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__NOTOC__The setting of ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' is one where there are many faiths, and many faithful. Belief in high powers and supernatural threats runs deep through the culture of the  known world and influence most aspects of life. In The [[Seven Kingdoms]] nearly all children are raised praising either the new gods or the old and fear of the Others coming to claim them if they misbehave. Across the narrow sea children are often given to be raised to priesthood of one of the many deities worshipped there. Little is known about the actual deities and their powers, so far only [[R'hllor]] has been shown to possess real power and influence the world directly.
+
The setting of ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' is one where there are many faiths, and many faithful. Belief in high powers and supernatural threats runs deep through the culture of the  known world and influence most aspects of life. In the [[Seven Kingdoms]] nearly all children are raised praising either the new gods or the old. Across the narrow sea children are often given to be raised to priesthood of one of the many deities worshipped there. Little is known about the actual deities and their powers. So far, only followers of [[R'hllor]] have been shown to channel real powers that influence the world directly.
  
== Westeros ==
+
==Westeros==
Westeros has relatively few significant religions. They include:
+
Relatively few religions have a significant following in Westeros. They include:
* The '''[[old gods]]''', tied to the earth, are the gods of the forest, mountains and streams. They are nameless deities worshiped by [[the North]]ern population of [[Westeros]], symbolized by [[weirwood]] trees. They are the oldest religion in Westeros, worshipped by the magical [[children of the forest]] before the [[First Men]] came to the continent and later adopted the religion.
 
  
* The '''[[Faith of the Seven]]''', the dominant religion in the [[Seven Kingdoms]], is built around symbology of the number seven, the seven facets of the one god. Its many institutions and priesthood structure closely mirrors the way Christianity operated in the Middle Ages.
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* The '''[[old gods]]''' are nameless deities{{ref|AGOT|70}} of stream, forest, and stone.{{ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Dawn Age}} They were worshipped 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 worshipped 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.{{Ref|twoiaf|The Wall and Beyond: The Wildlings}}
 
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* 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]]''' and the '''[[Storm God]]''' are the gods of the [[ironborn]]. The Drowned God is a harsh deity and his religion is a harsh one, favouring reaving and plundering in its name. Children are initiated into the faith by being drowned in sea water and resuscitated.  
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* 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 [[Andal invasion]]. 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]]'''.
 +
* '''[[R'hllor]]''', also known as the ''Lord of Light'', the ''Heart of Fire'', and the ''God of Flame and Shadow'',{{ref|aCoK|Prologue}} 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]], the god of ice 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}}
  
* '''[[R'hllor]]''', the Lord of Light, is a foreign faith from Essos and is little known in Westeros, though it has gained support in recent times. It holds a very black-and-white view of the world, with R'hllor being the one true god and the rest being demons that must be destroyed. Worship of fire is a key component.
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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}} And there are the [[sea god]] and the [[goddess of the wind]] from the legend of [[Durran Godsgrief]].{{Ref|aCoK|31}}
  
* '''[[Mother Rhoyne]]''' is worshiped by the remnants of the [[Rhoynar]] practicing along the river [[Greenblood]] in [[Dorne]].
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==Essos==
 
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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 include:
* The '''[[Lady of the Waves]]''' and the '''[[Lord of the Skies]]''' were worshiped on the [[Three Sisters]] prior to the Seven.
 
 
 
== Essos ==
 
In [[Essos]] [[across the narrow sea]], it seems there are as many gods as there are peoples. In [[Braavos]], one can find temples and shrines to almost every god one can imagine.{{ref|ADWD|64}} These include:
 
  
 
* [[Aquan the Red Bull]], whose priests sacrifice calves.
 
* [[Aquan the Red Bull]], whose priests sacrifice calves.
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* the [[Black Goat of Qohor|Black Goat]], a deity worshipped in [[Qohor]].
 
* the [[Black Goat of Qohor|Black Goat]], a deity worshipped in [[Qohor]].
 
* the [[Great Shepherd]], the deity of the [[Lhazareen]].
 
* the [[Great Shepherd]], the deity of the [[Lhazareen]].
* the [[Great Stallion]], a deity worshipped by the [[Dothraki]].
 
 
* the [[Hooded Wayfarer]], a patron of the poor.
 
* the [[Hooded Wayfarer]], a patron of the poor.
 +
* the [[horse god]], the deity worshipped by the [[Dothraki]].
 
* the [[Lady of Spears]], the deity of the [[Unsullied]].
 
* the [[Lady of Spears]], the deity of the [[Unsullied]].
* the [[Lion of Night]] preferred by rich men.
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* the [[Lion of Night]], a god preferred by rich men.
* the [[Many-Faced God]] of [[Braavos]], believed to be the true face of all the gods.
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* the [[Many-Faced God]] of [[Braavos]], whose followers believe to be the true face of all gods.
 
* the [[Merling King (god)|Merling King]], a deity worshipped by sailors.
 
* the [[Merling King (god)|Merling King]], a deity worshipped by sailors.
 +
* the [[Moon-Pale Maiden]], another deity worshipped by sailors.
 
* the [[Pattern]], a labyrinth leading to wisdom.
 
* the [[Pattern]], a labyrinth leading to wisdom.
* [[R'hllor]] and the [[Great Other]], a dualistic religion.
+
* [[R'hllor]] and the [[Great Other]], a dualistic religion spreading throughout the known world.
* [[Semosh]] and [[Selloso]], brother gods with twin temples.
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* [[Semosh and Selloso]], brother gods with twin temples.
 
* the [[Silent God]], who is worshipped at the [[Stones of the Silent God]].
 
* the [[Silent God]], who is worshipped at the [[Stones of the Silent God]].
 +
* the [[Stone Cow of Faros]], a deity worshipped on [[Faros]].
 
* [[Trios]], a three-headed deity.
 
* [[Trios]], a three-headed deity.
* the [[Weeping Woman]], a favorite of old women.
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* the [[Weeping Lady of Lys]], a favorite of old women.
 +
* [[Pantera]], a six-breasted cat goddess of Lys.{{ref|fab|The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency}}
  
 
== Influences and Theology ==
 
== Influences and Theology ==
:{{See also|Themes in A Song of Ice and Fire}}
+
{{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 portray 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.  
+
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:  
 
Known influences include:  
* The [[old gods]] seem like an [[w:Animism|animistic]] religion.  
+
* 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|Seven]] bears some distinct similarities to the [[w:Catholic church|Catholic church]] in structure and organization. The Seven is an analog of the [[w:Trinity|Trinity]], having seven gods in one rather than three ([[Father (the Seven)|Father]], [[Warrior (the Seven)|Warrior]], [[Smith (the Seven)|Smith]], [[Maiden (the Seven)|Maiden]], [[Mother (the Seven)|Mother]], [[Crone (the Seven)|Crone]], and [[Stranger (the Seven)|Stranger]]), and complete with [[w:Monasticism|monastic]] orders, dormant military orders ([[Faith Militant]]), and a Pope/College of Cardinals ([[High Septon]]/[[Most Devout]]).
+
* 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>
* [[R'hllor]] is similar in many ways to [[w:Manichaeism|Manichaeism]] and [[w:Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrianism]], with a strong [[w:dualism|dualism]] between the [[Lord of Light]] and the [[Great Other|Nameless Other]] of Darkness, apocalyptic theology, and religious practice that is strongly intertwined with the use and symbiology of fire.
+
* 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 worshipping 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>
* Virtually every other religion are examples of [[w:polytheism|polytheism]], where people attempting to understand nature gave forces of nature human shapes.
 
* The [[Storm God]] and the [[Drowned God]] could be related to Norse mythology, encouraging the lifestyle of raiding and reaving just as the religion of the Vikings did.
 
* [[Mother Rhoyne]] religion is polytheistic worshipping 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 [[w:Roma|Roma]], to a degree.<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 in 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 />
+
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==
 
==Prophecy==
 
*See [[:Category:Prophecy|list of Prophecies]].
 
*See [[:Category:Prophecy|list of Prophecies]].
  
==Notes and References==
+
==References==
{{References|1|refs=
+
{{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>
 
   <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>
 
}}
 
}}

Revision as of 04:26, 20 January 2019

The setting of A Song of Ice and Fire is one where there are many faiths, and many faithful. Belief in high powers and supernatural threats runs deep through the culture of the known world and influence most aspects of life. In the Seven Kingdoms nearly all children are raised praising either the new gods or the old. Across the narrow sea children are often given to be raised to priesthood of one of the many deities worshipped there. Little is known about the actual deities and their powers. So far, only followers of R'hllor have been shown to channel real powers that influence the world directly.

Westeros

Relatively few religions have a significant following in Westeros. They include:

  • The old gods are nameless deities[1] of stream, forest, and stone.[2] They were worshipped across Westeros by the children of the forest, and eventually by the First Men, some time after signing the Pact.[3] Since the arrival of the Andals who brought with them their own religion, the old gods are no longer dominantly worshipped in the south of Westeros.[3] Only in the north does a majority of houses still worship the old gods. 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.[4]
  • 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.[5][6][7][8][9][10] For the less educated, this concept is often difficult to grasp, leading to the common belief that there are indeed seven different gods.[6] The number seven is considered holy.[11]
  • The Drowned God, also called He Who Dwells Beneath the Waves,[12] is a sea deity worshiped by the ironborn of the Iron Islands. The religion of the Drowned God is old, predating the Andal invasion. All attempts of the Andal invaders to supplant it with the Seven have failed. The Drowned God's nemesis is the Storm God.
  • R'hllor, also known as the Lord of Light, the Heart of Fire, and the God of Flame and Shadow,[13] 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.[14][15] 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, the god of ice and death.[16]
  • Mother Rhoyne, the chief goddess of the Rhoynar, is still worshiped by the orphans of the Greenblood, descendants of the Rhoynar.[17]

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.[18] And there are the sea god and the goddess of the wind from the legend of Durran Godsgrief.[19]

Essos

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.[20] Named religions include:

Influences and Theology

Unlike J. R. R. Tolkien's 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 animism and traditional Pagan beliefs of Wicca and various other Celtic systems and Norse systems", melted into one construct.[22] They are nameless and numerous.[23]
  • The Faith of the Seven is based on the medieval 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 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.[24][25] The Faith Militant, the Faith's military order, is loosely based on crusading orders such as the Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller.[26]
  • 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 Valhalla.
  • The Mother Rhoyne religion is a polytheistic worshipping 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 Roma.[27]

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 deus-ex-machina in Westeros.[28]

Prophecy

References

  1. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 70, Jon IX.
  2. The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Dawn Age.
  3. 3.0 3.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 66, Bran VII.
  4. The World of Ice & Fire, The Wall and Beyond: The Wildlings.
  5. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 10, Davos I.
  6. 6.0 6.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 25, Brienne V.
  7. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 28, Cersei VI.
  8. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 33, Catelyn IV.
  9. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 57, Sansa V.
  10. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 71, Daenerys VI.
  11. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 36, Cersei VIII.
  12. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 42, The King's Prize.
  13. A Clash of Kings, Prologue.
  14. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
  15. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
  16. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 25, Davos III.
  17. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 21, The Queenmaker.
  18. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 9, Davos I.
  19. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 31, Catelyn III.
  20. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 64, The Ugly Little Girl.
  21. Fire & Blood, The Lysene Spring and the End of Regency.
  22. George R.R. Martin | Talks at Google (Published August 6, 2011)
  23. So Spake Martin: Gods of Westeros (November 18, 1998)
  24. Bullseye: George R. R. Martin, Author of "A Song of Ice and Fire" Series: Interview on The Sound of Young America {September 19, 2011}
  25. Google Talks: George R. R. Martin
  26. So Spake Martin: Faith Militant’s Inspiration and Ice and Fire Dream Cast (April 15, 2008)
  27. Many Gods & Dark Faiths article by Ran and Linda
  28. Anders, Charlie Jane (July 21, 2011). "George R.R. Martin explains why we'll never meet any gods in A Song of Ice and Fire". io9.com. http://io9.com/5822939/george-rr-martin-explains-why-well-never-meet-any-gods-in-a-song-of-ice-and-fire. Retrieved 2012-02-13.