Difference between revisions of "Purple eyes"

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[[File:Aerion Targaryen.jpg|[[Aerion Targaryen (son of Daemion)|Aerion Targaryen]], the Lord of [[Dragonstone]] © Scherma|thumb|350px|right]]
 
[[File:Aerion Targaryen.jpg|[[Aerion Targaryen (son of Daemion)|Aerion Targaryen]], the Lord of [[Dragonstone]] © Scherma|thumb|350px|right]]
 
[[File:Joshua Cairos DT purple eyes.jpg|[[Daenerys Targaryen]]'s purple eyes - by Joshua Cairos ©FFG|thumb|350px|right]]
 
[[File:Joshua Cairos DT purple eyes.jpg|[[Daenerys Targaryen]]'s purple eyes - by Joshua Cairos ©FFG|thumb|350px|right]]
[[File:Marc Simonetti Bittersteel.jpg|thumb|350px|right|[[Aegor Rivers]] was only half Targaryen, so he had purple eyes, but his hair was black. © Marc Simonetti]]
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[[File:Marc Simonetti Bittersteel close up.png|thumb|350px|right|[[Aegor Rivers]] was only half Targaryen, so he had purple eyes, but his hair was black. © Marc Simonetti]]
 
[[File:Elena-maria-vacas-ashara-dayne.jpg|[[Ashara Dayne]], by [https://www.artstation.com/artist/ab3nd Elena María Vacas]|thumb|350px|right]]
 
[[File:Elena-maria-vacas-ashara-dayne.jpg|[[Ashara Dayne]], by [https://www.artstation.com/artist/ab3nd Elena María Vacas]|thumb|350px|right]]
 
'''Purple eyes''' of different shades are exhibited by some characters in the world of [[George R. R. Martin]]’s [[A Song of Ice and Fire]].   
 
'''Purple eyes''' of different shades are exhibited by some characters in the world of [[George R. R. Martin]]’s [[A Song of Ice and Fire]].   

Revision as of 19:42, 25 June 2018

Aerion Targaryen, the Lord of Dragonstone © Scherma
Daenerys Targaryen's purple eyes - by Joshua Cairos ©FFG
Aegor Rivers was only half Targaryen, so he had purple eyes, but his hair was black. © Marc Simonetti

Purple eyes of different shades are exhibited by some characters in the world of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire.

The most well-known shade of purple eyes is violet. Two other shades are lilac and indigo. It is a rare and beautiful eye color, but is relatively common in the Targaryen family, who are descended from the high lords of the ancient Valyrian Freehold. In Westeros, few but the "blood of the dragon" have purple eyes.

The blood of old Valyria is often manifested by eyes in shades of purple, and hair of silver-gold or platinum white. This coloring was typical among Valyrians, and is often held up as proof that Valyrians are not entirely of the same blood as other men.[1]

Westeros

House Targaryen

Striking lilac or indigo or violet eyes are typical Targaryen features, and a famous proclamation of their Valyrian heritage. Their practice of incest was kept in part to preserve their rare coloring.

The famed Targaryen eye color can be revealing when a member of the family is trying to be incognito. Aegon V Targaryen, while serving as a squire to Duncan the Tall under the name "Egg", shaved his head so that his silver-gold hair would not be recognized. But his deep purple eyes could not be disguised, though in dim light they looked black.[2] Daemon II Blackfyre, incognito as the hedge knight "John the Fiddler", wore blue clothing to help make his purple eyes look blue.[3]

Prince Rhaegar Targaryen's eyes were dark indigo,[4] his brother Viserys's eyes were pale lilac,[5] and their sister DAenerys's eyes are violet.[5]

Note that not all Targaryens have purple eyes: Queen Alysanne Targaryen's eyes were clear blue,[6] and Prince Valarr Targaryen's eyes were also blue.[7] Children of Targaryen/non-Targaryen marriages may also have eyes of a non-Valyrian color; for example, the brown-eyed Prince Baelor, whose mother was a Martell.[7]

But despite their mixed parentage, many Targaryen bastards may still have purple eyes, including Aegor Rivers (though his hair was black)[8] and some dragonseeds.[9]

House Blackfyre

House Blackfyre was founded by Daemon Blackfyre, the legitimized bastard son of King Aegon IV Targaryen. Among the traits passed on to the Blackfyres by the Targaryens were the platinum blond hair and purple eyes.[3][10]

House Velaryon

House Velaryon of Driftmark is an ancient and proud house, with the blood of old Valyria in its veins.[11][12] Velaryons, like the Targaryens, often have the Valyrian features of silver hair and purple eyes.[12]

House Dayne

The trait for violet eyes runs in House Dayne, even though it is an unusual eye colour for non-Valyrians in Westeros. Ashara Dayne in particular was famous for her haunting violet eyes.[13][14] Note that GRRM has stated that the Dayne purple eye color is not related to Targaryen ancestry.[15]

The Free Cities

Where the blood of the old Valyrian Freehold runs strong, purple eyes and silver hair can still be found. In Lys, even the smallfolk and prostitutes often have the pale skin, silver-gold hair, and the purple, lilac, and pale blue eyes of the dragonlords.[16] Some Lyseni with purple eyes include Larra Rogare and Lysono Maar.

Animals

The Forest of Qohor contains a species of lemur with silver fur and purple eyes.[17] They are sometimes called Little Valyrians.[18]

Characters stated to have purple eyes

Quotes

Look at her. That silver-gold hair, those purple eyes... she is the blood of old Valyria, no doubt, no doubt...

He had only to close his eyes to see her, with her long dark hair tumbling about her shoulders and those haunting purple eyes.

— Ser Barristan Selmy, remembering Ashara Dayne[14]

Egg had big eyes, and somehow his shaven head made them look even larger. In the dimness of the lamplit cellar they looked black, but in better light their true colour could be seen: deep and dark and purple. Valyrian eyes.

—the thoughts of Duncan the Tall[2]

See also

References and Notes

  1. The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria.
  2. 2.0 2.1 The Sworn Sword.
  3. 3.0 3.1 The Mystery Knight.
  4. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 48, Daenerys IV.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 3, Daenerys I.
  6. So Spake Martin, Good Queen Alysanne and Rhaenyra, June 18, 2006
  7. 7.0 7.1 The Hedge Knight.
  8. So Spake Martin: The Great Bastards, (December 26, 2005)
  9. The Princess and the Queen.
  10. So Spake Martin, More Targaryen Descriptions,December 24, 2005
  11. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 10, Davos I.
  12. 12.0 12.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 12, Cersei III.
  13. 13.0 13.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 6, Catelyn II.
  14. 14.0 14.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 67, The Kingbreaker.
  15. Event Horizon Chat Transcript, March 18, 1999
  16. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: The Quarrelsome Daughters: Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh.
  17. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 23, Daenerys III.
  18. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Qohor.
  19. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 68, Daenerys IX.
  20. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 21, The Queenmaker.
  21. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 34, Arya VI.