The Red Comet
History of Westeros’ series on Religion & Magic kicks off with the great red comet, a sign interpreted by many and seen by all. Was it sent by the gods or is it a sign that magic and dragons have returned? Whatever the meaning, there will be blood and fire. Ash and Aziz give an overview of what to expect in the series while asking a bunch of tough questions. Particular attention is paid to parallels between various supernatural elements found throughout the books. Listen to the rest of our Religion & Magic series here. Our YouTube channel is here.
Quotes
The comet’s tail spread across the dawn, a red slash that bled above the crags of Dragonstone like a wound in the pink and purple sky.
Dany looked and saw it, low in the east. The first star was a comet, burning red. Bloodred; fire red; the dragon’s tail. She could not have asked for a stronger sign.
It is my comet, Theon told himself.
That night she lay upon her thin blanket on the hard ground, staring up at the great red comet. The comet was splendid and scary all at once. “The Red Sword,” the Bull named it; he claimed it looked like a sword, the blade still red-hot from the forge. When Arya squinted the right way she could see the sword too, only it wasn’t a new sword, it was Ice, her father’s greatsword, all ripply Valyrian steel, and the red was Lord Eddard’s blood on the blade after Ser Ilyn the King’s Justice had cut off his head. Yoren had made her look away when it happened, yet it seemed to her that the comet looked like Ice must have, after.
Excellent and “potentially/essentially” intriguing. Sorry, I’m 2 years late. I had a thought on one of your many fine points toward the beginning. You brought up Varys calling it the red messenger of fire and blood. Fire and Blood, interestingly being the words of House Targaryen as we know. Perhaps the ever clever Varys uses this as a means to manipulate the perception of the comet for his political agenda, Aegon. Possibly he’s giving the small folk or any Targaryen loyalists a psychological/superstitious boost to prepare the way. I was enthralled by Arthurian legends when younger. The comet makes me think of those reads but in a very different context. Merlin interpreted it as the death of a king and coming of a new one.Sort of House Pendragon style, lol. Uther at Tintagel+Ygraine=Arthur. Sorry it isn’t a canon comparison but a bit fun, nonetheless. Thanks and I’m ready for the next one. You two are great. Athelas.
Thx