Religion in A Song of Ice and Fire
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[edit] Introduction
Religion forms the basis of power for several groups in George R. R. Martin's book series, A Song of Ice and Fire. In A Game of Thrones, the Faith is explored as a mundane group and religion with no supernatural power. As the series progresses, both the political and supernatural power of theistic elements increase dramatically. This may occur for two reasons: one, the reader is exposed to lands beyond Westeros, and therefore expanding the point of view to include things presupposed as impossible before; and two, one can see the birth of dragons playing a role in the rebirth of theistic as well as occult magic.
[edit] Religions
There are numerous religions named in the series, but only a handful are expanded upon: those being the Old Gods, the Faith, the followers of Rh'llor, and the servants of He of Many Faces.
[edit] The Old Gods
The religion of the Old Gods is an ancient faith, dating back to the time of the Children of the Forest.1 It claims that there are numerous nameless gods that inhabit trees and rocks and untouched wilderness.2 Its adherents have dissipated since the coming of the Andals to Westeros, but the North remains largely faithful. Prayers are preferably performed in Godswoods, in front of a weirwood tree. These pale trees are different from other flora in the setting, and the central weirwood tree usually has a carved 'face' in it, which often appears to be crying or bleeding. People raised in other faiths sometimes experience discomfort while standing in the presence of a weirwood.
[edit] The Faith
The Faith of the Seven was brought to Westeros by the Andals.3 It holds tremendous power in the South, where it is embedded into the laws and customs of the land. Knighthood as well is based on the Faith and its religious mores. It maintains a small presence in the North, where the Old Gods still live in the minds of the people.
The number seven is quite prominent in the Faith. It holds that there are seven hells and seven gods. In the naming of a child, seven oils are used to anoint the infant. The Great Sept of Baelor has seven crystal towers. They hold the custom of a trial of seven, wherein seven champions each for the accuser and the accused, fight to the death. They hold seven constellations in the sky as sacred. As punishment, one of the faithful would serve as a begging brother for seven years. Even grace is taught to have seven aspects.
The Faith has a great many moral teachings. It frowns on gambling, preaches against bastardy, and curses as criminal things like incest and kinslaying. Its central book of teachings is titled 'The Seven-Pointed Star.'
The Seven Gods are said to be seven parts or faces of one God by Septons and other learned members of society. The Seven are taught to the Commoners and all children as the Maid, the Mother, the Crone, the Father, the Warrior, the Smith, and the Stranger.
Each identity is attributed to certain aspects of the human condition. The Maid represents innocence and virtue, and is prayed to usually by unwed maidens, mostly. The Mother represents motherhood and nurturing, and is prayed to by all women of childbearing capacity, and by those seeking divine compassion. The Crone represents wisdom, and is prayed to for guidance. The male representatives of this simple pantheon are geared towards the occupations of men. The Father is prayed to for vengeance and justice. The Warrior is the patron saint of footmen, knights and commanders all, and his divine influence on the field of battle is more often than not sought by those on both sides of the field. The Smith represents all the crafts and trials of men, whether farming, smithing, or construction; anything done by hand is usually done after a quick prayer to him. The Stranger represents the unkown, but especially death. Those who find themselves ostracized by society often find solace in praying to this entity, easily identifying with the divine 'outcast.'
The Hierarchy of the Faith is as elaborate in structure but simplistic in practice as its practice. A High Septon oversees the organization, which trains and places Septons and Septas throughout the land. Brown brothers travel between the villages to keep the smallfolk faithful, while Begging Brothers walk the city streets to maintain a presence there. Silent Sisters tend the dead in the name of the Stranger, and help maintain the larger septs.
The Faith worships in Septs and Septries built or cobbled together throughout the land of Westeros. The Great Sept of Baelor, located in King's Landing, is the most-visited in the series, and home to the High Septon. It is lavishly decorated, with huge statues of each of the Seven, and it is girdled by seven towers. The Starry Sept, built from black marble, is located in Oldtown. It was the seat of the High Septon until Aegon the Conqueror. The Sailor's Sept, the Lord's Sept, the Seven Shrines are also located in Oldtown. Most castles have a Sept built in, and most villages have at least a septry. Representations of the Seven range from the beautiful statues of the Great Sept of Baelor to wooden panels in poor villages.
[edit] R'hllor, the Lord of Light
"The night is dark, and full of terrors."- A common refrain among the Red Priests.
The Red Priests, as they are often called, worship R'hllor, the Lord of Light.4 These monotheistic doomsayers can be found everywhere in the Free Cities, and have a large, well-known temple on Lys. They preach that R'hllor is the Lord of Light, the Heart of Fire, the God of Flame and Shadow. They prophecize that an ancient hero, Azor Ahai, Warrior of Light and Son of Fire, will be reborn. They teach that he will wield Lightbringer, a flaming sword, to combat an evil darkness that will fall on the world.
Common rituals include lighting a bonfire at sundown, to beseech R'hllor to bring the dawn.
Red Priests have claimed to see falsehoods in the words of others, visions of the future through flames, and to revive the dead.
Thoros of Myr is the most visible and renowned representative of R'hllor in Westeros.
The Great Other The followers of R'hllor also believe in a Great Other, whose name may not be spoken. He is known as the Lord of Darkness, the Soul of Ice, the God of Night and Terror. They believe that only through the intervention of the Lord of Light, will the world be saved from this evil.
[edit] He of Many Faces
He of Many Faces and of None is worshipped in the Free Cities. In A Feast for Crows, the reader is guided through a temple in Braavos, called the House of Black and White. There one can read about its day-to-day operations, and a little about the history of this religion, which on its face runs counter to the other religions described in the series.
[edit] Conclusion
Religion is one of the axes of power the author uses to set up conflict in this series of books. As the series progresses, the reader watches several religions consolidating power and then exercising it, sometimes brutally. By the fourth book, there is a sense of real danger presented to characters by at least three of these organizations, two of which have displayed seemingly divine intervention. Throughout the series, the religions of Westeros and other lands impact characters and provide layers of substance and intrigue that help make A Song of Ice and Fire an epic bestseller.
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| Novels | A Game of Thrones (1996) · A Clash of Kings (1998) · A Storm of Swords (2000) · A Feast for Crows (2005) · A Dance with Dragons · The Winds of Winter · A Dream of Spring |
| Novellas | The Hedge Knight · The Sworn Sword |
| Major Houses | Arryn · Baratheon · Bolton · Frey · Greyjoy · Lannister · Martell · Stark · Targaryen · Tully · Tyrell |
| Other characters | Minor Houses · Independent characters · Complete character list · Daenerys Targaryen |
| Organizations | Night’s Watch · Kingsguard · Maesters · Brotherhood Without Banners · Other organizations |
| Places | Westeros · Cities · Strongholds · Across the narrow sea · Free Cities · Ghis |
| Wars and tourneys | Historic wars · War of the Usurper · War of the Five Kings · Tourneys |
| Games | A Game of Thrones: collectible card game · board game · role-playing game |
