Black Wall

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The Black Wall in Volantis is a great oval of fused black stone built 200 hundred feet high by the Valyrians when Volantis was no more than an outpost of their empire. It is considered the heart of Volantis, only scions of the Old Blood are allowed to dwell there.

About

The Black wall is so thick that six four-horse chariots to race around its top abreast, as is done each year to celebrate the founding of the city. For two generations Lys, Myr and Volantis were ruled from within the Black Walls. That ended when the tigers tried to swallow Tyrosh. [1]

No outlander, freeman, or foreigner is allowed inside the Black Wall - save at the invitation of those who dwell within. Only scions of the Old Blood who can trace their ancestry back to Valyria itself may live within the Black Wall. Women of good birth who dwell in ancient palaces behind the Black Walls are allowed to vote.

33 years ago the widow of the waterfront was compelled to sell her deceased husband’s manse as no feedman may dwell within the Black Wall. She tells Tyrion that the Old Blood will have their dogs and children voting before any freedman. [2]

While playing cyvasse with Tyrion in Selhorys Qavo Nogarys reveals that Daenerys Targaryen’s smashing of the slave trade has deeply affected those that dwell behind the Black Wall and beyond:

Behind the Black Wall, lords of ancient blood sleep poorly, listening as their kitchen slaves sharpen their long knives. Slaves grow our food, clean our streets, teach our young. They guard our walls, row out galleys, fight our battles. And now they look east, they see this young queen shinning from afar, this breaker of chains. The Old Blood cannot suffer that. Poor men hate her too. Even the vilest beggar stands higher than a slave. This dragon queen would rob him of that consolation. [3]

Recent Events

A Dance with Dragons

As he is heading to the western end of the Long Bridge, across the wide blue expanse of the Rhoyne Quentyn Martell espies the Black Wall that had been raised by the Valyrians when Volantis was no more than an outpost of their empire.[4]

While writing dragonlore on the Shy Maid Tyrion wishes for Galendro’s history of Valyria, he figures that they must have a library in Old Volantis. He thinks he may find a copy there if he can find a way inside the Black Walls to the city’s heart.[1]

Qavo Nogarys Reveals that Daenerys Targaryen’s smashing of the slave trade has deeply affected those that dwell behind the Black Wall and beyond.

During his sermon Benerro points at the Black Wall behind the temple, gesturing up at its parapets, where a handful of armoured guardsmen stand gazing down.

While chained to a wall in a room in the Merchant's House Tyrion sees that one of the two windows looks towards the Long Bridge and the black-walled heart of Old Volantis across the river.[2]

References and Notes