Difference between revisions of "Dragon egg"

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{{Todo|This article is missing multiple references. Missing citations should be added.<br>{{fact}}}}
 
[[File:Black Dragon Egg JulepeII.png|[[Drogon]]'s black dragon egg in the flames of Khal [[Drogo]]'s funeral pyre <br> - by Julepe. © FFG|thumb|450px|right]]
 
[[File:Black Dragon Egg JulepeII.png|[[Drogon]]'s black dragon egg in the flames of Khal [[Drogo]]'s funeral pyre <br> - by Julepe. © FFG|thumb|450px|right]]
 
[[Image:Elaena.jpg|Princess [[Elaena Targaryen]], holding a dragon’s egg - by Amok ©|thumb|right|250px]]
 
[[Image:Elaena.jpg|Princess [[Elaena Targaryen]], holding a dragon’s egg - by Amok ©|thumb|right|250px]]
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A detailed description of the three fossilized eggs [[Daenerys Targaryen]] receives from [[Illyrio Mopatis]] as a wedding gift is given in ''[[A Game of Thrones]]''.  According to Maegister [[Illyrio]] the three dragon eggs are from the [[Shadow Lands]] beyond [[Asshai]] and the eons have turned them to stone.{{Ref|aGoT|11}}  
 
A detailed description of the three fossilized eggs [[Daenerys Targaryen]] receives from [[Illyrio Mopatis]] as a wedding gift is given in ''[[A Game of Thrones]]''.  According to Maegister [[Illyrio]] the three dragon eggs are from the [[Shadow Lands]] beyond [[Asshai]] and the eons have turned them to stone.{{Ref|aGoT|11}}  
 
{{Quote|'Dragon’s eggs, from the Shadow Lands beyond Asshai,' said Magister Illyrio. 'The eons have turned them to stone, yet still they burn bright with beauty.'}}
 
{{Quote|'Dragon’s eggs, from the Shadow Lands beyond Asshai,' said Magister Illyrio. 'The eons have turned them to stone, yet still they burn bright with beauty.'}}
Several important facts about the eggs and their origin are unknown:
 
*Where and how Illyrio acquired the three eggs
 
*Whether he has more or is able to acquire more
 
*Whether anyone had attempted to hatch them prior to [[Dany]]
 
*Whether they are from the same clutch
 
  
 
To Daenerys the eggs are huge and are the most beautiful things she has ever seen.  They are patterned in such rich colours that at first she thinks they are crusted in jewels, and so large that it takes both of her hands to hold one.   
 
To Daenerys the eggs are huge and are the most beautiful things she has ever seen.  They are patterned in such rich colours that at first she thinks they are crusted in jewels, and so large that it takes both of her hands to hold one.   

Revision as of 16:30, 28 February 2016

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This article is missing multiple references. Missing citations should be added.
[citation needed]
Drogon's black dragon egg in the flames of Khal Drogo's funeral pyre
- by Julepe. © FFG
Princess Elaena Targaryen, holding a dragon’s egg - by Amok ©

A dragon egg is an egg laid by a dragon as a means of reproduction of the species . Dragons have been known to lay eggs in a clutch of up to at least five.[1] Whether an egg has to be fertilized by a male dragon in order to be fertile is not known. Dragons may have brooded their eggs. Targaryens may feel heat from dragon eggs, where everyone else feels only cold.[2]

About

See also: Images of Dragon Eggs

Dragon eggs come in various colours. Judging from the colour of Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons the colouring of the eggshell appears to indicate the colouring of the dragon within.

Fossilized dragon eggs are worth a fortune. Before the lighting of Drogo’s funeral pyre Ser Jorah Mormont tells Dany that one of her dragon's eggs could buy a ship to take her back to the Free Cities. Sell all three and she could be a wealthy woman all her days. [3] If any of Daenerys dragons were to lay an egg presumably it would be beyond price.

The last Targaryen dragon laid a clutch of five eggs. What happened to them is not known. Whether there are any dragon eggs left over amongst the smoking ruins that were Valyria is not known. On Dragonstone there is supposed to be a fabled hoard of dragon eggs.[4]

Attempts to hatch dragon's eggs

After the extinction of dragons the Targaryens made numerous attempts to hatch the dragon eggs left behind. Baelor I Targaryen had prayed over his eggs, the other Targaryens had sought to hatch theirs with sorcery. All they got for it was farce and tragedy,[5] death, disaster, or disgrace.[6] Only Daenerys Targaryen has succeeded in hatching dragon eggs after the death of the last dragon.

Daenerys' dragon eggs

Dany holding a dragon egg - by Katherine Dinger . © FFG

A detailed description of the three fossilized eggs Daenerys Targaryen receives from Illyrio Mopatis as a wedding gift is given in A Game of Thrones. According to Maegister Illyrio the three dragon eggs are from the Shadow Lands beyond Asshai and the eons have turned them to stone.[7]

'Dragon’s eggs, from the Shadow Lands beyond Asshai,' said Magister Illyrio. 'The eons have turned them to stone, yet still they burn bright with beauty.'

To Daenerys the eggs are huge and are the most beautiful things she has ever seen. They are patterned in such rich colours that at first she thinks they are crusted in jewels, and so large that it takes both of her hands to hold one.

When Dany lifts one she expects it to be made of some fine porcelain or delicate enamel, or even blown glass but it is much heavier than that, as if it were all of solid stone. The surface of the shell is covered with tiny scales, and as she turned the egg between her fingers they shimmer like polished metal in the light of the setting sun.

The eggs are beautiful colours. One egg is a deep green, with burnished bronze flecks that came and went depending on how Dany turned it. Another is pale cream streaked with gold. The last is black, as black as midnight sea, yet alive with scarlet ripples and swirls.

Dragons known to have laid clutches

Known Dragon Eggs

  • Viserys II Targaryen's egg - possessed an egg during the civil war, so far undescribed– whereabouts unknown.[8]
  • Rhaena Targaryen - possessed an egg at the start of the civil war, so far undescribed– whereabouts unknown. She took three eggs to the Vale with her during the war.[8] Only one egg is known to have hatched.[9]
  • Aegon V Targaryen's egg - white and green swirls [1] – whereabouts unknown
  • Aemon Targaryen's egg - known to exist,[1] but so far undescribed – whereabouts unknown
  • Aerion Targaryen's egg - gold and silver, with veins of fiery colors [1] – whereabouts unknown
  • Ambrose Butterwell's egg - red, with golden flecks and black whorls – whereabouts unknown [1]
  • Daeron Targaryen's egg - known to exist,[1] but so far undescribed – whereabouts unknown
  • Elaena Targaryen's egg - silver and gold in unknown arrangement[10] – whereabouts unknown
  • Five eggs - from the last dragon's clutch[1], so far undescribed– whereabouts unknown
  • Euron Greyjoy's egg - Euron claimed he threw it into the sea. [11]
  • {hatched} Drogon’s egg - black as the midnight sea, alive with scarlet ripples and swirls
  • {hatched} Rhaegal’s egg - deep green, with burnished bronze flecks
  • {hatched} Viserion's egg - colored pale cream, streaked with gold

Depending on how one reads a statement in The Mystery Knight, it might be possible that Rhae Targaryen and Daella Targaryen had been gifted with dragon eggs as well.

During his reign, King Aerys II Targaryen attempted to hatch dragons from the eggs that had found in the depths of Dragonstone. Some of these eggs were so old, they had turned to stone. His attempts, however, yielded naught.[12]

References in the books

Daenerys, with her three dragon eggs - by Algesiras
Daenerys Targaryen placing her dragon eggs on Drogo's funeral pyre - by Felicia Cano. © Fantasy Flight Games

The Princess and the Queen

The greens's two year old Prince Maelor Targaryen possessed a dragon egg at the start of the civil war as did the blacks's Prince Viserys. The blacks's Rhaena "of Pentos" was given an egg from Syrax's recent clutch prior to the civil war and brought three dragon's eggs with her to the Vale, where she prayed nightly for their hatching.[8]

When Prince Viserys was taken captive off of the Gay Abandon, he hid his dragon egg. It is not known what happened to the egg.[8]

The Sworn Sword

It is revealed that the thief Quickfinger was caught with stolen dragon eggs during the First Blackfyre Rebellion.[13]

The Mystery Knight

A joust is held to celebrate the wedding of Lord Ambrose Butterwell to a Frey of the Crossing. The victor's prize is to be a dragon egg. Later the dragon egg goes missing. Sometime after that Brynden Rivers informs Dunk the egg was in fact taken by an agent of his who crawled up the privy shaft of the castle to take the egg from its guarded chamber, and that the egg is now safe.[1]

A Game of Thrones

Daenerys Targaryen is gifted three dragon’s eggs during her wedding.[7] Later she hatches the eggs on her husband’s funeral pyre in the Dothraki Sea.[3]

A Storm of Swords

On Dragonstone Melisandre tells Stannis only a king’s blood can wake the stone dragon. Stannis grinds his teeth and replies,

“The dragons are done. The Targaryens tried to bring them back half a dozen times. And made fools of themselves, or corpses.[14]

Later on Queen Selyse tries to persuade King Stannis Baratheon that he needs dragons to take the kingdom. Stannis has heard enough talk of stone dragons and reminds her,

Nine mages crossed the sea hatch Aegon the Third's catche of eggs. Baelor I Targaryen prayed over his for half a year. Aegon the Fourth built dragons of wood and iron. Aerion Brightflame drank wildfire to transform himself. The mages failed, King Baelor's prayers went unanswered, the wooden dragons burned, and Prince Aerion died screaming[15]

A Feast for Crows

While riding in the chain winch at the Wall Samwell Tarly ponders that there were dragons at the Wall two hundred years ago. Sam thinks about Queen Alysanne who had visited Castle Black on her dragon, and Jaehaerys, her king, who had come after her on his own. Sam wonders to himself, "could Silverwing have left an egg behind? Or had Stannis found an egg on Dragonstone? Even if he has an egg, how can he hope to quicken it?" He recalls that Baelor I Targaryen had prayed over his eggs, the other Targaryens had sought to hatch theirs with sorcery. All they got for it was farce and tragedy.[5]

Lord Hallyne of the Guild of Alchemists asks Cersei Lannister that his pyromancers be allowed to hatch any dragon’s eggs that might turn up upon Dragonstone, now that the isle is safely back in royal hands. Cersei remarks that if any such eggs remain, Stannis Baratheon would have sold them to pay for his rebellion. She refrains from saying that the plan is mad. Ever since the last Targaryen dragon had died, all such attempts to hatch dragon eggs had ended in death, disaster, or disgrace.[6]

Euron Greyjoy claims to have held a dragon’s egg in his hand. A Myrish wizard swore he could hatch it if Euron gave him a year and all the gold that he required. When Euron grew bored with his excuses he slew him. As he watched his entrails sliding through his fingers the wizard said “But it has not been a year”. When Victarion asks Euron to show him the egg he tells him that he threw it in the sea during one of his dark moods.[11]

A Dance with Dragons

According to Mace Tyrell his son Ser Loras Tyrell and his men searched every inch of Dragonstone but did not find any gold, gems, or any sign of the fabled hoard of dragon eggs. Kevan Lannister privately doubts Mace’s protestations.[4]

Quotes

"Bring my eggs." [3]

- Daenerys Targaryen’s command to her handmaidens


If he’d known they were like to hatch, he’d would have sat on them himself.[16]

- Ser Jorah Mormont to Daenerys Targaryen, on Illyrio’s gift of dragon eggs


Maybe it will be my egg that hatches. That would be splendid.[1]

- Egg, to Dunk

References and Notes