Difference between revisions of "Valyria"

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| destroyed = [[Years before Aegon's Conquest#Year 102 Before the Conquest|102BC]], in the [[Doom of Valyria]]
 
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Revision as of 18:51, 8 May 2014

Valyria
Ruins of the Valyrian Freehold Capital City
Valyria of old.jpg
Topless towers of Valyria
Location Valyrian peninsula, Essos
Government Dragonlords, Freehold (freeborn landholders)
Religion Mixed Religions
Founded At least five thousand years ago.
Destroyed 102BC, in the Doom of Valyria
1: Ruined city 2: Lands of the Long Summer 3: Smoking Sea 4: Oros 5: Ruined city 6: Tyria 7: Ruined city 8: Ruined city 9: Summer Sea

Valyria is a ruined city in Essos. It is a long-dead city of wonderment, and was once the capital of a great empire called the Valyrian Freehold. It was destroyed by a cataclysmic event known as the Doom of Valyria a century before Aegon's Landing. It is the ancestral home of House Targaryen , House Celtigar and House Velaryon .[1]

Location

Valyria was located on a peninsula of the same name extending into the Summer Sea.[2][3] The Doom of Valyria shattered the peninsula, separating the city of Valyria from the Lands of the Long Summer by the Smoking Sea. The city of Valyria lies at the center of the largest surviving island, surrounded by cliffs where the island has broken away from the mainland. Valyria was connected by Valyrian roads to surrounding cities, such as Tyria.[4]

Culture

A common racial characteristic among Valyrians appears to have been purple eyes and hair of silver-gold or platinum white. Valyria is said to still hold many treasures from before the Doom, such as Valyrian steel blades and items of magical power. It is said that the glass candles of Oldtown were brought there from Valyria a thousand years before the Doom.

History

Valyria was ruled by its dragonlords, led by two score rival houses that contested for power. House Targaryen, however, was not considered a powerful house. [5] The Valyrians' empire, the Valyrian Freehold, conquered the Ghiscari Empire to the east and established colonies to the west and north. Valyria and its peninsula were shattered by the Doom, however.

Some years ago Gerion Lannister journeyed to Valyria to try to recover Brightroar, the lost Valyrian steel sword of House Lannister, and any other treasures that might have survived the Doom. He did not return and was presumed lost at sea.[6] More recently, Euron Greyjoy claims to have returned from Valyria to claim the throne of the Iron Islands.

When asked if there is any chance we will see Valyria GRRM answered,

Well.... there may be. Not a great chance, mind you. The question is, is it going to be a look at Valyria now, or Valyria in the past? [7]

Quotes

At its apex Valyria was the greatest city in the known world, the center of civilization. Within its shining walls, twoscore rival houses vied for power and glory in court and council, rising and falling in an endless, subtle, oft-savage struggle for dominance.[8]

References and Notes

  1. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 3, Daenerys I.
  2. A Storm of Swords, Map of Slaver's Bay
  3. A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
  4. The Lands of Ice and Fire
  5. Reading from the world of Ice and Fire. Notes from George R.R. Martin's reading and Q&A at the Bubonicon 44 in Albuquerque by Trebla.
  6. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 32, Tyrion IV.
  7. So Spake Martin. Asshai.com Interview in Barcelona July 28, 2012.
  8. WORLD OF ICE AND FIRE SAMPLE: AEGON’S CONQUEST

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