

—writings of Gyldayn

Who can know the heart of a dragon?[6]

—writings of Gyldayn

There are no more dragons known to exist... but this is a medieval period, and large parts of the world are still terra incognita, so there are always tales of dragon sightings in far off mysterious places. The maesters tend to discount those.[44]

Behind the Scenes

The writer Phyllis Eisenstein convinced George R. R. Martin to add dragons to A Game of Thrones. Martin dedicated A Storm of Swords to Eisenstein.[84]

Notes

  1. Although the year of birth of Meraxes is not known, she is known to have hatched some point after Lord Aenar Targaryen arrived with his household on Dragonstone in 126 BC (The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest). That means she might have been born as early as the year of House Targaryen's arrival. Meraxes's death in 10 AC, however, makes it impossible for her to have been older at the time of her death than Vhagar, who died at the age of a hundred and eighty-one, had been when she died. Regardless of the fact that Meraxes died at a younger age, her skull was larger than Vhagar's (A Game of Thrones, Tyrion II).

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 23, Daenerys III.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 12, Daenerys I.
  3. Not a Blog: Awards, Awards (July 15th, 2016) Comment July 15, 2016
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 So Spake Martin: Comic-Con (NEW YORK CITY, NY) (February 25, 2007)
  5. Not A Blog: Dany and the Dragons (July 9, 2013)
  6. 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 6.25 6.26 6.27 6.28 6.29 6.30 6.31 6.32 6.33 6.34 6.35 6.36 6.37 6.38 6.39 6.40 6.41 The Princess and the Queen.
  7. 7.0 7.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 48, Daenerys IV.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 68, The Dragontamer.
  9. 9.0 9.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 5, Tyrion II.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 52, Daenerys IX.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 8, Daenerys I.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 13, Tyrion II.
  13. The World of Ice & Fire, The Iron Islands: Driftwood Crowns.
  14. The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: The Shivering Sea.
  15. "Interview with the Dragon" Copyright © 2003 Robert Shaw.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 The World of Ice & Fire, The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  17. Not a Blog: The Rogues are Coming (March 12, 2014), Reply to question (March 12, 2014)
  18. 18.00 18.01 18.02 18.03 18.04 18.05 18.06 18.07 18.08 18.09 18.10 18.11 18.12 18.13 18.14 18.15 18.16 18.17 18.18 18.19 18.20 18.21 18.22 18.23 18.24 The Rogue Prince.
  19. The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: Dorne Against the Dragons.
  20. 20.0 20.1 Fire & Blood, Jaehaerys and Alysanne - Their Triumphs and Tragedies.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 The Hedge Knight.
  22. 22.0 22.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 49, Tyrion XI.
  23. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 3, Daenerys I.
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.
  25. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 14, Catelyn III.
  26. 26.0 26.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 27, Daenerys III.
  27. 27.0 27.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 14, Tyrion IV.
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 35, Samwell IV.
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 The World of Ice & Fire, The North: Winterfell.
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 8, Tyrion III.
  31. 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 31.6 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Viserys I.
  32. Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
  33. 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 Fire & Blood, The Sons of the Dragon.
  34. 34.0 34.1 34.2 Fire & Blood, Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession.
  35. Fire & Blood, The Lyseni Spring and the End of Regency.
  36. 36.0 36.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II.
  37. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 40, Daenerys III.
  38. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I.
  39. 39.0 39.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 50, Daenerys VIII.
  40. Not a Blog: The Rogues are Coming... (March 12, 2014), Comment (March 12, 2014)
  41. 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 41.4 The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria.
  42. The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: Sothoryos.
  43. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 22, Arya II.
  44. 44.0 44.1 So Spake Martin: Dragons in Westeros (December 11, 1999)
  45. The World of Ice & Fire, The Bones and Beyond: Yi Ti.
  46. 46.0 46.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 20, Brienne IV.
  47. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: The Gardener Kings.
  48. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: Oldtown.
  49. 49.0 49.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 19, The Drowned Man.
  50. The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: Ten Thousand Ships.
  51. 51.0 51.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon I.
  52. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 16, Eddard III.
  53. 53.0 53.1 The Sons of the Dragon.
  54. 54.0 54.1 54.2 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Maegor I.
  55. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 41, Jon V.
  56. 56.0 56.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Jaehaerys I.
  57. Not A Blog: The Rogues Are Coming... (Comment March 12, 2014)
  58. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 45, Samwell V.
  59. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 22, Arya II.
  60. 60.0 60.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon III.
  61. 61.0 61.1 61.2 61.3 61.4 61.5 61.6 61.7 The Mystery Knight.
  62. 62.0 62.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I.
  63. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 46, Daenerys V.
  64. The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.
  65. 65.0 65.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V.
  66. 66.0 66.1 66.2 66.3 66.4 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 72, Daenerys X.
  67. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 19, Tyrion III.
  68. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
  69. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 11, Daenerys II.
  70. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 71, Daenerys X.
  71. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 70, The Queen's Hand.
  72. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reing of the Dragons: The Conquest.
  73. The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: Dorne Against the Dragons.
  74. 74.0 74.1 74.2 74.3 74.4 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon II.
  75. Fire & Blood, The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, & Pain.
  76. The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Age of Heroes.
  77. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 8, Bran II.
  78. So Spake Martin: Three Maidens in the Tower (June 27, 2006)
  79. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 29, The Reaver.
  80. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 27, Daenerys II.
  81. A Feast for Crows, Prologue.
  82. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 26, Samwell III.
  83. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 66, Tyrion XII.
  84. George R.R. Martin: The Rolling Stone Interview

External links

  • Dragon - Wikipedia article on the real-world mythological creature.