Every Game of Thrones Religion Explained in 14 Minutes

Summary

This script explores the various religions in the world of Westeros and Essos, including the Old Gods, the Faith of the Seven, and the Lord of Light. It delves into the origins, beliefs, and practices of these religions, such as the Old Gods worshipped by the First Men and the Faith of the Seven brought by the Andals. The video also covers the mysterious Faceless Men, the Drowned God worshipped by the Ironborn, and other unique belief systems like those of the Dothraki and Valyrians.

Takeaways

• 🌳 The Old Gods of Westeros were originally worshiped by the Children of the Forest, and their worship involved carving faces into weirwood trees, which were considered sacred.
• 👨‍🌾 The First Men, who arrived in Westeros around 12,000 years ago, eventually adopted the worship of the Old Gods after making peace with the Children of the Forest.
• ⚔️ The Faith of the Seven, introduced by the Andals around 6,000 years ago, became the dominant religion in most of Westeros, leading to a decline in the worship of the Old Gods, which remained strong primarily in the North.
• 🔥 The Lord of Light is a fire god widely worshiped in Essos, with followers believing in prophecies and visions communicated through flames. This religion involves practices such as bonfires and, in extreme cases, burning non-believers alive.
• 📜 The Faith of the Seven is based on the belief in one god with seven aspects, each representing a different part of life. It became dominant in the South of Westeros and has complex rules and social practices.
• 💀 The Many-Faced God is worshiped by the Faceless Men, a cult of assassins in Braavos. They believe that all gods are aspects of death and that they serve the will of this deity through their assassinations.
• 🐎 The Great Stallion is the god worshiped by the Dothraki, who believe in a prophesied leader called the Stallion Who Mounts the World, destined to unite all Dothraki and conquer the world.
• 🌊 The Drowned God is the deity worshiped by the ironborn of the Iron Islands, justifying their practices of piracy and raiding. The religion involves rituals like drowning and resuscitation.
• 🌕 The Moon Singers are the priestesses of the Jogos Nhai, a people from Essos. They led the founding of Braavos and hold significant influence in the city. Their religion has distinct gender roles and practices.
• 🐉 The Old Gods of Valyria were worshiped by the Valyrians for thousands of years before their civilization's fall. This religion involved blood rituals during weddings, and some Targaryens named their dragons after these gods.

Q & A

Who were the original worshipers of the Old Gods in Westeros?

The Old Gods were originally worshiped by the Children of the Forest, the first inhabitants of Westeros.

What was the significance of the weirwood trees in the religion of the Old Gods?

Weirwood trees were considered sacred because faces were carved into them in honor of the Old Gods. Oaths and promises sworn in front of these trees were considered binding.

How did the First Men come to worship the Old Gods?

The First Men initially had conflicts with the Children of the Forest but eventually made a pact of mutual peace, promising not to cut down the sacred weirwood trees. Over time, they adopted the worship of the Old Gods.

What caused the decline in the number of followers of the Old Gods?

The arrival of the Andals around 6,000 years ago, who brought the Faith of the Seven, led to a decline in the number of followers of the Old Gods, especially in the south of Westeros.

How is the worship of the Lord of Light different from the worship of the Old Gods?

Worship of the Lord of Light, also known as the Red God, involves elaborate ceremonies centered around fire and light, including sacrifices and prophecies, whereas the worship of the Old Gods is more focused on quiet contemplation and simple rituals.

What is the role of the Red Priests in the religion of the Lord of Light?

Red Priests lead the worship of the Lord of Light, conducting bonfires, singing prayers, and interpreting visions and prophecies communicated through flames.

What are the seven aspects of the Faith of the Seven?

The Faith of the Seven is based on one God with seven faces: the Father, the Mother, the Maiden, the Crone, the Warrior, the Smith, and the Stranger, each representing a different part of life or existence.

How do the beliefs of the Faceless Men differ from those of other religions in Westeros?

The Faceless Men worship death as the Many-Faced God, believing that all gods of other religions are different aspects of death. They carry out assassinations as a form of worship, believing that death is a gift that ends human suffering.

What is the significance of the Great Stallion in the Dothraki religion?

The Great Stallion is the primary deity of the Dothraki, representing the importance of horses in their culture. They believe that the stars are the fiery ancestors of the Great Stallion and that they will ride with their ancestors in the Nightlands after death.

What do the ironborn believe about the Drowned God and the Storm God?

The ironborn believe that the Drowned God created them to pillage and raid, and they see killing in battle as a religious act. They also believe in an eternal struggle between the Drowned God, who resides in the sea, and the Storm God, who lives in the sky and sends storms to wreck their ships.