Empire of the Dawn: Ancient Mystery of ASOIAF

[@nicolas.p331]

It's possible that the Hightower was an outpost for the great empire of the Dawn, like dragonstone was for the valyrians. If this is true then it means they crossed the sunset sea.

[@CrusaderChris]

I bet several people have crossed the sunset sea and it’s just that none of our POV characters or the maesters know about it. Unless there’s some type of supernatural threat which impedes travel, it must have happened. I used to think Dany would use the Sunset Sea to arrive in Westeros, but it seems her story is taking her further west (Volantis, Pentos).

[@Isuream6331]

Or rather, it’s possible that the east of Essos is CONNECTED to the north of Westeros. Think about it. The Five Forts block a frozen wasteland, never mapped. The Wall blocks a frozen wasteland, never mapped. Both claim to be the epicentre of the long night. Coincidence? I THINK NOT!

[@tranchmaster]

My guess is that by going west into the Sunset Sea, you would end up somewhere east of Essos, therefore it might indeed be an outpost of the Empire of the Dawn

[@lucasbelmonte2832]

@@Isuream6331 Na George has confirmed that Essos and Westeros do not touch

[@Isuream6331]

@@lucasbelmonte2832 Crap. Maybe they don’t connect, but both go up to the same pole? I don’t know why the Five Forts and Grey Waste exist then if they aren’t related to the Others

[@KaptifLaDistillerie]

The fact that you have a clear comprehension of the lore and that you are asking questions instead of just reading the wiki makes you one of the best channel for GOT/ASOIAF lore. Cheers mate !

[@danieldeclue1466]

The great empires of the Dawn most definitely are the ancestors of the valyrians. I personally believe that the valyrians as a whole are most likely descended from the amethyst Empress herself, being that true targaryens always have amethyst like eyes. I think it's quite possible that the Danes most likely are descended from a specific ruler of the great Empire as well. Most likely the high Towers too. I believe that it's just the descendants of the amethyst Empress who were able to retain at least a portion of the information that was lost in the first long night, like Dragon riding. This would definitely explain why Danny had a dream about the rulers of the empire, and how they were all guiding her towards waking the dragon, something that they all seem to know about, regardless of whether or not she's just dreaming. And since George loves the concept of history repeating itself, we are heading into a second long night, with the modern equivalent of the Bloodstone Emperor being most likely responsible. It's most likely euron Crow's eye who's going to fill this role

[@TheSharpboy]

I agree Martin loves ancient empires that are preceded by another ancient empires. He did it in Elden Ring, too.

[@danieldeclue1466]

@@TheSharpboy I agree, I really like how George tells you about something unbelievable that happened in the past, and by the time it gets explained, you can see very clearly that it was the most far-fetched parts of the story that had a grain of Truth to them, in-universe I mean. Holds true with our history as well. Noah's Ark in the great flood seems ridiculous, until you look at other cultures and realize that nearly all of them have a flood myth, and the flood myth connect right back to the splitting of Pangea. George makes the history of Game of Thrones feel very realistic in that respect, despite all the magic and dragons and stuff

[@thalmoragent9344]

​@@TheSharpboy Yeah, its like learning of Ancient Rome, and then being told of how Egypt had its own major history well before Rome became a Kingdom, then Republic, then finally Empire.

[@SiddarthaTB]

Dany going to Asshai and then crossing the Sunset sea seems like it was the direction George wanted to go back when he was still planning for there to be a time skip.

[@nyet_maker7948]

And then he wrote himself in a yearlong corner

[@aadhavsanthaseelan6021]

So technically , Three Eyed Raven and Bran can see all of this , from beginning to end. What a delight that would be.

[@johnpauldriskill8737]

Not really since they need the weirwood trees

[@LisaAnn777]

​@@johnpauldriskill8737there were no weirwood trees at the tower of joy and they could see what happened there. Even if he couldn't green see there he could warg a bird and check out asshai.

[@daniell1483]

Not enough people talk about the Great Empire of the Dawn. Very succinct analysis of the current theory on the role the GEOD played in the history of Planetos.

[@Callisto_Arcas]

I think the theory of the Others coming for Euron, as they possibly were sent for the Bloodstone Emperor, is my favorite theory I've heard so far. I love your channel because you have the most fascinating theories. Can't wait for your next video!

[@njames69]

Something you missed, the different gemstones emperors are likely not single individuals but are implied to be dynasties of successive emperors since the empire of the Dawn and its successor Yi Ti got some heavy Asian influence.

[@thalmoragent9344]

Wild to think that the Hightowers, mayhpas the Daynes and other known houses may have been "Dragonlords" or some sort of Pre-Valyrian race/ancestors from the Great Empire of the Dawn. All that stuff, leading up to the Bloodstone Emperor and First Long Night is something I hope another "World of Ice and Fire" book may one day go over in exquisite detail. The idea that mayhaps Valyrians are the people who were under the "Amythest" Empress' rule, hence purple eyes. Mayhaps a great ritual is formed for each dynasty change, so all inhabitants of their ethnic group eventually is born with the eye color of their ruling dynasty. Mayhaps the gem colors followed families, so mayhaps the Pearl Emperor was actually multiple individuals of "House Pearl" if you will. Sure they're maybe all related but once a new heir is needed and isn't of that dynasty, they chose a cousin of their House to go on. Dany had a dream of silver-haired peoples with different colored, fancy eyes. Makes a lot of sense they're like Valyrians, or related to them rather. Maybe thats why some Valyrians, like House Velaryon, has fancy blue eyes, maybe they have some blood trailing back to a previous Dynasty's rule, one with special blue eyes. Alyssa Targaryen had a green eye, and while its the only case of such a thing, could be long lost "Emerald Emperor/Dynasty" genes still kicking in a rare moment. Also makes sense as to why Valyrian Steel and Fused Blackstone is similar to the Steel "Dawn" is made of, and the Oily Black Stone around places as well. Similar concepts, slightly different methods used, but for the same purpose.

[@adaradavina7450]

Maybe if Jon is the son of Rhaegar and Lyanna that explains his dark eyes maybe its onyx

[@vaibhavgaur5268]

Mayhaps you should develop better comprehension skills.

[@thalmoragent9344]

​​@@vaibhavgaur5268 Oh, I see... So, what's your "comprehension" of the situation then? What do you disagree with and, since apparently you're an author of the series with inside knowledge that I don't have, might you explain in detail what I somehow objectively got wrong? 🤔

[@michaelsilver253]

After years of watching LML's crunchy stuff, hearing someone compare the kings in the hall in Dany's dream to the ancient emperors and say it probably means nothing just sounds goddamn insane lol

[@CrusaderChris]

LML’s stuff is better than mine will ever be. We’re not likely to find out if his theories are true, unfortunately. In my videos I like to present other people’s theories objectively; so I’ll let LML try to convince folks with his amazing analysis. My aim is to just present lots of different possibilities, and not necessarily subscribe to one belief. That being said, Roose Bolton is a skin-stealing immortal 👍

[@pamelaguerra3768]

Who's LML?

[@michaelsilver253]

@pamelaguerra3768 big ASOIAF lore KZbinr. His channel is now called David Lightbringer but it used to be Lucifer Means Lightbringer, usually shortened to LML. His stuff is dooooope but it does go very hard on symbolism and wordplay which gets to be a bit much at times

[@andriusas90]

to be honest i saw a video on youtube in which a guy completely destroys the entire great empire of the dawn theory and he explains away dany's vision as something george added because it sounds cool and brought out the fact the colors used are literally what george said the best fantasy is made of like no joke george in the interview say's the best fantasy is made of colors and literally verbatum names the same colors as the eyes seen in dany's visions

[@CrusaderChris]

Yes this is true. I touched on this in the video for a second, but using a large variety of colors (including gemstones) is a common GRRM trope. GEOTD theories are really fun to think about, but realistically they’re all pretty tinfoil and unlikely to come up in future books.

[@nickkangtaylorb]

Superb, balanced approach. Yes I think GRRM is super intentional with all this and chooses his words very carefully.

[@CrusaderChris]

Thanks for the kind feedback!

[@ringofasho7721]

If only he could choose them carefully faster

[@alt-monarchist]

Yi Ti inherited some of the lands of the Empire of the Dawn, but they are not direct descendants of that Empire. They were simply subjects to the Empire of the Dawn. When the Empire fell they took advantage and simply took over. Just like the Romans who were not descendants of the Etruscans, but once they disappeared the Romans took over the vacant lands.

[@jeambeam3173]

The Romans destroyed the Etruscans so that's a bad comparison. Better would be how the Romans ruled Egypt became it's one very different thing having little to do with Rome

[@alt-monarchist]

@@jeambeam3173 Romans took over the vacant power vacuum.

[@molleh3180]

Yes, I believe George is implying all of this!

[@joetheperformer]

That’s the best part. He gives us readers multiple avenues. Just like irl folklore.

[@legofan1231]

Finally a deep in-depth video explaining the Great Empire of the dawn! Thank you!!

[@cthulu8mytoast]

The mythical long rulers, reminds me of the Sumerian King's List that mention rulers that held power for thousands of years. Before the Great Flood.

[@Oximb]

Most likely a nod to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors from ancient China who were a group of mythological rulers and sages who ruled for thousands of years, one of them was call the Yellow Emperor.

[@GrimFaceHunter]

Might be a metaphor for some dynasties. In our world it might be exaggerated timespans of dynastic successions of a few centuries, in asoiaf those successions may be 5-10 times that. Each emperor's rule being shorter than the previous ones is a real modern fenomena that came with the lengthening of lifespans. Those emperors inherited the throne when they were in their old age and didn't have much time left.

[@justdirt]

I think George wanted to write about someone going to Asshai, but how he would achieve that never really developed. Besides Dany, no pov character could possibly reach Asshai and come back and still have enough story to finish their narrative. But Mel lived there. Mel as a pov character was impromptu so Jon's death would have a pov character around after it, but it also means that flashbacks to Asshai are almost guaranteed. I doubt Mel will get a ton of chapters, but I can still hope

[@andersfrieden567]

It boggles my mind that George left hints for future plotline in such a mysterious and unique place as Asshai, but then abandoned it and lead Dany to useless Myreen knot, which will ultimately play very little into the ending of her story.

[@justdirt]

@andersfrieden567 The choice was better for Dany's character. Her choosing to trust another witch and go to the furthest point from her goal possible would have been bad writing. As cool as it would've been, I'm happy George decided to let Dany become a great character instead of her sight seeing

[@andersfrieden567]

@@justdirt not saying she should've trusted the witch, there could have been ways to write it better into the story. I just think the Asshai plot could have been more interesting and important for the story, if George decided to explore that option.

[@vaibhavgaur5268]

​@@justdirtlol don't ever attempt writing buddy, your myopic view of writing is filth

[@Thomk121]

During the empire of the dawn they definitely did not have dragons, but they had some fire breathing beast, or fire magic. It is stated valayrians used blood magic to create dragons. They practiced gene slicing, merging of pecies. Maybe they mixed wyverns, fire magic and valayrian dna to create dragons. The Three heads are the dragon, rider, and mind meld of the 2 is the 3rd head.

[@indoorplant2392]

But it is also stated that dragons originate from Ashaii, which in terms of geology would most likely be part of the GEotD

[@akeelyaqub2538]

@@indoorplant2392yes, its also said by some that Valyrians found dragons in the fourteen flames and tamed them. So 3 different accounts on the origin of dragons but all 3 could be true in a way. It could have been that the people of the great empire created dragons, who themselves were technically Valyrian predecessors so you could call them Valyrians. It would also explain the rumour of dragons coming from Asshai, a region once controlled by the dawn empire. The rumour of dragons being found in the fourteen flames is probably just the migrants from the dawn empire rediscovering them there or even bringing eggs to hatch there using the heat and blood magic learnt from their predecessors. The fourteen flames could have been a location used by the empire for dragon egg incubation and the migrants (Valyrians) knew of it and took eggs there or found leftover ones or hatched dragons chilling.

[@ghostranger5890]

It is interesting to see that these dragon riding empires seem to move further and further westward the more time goes on. The first was the Great Empire of the Dawn in the Far East, followed by the Valyrian Freehold in the nearer East, and now in more recent history we have the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros in the West. Of course, we are still assuming that the Great Empire of the Dawn did possess and command dragons, but there is far too much evidence of far older dragon riding civilizations. Though perhaps there was once a civilization even further to the East, and perhaps even older than the Great Empire, associated with Asshai.

[@celladoor_uk]

This is incredible AWOIAF content. Bravo, sir! 🖤

[@Josh-hv2ze]

“Again it’s like it’s poetry they rhyme” haha I’ll never not laugh at this George Lucas moment

[@renatoovelar7442]

Maybe the children of the Amethyst Empress fled west to escape their uncle, maybe they hid in the 14 flames, where they mixed with the local Valyrians, teaching them to tame dragons and make fused black stone.

[@staytuned2L337]

Make the Dawn Great Again ! 😂❤ Well done, once again Chris.

[@elledunn7206]

I love your channel! Thank you for all the GoT lore goodness. ❤

[@someguy1026]

Concerning the Great Empire of the Dawn(GEOTD) I'd probably say that they actually ruled over the entire world, but since Yi Ti is the one telling their history they claim their entire legacy for themselves, saying that they only ruled over Yi Ti and thus that everything that they accomplished and left behind is theirs alone. Of course, this story doesn't really line up with what we know since black stone is found spread out all over the world, and according to Dany's visions the emperors look Valyrian. As for the Five Forts, it's possible that Essos connects to Westeros and thus they were built to keep out the Others, but it's also possible that they were built to keep out all the weird creatures that seem to appear the further east you go, and keeping out the Others was just a side benefit that they didn't know about at the time they were constructed. We're talking about a period of thousands of years here after all. Regarding the difference between Oily Black Stone and Fused Black Stone I'd guess that fused black stone is the result of dragon fire and thus directly built by the GEOTD, while oily black stone is the result of magic trying to imitate what dragon fire does to stone. I feel like this is supported by the oily black stone of Asshai, a city steeped in dark magic, seemingly drinking light, while the oily black stone of Yeen seems to be anathema to any and all life. This is not something we see with fused black stone, and I don't see the Seastone Chair being forged in dragon fire. It's also possible that Moat Cailin is built with oily black stone, but not fully completed and infused with magic, thus why it only appears oily in the rain and why it looks like great blocks of stone are strewn about, almost as if it was a rush job to hold back the Others after the Hammer of the Waters failed to completely submerge the Neck. TDLR and my personal theory; Great Empire of the Dawn ruled over the entire world but only had a fairly sparse presence in Westeros, thus why most of their relics seem to be in the very south of the continent. They were the first dragon riders and after their empire fell they retreated to Valyria, though Yi Ti remained as a spiritual successor(at least that's what they'd like to believe). They used dragon fire to create fused black stone, and others tried to use magic to imitate it and thus created oily black stone. When the First Men started migrating to Westeros the Children of the Forest used the Hammer of the Waters to submerge the arm of Dorne, something they tried to do a second time to the Neck but only half succeeded at in response to the Others coming down from the North. Thus, Moat Cailin had to be built to act to try to hold them back but they never had time to complete it. Simultaneously in Essos the Others were coming from the Grey Waste but were mostly held off by the Five Forts. While all this was going on the Long Night fell and the subsequent chaos broke the Great Empire of the Dawn, with the people blaming them for everything that was going on.

[@Taykoe88]

What about Ulthos? I think thats what its called, the 4th continent? So curious if theres any info on it in the books? Im thinking of reading em myself, but have really bad OCD and don't even wanna start if Martin doesn't finish the series cause it'll haunt my head forever lol.

[@CrusaderChris]

We know nothing about Ulthos except for it’s the furthest east part of the Known World and much of it consists of jungles. Unfortunately I can’t see it being mentioned in any future books, but I’m really curious how far east it goes.

[@Josh-hv2ze]

@@CrusaderChrisI often wonder what lies past Solthoryos and Ulthos to the south and east. It makes sense that there is something out there but because of the distance the people of westeros don’t know what is out there

[@aliensconfirmed3498]

​​@@Josh-hv2zeWesteros and Essos are basically in the northern half of the globe with south border of Essos close to Equator. Sothoryos is like Africa. It's likely a large continent. Beyond that is probably a land locked icy region.

[@cadmusravenstag4403]

Knowing Martin, Euron will use the horn only to have it blowup in his face. lol

[@pastelpurpledeathbed]

my mind is being blown with the influx of knowledge that is entering my mind

[@brady8259]

i would also like to mention that sam probably has that horn that will make the wall fall down and hes in oldtown right when euron is trying to attack it, it is also said that you can see the wall from the top of the hightower so maybe euron or sam knocks the wall down

[@reygutierrez9412]

Sucks x that grrm just plants seeds and never brings things to fruition 😫😫😫😫😫

[@needycatproductions6830]

Very good job; very Alt-Shift-X-like video. I already enjoyed your videos on Aenys, Maegor, Rhaenyra, and Aegon 2.

[@CrusaderChris]

Glad you like it, ASX is a big inspiration for me! Also, I’ll have a Daeron the Young Dragon video coming soon for the Targaryen kings series 👍

[@TheRealE.B.]

Remember that TV show from the 2010s where Euron Greyjoy was just some random, uncompelling schmuck, but the Ironborn followed him anyway because the plot said so?

[@alfieingrouille1528]

Love the vids man keep up the goodwork 👍

[@davidtonner5493]

Another banger video Chris 🙏🏻🤙🏻

[@queenxx1690]

Daenerys is very often associated with stars and sun like she has some kind of connections to Daynes she calls Drogo her sun-and-stars and lets not forget that according to Ser Barristan Selmy, Daenerys Targaryen's eyes resemble Ashara's eyes like she could be her daughter. Dawn is pale sword meanwhile Ashara Dayne apparently committed suicide by jumping from tower called the Palestone Sword, one of the towers of Starfall, into the sea.Ashara name comes from Ash Ashara: Lady Asherah of the sea: Sumerian Semitic mother goddess "who treads on the sea" Asherah in ancient Semitic religion, is a mother goddess who appears in a number of ancient sources. Asherah is one of the most ancient of mother goddess symbols, recorded in the pantheons of several civilisations from the tenth century BCE. As the mother to innumerable gods and goddesses, she is often depicted as having the capacity to walk on the sea and water. - what we know about our Lady Ashara so far? she lost her child therefore out of grief committed suicide by jumping into the sea but guess what? her body was never found (interesting). Also noteworthy for Ashara: in the Ugaritic Baal Cycle, part of the "chaoskampf" mytheme and a probable source for the name "Naharis," Asherah attempts to protect her child, the Storm God Baal(Danerys Stormborn), from the water god Yam-Nahar by "offering her body to the Lord of Rivers." She offered favours to the Tyrant. But Powerful Nahar softened not His heart. Finally, Kindly Asherah, who loves Her children, offered Herself to the God of the Sea. She offered Her own body to the Lord of Rivers. In this case the "offering of her body" is offering herself sexually rather than her jumping into a river, but you can see the connection. Makes one wonder if Ashara jumped into the Torrentine to protect someone.

[@TheKadanz]

Also let's not forget there's a theory going on that Daenarys may not be a targaryan by blood, or at least, the mad king is suggested not to be a real father. In the books daenary's memory of her childhood is vague and deceptive, she remember things no other people who've supposed to have lived through those same times and were even present in the same places remember at all. I don't remember the entire theory but the youtuber preston jacobs has a couple of videos on it. It's quite interesting.

[@hoya1178]

@@TheKadanzMost of Preston Jacobs videos are bs, he throws every dumb idea at the wall until something sticks. Daenerys is clearly of her fathers kin, she has all the features for that. The whole idea of Dany not being his daughter is just overcomplicated and dumb.

[@agrahatimber2919]

Just watched Dune 2, the whole "God Emperor" kinda reminds me of Dune, I feel like the God Emperor was like Paul Atriedes and the Bloodstone Emperor was probably like Leto the second. Maybe he was the good guy and made the nessceray moves to make sure mankind survived and history just wrote him as a bad guy a Tyrant Emperor. Who knows I mean George takes lots of inspiration of Dune and Lotr the is def possible.

[@DragonRebornn]

Awesome video my guy.

[@fighting_bones]

Algorithm brought me here, your content is very good has a similar style to Alt Shift X which makes it really engaging. You earned a new subscriber :)

[@Thinkofwhat]

The God Emperor would be the original "Dragon Rider"....or tamer. Since The Golden Empire is based on fictitious ancient China and Chinese emperors are known or titled as The Dragon Throne:)

[@princeprocrastinate6485]

I have always loved this theory, ever since I watched LML's dragonlords of ancient Asshai video years ago. I firmly believe that the Great Empire of the Dawn did possess dragons, and that the Valyrians are descendants of some surviving genetic remnants of them, and that they even reached southern Westeros, and that whatever happened during the reign of the Bloodstone Emperor caused, to some degree, the Long Night. It is canon in my mind until proven otherwise.

[@StormLord-AOS]

What is interesting is it seems that even in the time of the dawn there was a solid steady move of the Targariens towards the wall and placing themselves to block the second winter. Almost like this war is being fought across time itself between warring factions of gods. like a game of divine thrones playing with their mortal conterparts ;)

[@joelloydhiggs8515]

Oh man I would pay so much money for a bannerlord overhaul incorporating all of these regions … this was fascinating!

[@debreczenybalint]

thats my theory too. literally always thinked the same scenario would be likely, no question this would be the best to link the Great Empire of the Dawn to the story..Asshai red priest who came to Danny visits again when she’s in Westeros to tell her origins and reminded why Quathie said that she should visit Asshai. Tells the prophecy said a prince or a princess..or together because the long night came for kin slaying another by the bloodstone, now kin has to fight side by side. Danny founds out by the asshai red priest, and Jon finds out when visiting the tower of joy and Starfall where he founds out about having descendants in house Dayne. Bran tells him the prophecy too. This should occour when tensions rised so high from people slowly finding out about Jon being a Targaryen that he needs to part from Danny with his own people and also find more allies in Dorne for the coming war.. This should link up the two again besides that they love each other, they bonded by faith and prophecy. Jon wielding Dawn because her Dayne origins and Danny should ignite it with dragonfire. Also would be cool when the two taking apart, Danny starts to see dragon dreams and halucinations because at first she didnt’t believed the priest and only wanted to focus on the throne, these visions comfirmed that Targaryens are descendants of the Bloodstone emperor (words are: fire and blood) but Valyria was created to be a better place in the world not like the Empire of the Dawn became at the Bloodstone emperor’s terror. The fact that lot of the targaryens go mad, is because of that. Always being haunted through the blood magic, yet still has the chance to act right through the magic of the Amethyst empress and be the saviour of people. This should also told us that Targaryens were not a low ranked family in Valyria, but early people accused and despised them for being the descendants of the man who brought the end of their empire and not let them to have that much power and the biggest dragons so if one goes mad again cant destroy the Valryran freehold. However at the end of the day Denys the dreamer was the only one who saw the doom of Valyira, which tells that dragon dreaming is the magic of the Amethyst Empress to carry out the prophecy for saving mankind. So yeah, thats why they said when a Targaryen is born the gods flip a coin. Would’ve loved to see Danny haunted by the two emperors magic and her visions.

[@onurcinar8514]

Knowing about Valyrians being very particular about their blood and dragons bond by the blood of Valyria, makes much sense that they are decedents of the Amethyst Empress. Beside the physical looks, they are also perceived as closer to the gods than any other human. This makes quite sense. Also Amethyst Empress being taken down by her brother to rule is often repeated in Westerosi history from King Jehaerys to Queen who never was, dance of the dragon and even Dany trying to establish herself as a queen. They all add up somehow.

[@BeteBlanc]

I suggest only that the moral alignments and biases in myth be taken with a grain of salt. The myths themselves contain tibs that suggest we should. Not the least of which is "salt and smoke." The dragon creation myth seems to suggest something interesting. They drank the sun. Sure this works aa nothing more than a myth for why they breathe flame. But this story contains a Long Night. A condition of a lack of sun. Which I think should suggest the sudden arrival of dragons as a precursor or instigator of a period of darkness. Dragons appear to be thematically linked to Amethysts, which suggests a link between them. On the other hand the Bloodstone. This is a gemstone empire. Most people seem to prefer to see this as black or red, but a real gem is green/red. This combo is suggested in two places. the Outer Wall of Qarth and the eyes of special CotF. Suggesting Greeneyes flecked with weirwood sap. Blood betrayal is slightly separated from the other bit. Yes, it could be him usurping, but consider the context and break in the pattern of the story. These were god/kings. Suddenly a god/queen appears. If the Bloodstone was defeated, we have his surviving opponents writing history. Can we trust who history claims was the real usurper?

[@WhoTFisthatguy]

Amazing video once again 🤌🏽🤌🏽

[@4pace]

Shout out to David LightBringer!

[@DHunt88]

Considering the world is round, if anyone from The Empire went East then Old town and Starfall would be places they could have been to first

[@toni8675]

In GOT finale, Arya embarks on a quest to find "what's west of Westeros". I don't think this is just a random detail thrown in there just to fill the episode. I think it's a hint that she will eventually find the eastern part of Essos.

[@aaronbeckett0714]

George popping up with the poetry quote had me rolling

[@rawrisiloveuindinify]

I like the idea that the world of Planetos was full of magic and by the time we get to the main story line all the magic has been dormant and gone.

[@chrism8216]

Great work

[@jacobguess84]

I believe the empire originated in ulthos. And where the symbolic lion in the ahzor sword quenching myth. Swords being comets. Also asshai was the edge of the empire explaining the dark color on the map. Empire probably had dragon dreams about catastrophe and political upheaval ensued. People fled follow different interpretations from the dreams and fled political persecution. Landing them and there influence all over planetos before the catastrophe.

[@arthurbriand2175]

Do we know any creation myth from the numerous religions in asoiaf? I don't remember any in the faith of the Seven or R'hllor. Do we know of any myth concerning the origin of man in this universe ?

[@Buzterer]

We just need to know more of what is between the 5 forts and Westeros

[@williamhermann6635]

Any content about GEOTD gets an automatic click from me

[@AryaStarkTheExplorer]

In behind the scenes for season 5 GOT, it is revealed the ice walkers and the night king's armor were taken from warriors from an ancient empire. Most likely the empire of the dawn.

[@123100ozzy]

I think the long night being an ancestral myth shared by most important regions of the world of ASOIAF implies a shared distant past between all these civilizations, that now is shrouded with both myth and surpestition, thats why theres blackstone in hightower. Its my believe that whatever happened in ashai is similar to what happened in valiria and ended in westeros, a lineage of dragonriders that held that power through the methods and technologies discovered in times forgotten and they past that within themselves to keep the power.

[@kofiopoku8847]

Ice can never quench fire. fire can only cool ice. A great song that would be sung forever. A song of ice and fire.

[@Loreweavver]

I've been getting into Conan lately and I'm pretty sure ASOIAF is just another story a lot later in that cycle...

[@whyonthefall5373]

Check out the Elric Saga by Michael Moorcock. You'll see a lot of it in ASoIaF

[@Loreweavver]

@@whyonthefall5373 I've been introduced but haven't taken the plunge yet.

[@danielmejorado6098]

I wonder what happened to the people Aegon sent to look for clues about Dragons. Did they ever make it back to Westeros?

[@Henbot]

Seems plausible to me that when the bloodstone emperor took over the Amethyst Empress and maybe her people (if we take the eyes as an ethnic group ) then are routed and kicked out of the ancient empire which leads them to spreading out in a diaspora.

[@gentlemanjaxx]

The Bloodstone Emperor also married a Tiger-Woman. Which makes me wonder where do Tiger people come from? Also there’s a sorcerer living in Carcosa who claims to be the 69th Yellow Emperor of Yi Ti.

[@thoththeatlantean1226]

Carcosa, Yellow emperor, thats Ambrose Bierce/lovecraft/robert w chambers inspired

[@wafflingmean4477]

Interesting that 'demons' and Others may be the same, or at least may have both appeared due to the same apocalypse. The Others in the books are often portrayed as 'white shadows' almost incorporeal. Also, the Night's Queen is presented as an inverse Melisandre, and she gives birth to what fans have dubbed 'shadow babies' or 'shadow demons'. When the Night's King 'gave her [the Night's Queen] his seed, he gave her his soul'. This is paralleled to Melisandre creating shadow babies for Stannis, which are literally fragments of his soul. They look like him, while they're active he's asleep and sees through their eyes like a skinchanger, and after they're created he's physically weaker, almost looking skeletal. Their creation literally drains his life force. Additionally, the Night's King makes sacrifices to the Others. It isn't specified exactly how, but in the current story Craster sacrifices his baby sons to the Others, and even in the books it's established they become Others, according to Craster's wives when they said the brothers of Gilly's baby would come for him. Now, many fans have discussed the ridiculousness of White Walker daycare, and suggest something more sinister is going on. Gilly implies that wights can sense the life force of a person, and so are drawn to chase her and the baby, which explains why she gets swarmed but only one of them tries to kill Samwell Tarly (notably one that recently spent a lot of time with him while alive, possible explaining its distraction). Melisandre drains Stannis' life force to create shadow babies in a very short time, but surely the more potent creation would be to use the entire life force of a person. That can be impractical for someone looking to benefit from sacrificing to the Others, but what if you sacrificed a newborn child, with the absolute maximum life force available? What if the Others sacrifice the children, and turn the children into Others through shadowbinding, pulling the baby's spirit out of its body and binding it to ice magic. I think the Others are essentially exactly the same kind of creature Melisandre creates. And so the reason they have parallels to demons is because both are 'shadow demons'. And in some mythologies, demons are souls that have escaped hell. So the demons of ASOIAF are souls that have been pulled from their bodies but empowered through magic to be able to manifest corporeal forms.

[@williamdaniels9728]

I think if they ever decide to do a sequel series to GOT, it should pick up with a flashback of Danerys being killed by Jon Snow and then open with "10 years ago" or however much time it has been and show Drogon flying to Asshai and dropping her off at a Red Temple near the shore where the Red Priests resurrect her in "salt & smoke". Then the whole story and foreshadowing from Qaith will have come full circle, her death and resurrection will mirror Jon Snow's and she will have to essentially reckon with both her previous failures (to take the Iron Throne) but also having to reckon with the terrible things she did and on top of all of this the person she trusted (Jon Snow) killing her. It would be so fascinating from a character stand point to see how she had been coping in Asshai or maybe she goes to nearby Yi-Ti to start a new life or kingdom and then she is brought back into the story somehow with a white walker threat 2.0

[@damnatiomemoriae1894]

If kings blood has power, how much power would a dragons blood have? Could be why there are no dragons left in Asshai

[@johnnycrown5097]

I think the bloodstone emperor is the night king from the night watch and that westeros back then was also under the control of the empire of the dawn (it's called an empire for a reason and a great one at that) which would explain the hight tower black base or the great empire of the dawn was actually an alliance of natuons from both continents against the white walkers and yiti was just one of them, maybe the biggest, but they weren't the great empire of the dawn (this one is just one piece theorizing sipping into asoiaf, you won't believe how similar and deep both world building and history are) but i think the former is most liketthe case... The reason why I say the blood stone emperor is the night's king feom the night's watch is because the night king married a white walker in which angered his followers as sacrifices commenced and was made to the woman... The bloodstone emperor also married someone who must've been considered a foreigner and evil by his followers and also equally hated, the woman was called the TIGER lady, and in their story, the LION of the night brought the demons and was basically the white walkers in their own canon, so there's a connection between the tiger lady and the lion of the night that makes it sound like they're of the same people... Please critic and come as harshly as possible if you so desire, I'm not a westerner so i won't get offended, so if you feel that's so ridiculous and you're a person who's at their best debunking whilst being offensive, you can ceitic anyhow you want and I'll be the bigger person for the both of us but I need w critic to this please...

[@Hero_Of_Old]

What editing software do you use man?

[@CrusaderChris]

I do most of my editing in Davinci Resolve Studio. I also use After Effects and Photoshop for various images and effects.

[@joaoandarilhodosol1781]

Very cool!!!

[@masonhill326]

Where can I access the map you used in this video?

[@CrusaderChris]

Link in description

[@davidbadillomirete8226]

I think Clash of Kings may have been the book Dany was meant to go to Asshai, is the closer he gets to Asshai, she only had 5 chapters on that book and the plot of Qarth could have been transformed into a journey to the lands of the east with Daenerys getting a lot of atention in each place but having to leave each time because people want her dragons, just move the House of the Undying on Ashai or Stygai, you can still have warlocks on Qarth and other places, maybe trying to expand a cult, Daenerys could travel to Asshai to find knowledge about the dragons and there the dragons get stolen from here, maybe it could have been a good time to introduce Euron only to leave for the ruins of Valyria to find the Horn once he is rejected by Dany

[@simon2493]

About Valyria if they've gotten drsgon magic after the fall there isn't sny issue about sharing dragon magic with them, and if we were to assume thst valyrain had same traits as the people form the empire of down it wpuld expian why the survivors have fleed to valyra, maybe even tounge was the same?

[@AFlyingCoconut]

At this point, it's not a question of whether of not Valyrians descend from the Amethyst Empire, it's, where are all the other descendants of the Dawn?

[@phillipthompson5937]

Somebody send this to Glidus! He'll love it 😂

[@akeelyaqub2538]

Imagine if the bloodstone emperor and his followers actually became the Others through some kind of curse and didn’t just cause the long night but became the perpetrators of it. It would be crazy if the enemy of the current Valyrian dragon riders are actually their great ancestors. Probably not true but still cool to ponder. I so think Valyrians descended from a portion of the great empire, specifically the Amethyst empress due to the valyrian eye colour and she is, along with the bloodstone emperor, the most well known ruler of the dawn empire. I love the idea that all Valyrians, as mighty as they were, were just a small part of a much mightier and more advanced civilisation.

[@gtxo2104]

What if the whites were never made or sent by anyone? What if they are just a northern species who cant survive in any other climate than the "long night" types of climates. This means they would only survive in extremely cold and dark environments, meaning any continent with these types of climats would be home to the others. This is why maybe tye long night affected both westeros and essos(and potentially the whole world) because both continents have such freezing places rather than they are connected. The white walkers have always been there, and since the longnight is 100 years without sunlight that begun after a "rock fell from the sky" it is safe to say this was an asteroid strike, and asteroids can definitely change global temperatures while darkening the sky for decades. What if the whites where ALWAYS there, just unable to move south without a cataclismin meteor strike that would alter the globe to allow them cross over. It would make more sense that the children of the forest tried to create a white and human hybrid as a weapon, rather than assuming they just casually created a super powerful race of beings. I mean thats one hell of a god-like power to have. Its far more likely whites were always around, and out of them a the cotf made a white walker human hybrid. All speculation ofcourse....

[@xenosaga8436]

Does Melisandre really believe Stannis is Azor Ahai? Maester Aemon says Stannis's Lightbringer is fake because it produces light without heat. It's also described with a ruby in it's hilt. Melisandre uses rubies for her glamours. I always thought she knew Stannis was fake, but was turning his soldiers into zealots so she'd have an army for when she met the real Azor Ahai.

[@ajackass5950]

Draygons huh?

[@BeteBlanc]

Actually, I'm going to apologize for my repetitive other comment. I want to try this a different way. The Sphinx is the Riddle. You've used Chinese history, so I'll borrow from the same. Take a look at chinese dragons. Google Pixiu. Dragons can have lion faces. It's the coexistence that's important. A solar empire tends to lions. For example, if you see a Jade lion it's probably related placed by or to honor a Jade god/king. The lion probably being the base symbol. Hypothetically, if your culture sees the sun as lion of day, it's partner or yin/yang opposite would be the lion of Night. Or the moon. You might represent this as either black or white. Dany in a white lion pelt is a white lunar lion. potentially a Lion of Night. Tyrion in a shadow cat fur is a black lunar lion, also a Lion of Night. The sphinx in the story is either a lion or dragon, which borrows from the chinese view. A black dragon should be a shift from a black lion. Thematically, the Lion of Night is visited by the wealthy and the black dragon is used by a people that coveted gold and gems. We have a moon, or Lion of Night, birthing dragons. So it would make sense for a culture using lion sphinx to replace the face with the lion. If this happened during a solar eclipse it would also make sense for it to be black rather than white. This doesn't mean Valyria was a direct descendant. It means that whoever brought dragons culturally represented themselves with a sphinx and brought that with them. In short, the black dragon sphinx suggests a Lion of Night heritage. While the way it's represented in Braavos is likely an evolution of the same idea that dropped the sphinx before it shifted to dragon. If he's borrowing from real eastern culture it would make sense for lions and dragons to be related. It would also make sense for the Lion of Night to be the partner of the Lion of Day and to be the moon in one or both aspects. This representation fits the symbolism of Drogo as a solar symbol giving the moon of his life a white lion pelt. Burning Drogo to make dragons fits as dragons drinking from the sun to exist. This is the answer to the Sphinx is the riddle not the riddler.

[@Sir_Gerald_Nosehairs.]

It's a nod to Michael Moorcock's "Elric" stories. A nod to fantasy fans, I doubt it will have much relevance.

[@conorfennell8475]

If the empire of the dawn built the base ofthe hightower citadel, it would have been before th first men arrived in westeros. Westeros accepted history may be unrealistic and that wouldnt surpise me, but just saying ir would be weird for anyone to build anything there at that point in time

[@A_Black_Sheep94]

I'm pretty sure the Valayrians were the Empire of the Dawn's slaves and they specifically brew the Valayrians to interface with dragons with genetic meddling and mutations and once the Dawn Empire died out the dragon riding Valayrians conquered the world.

[@marcsera1434]

Great one. But you forgot the deep ones. They made the black, oily stones. Thats the only explanation, that explains why on planetos there is a throne made of it on the iron islands. I always figured citys like asshai as deep one's trading posts in a time where they were relations of any kind, i hope trading, with the people on land. They were all over the place, also the thousand islands. And it's also said that the stone resists even time. After the deep ones were gone (i always thought the reason was a military strike which left the jade sea poisoned, just like the one that originated the greyscale in the final rhoynar vs valyrian battle) asshai was just occupied because of its style it's like a natural beacon for everyone magically interested. Even the people who live there admit they don't have a clue where it comes from, it has just always been there. Add this and that unified theory works out perfectly i guess.

[@thecollector6746]

The Great Empire of the Dawn more than likely has absolutely no connection with Valeria. It is basically part of the Yi-Tish creation myth....and given that Valeria is an analog to Rome and Yi-Ti, China.....both on opposite far ends of Essos....leads me to believe neither had much to do with each other at all save for trade.

[@levongevorgyan6789]

Maybe the pale hair and purple eyes are tied to the mysterious dragon taming method rather then direct ancestry?

[@Palemagpie]

I think its important to always remember. Successive empires often are influnced by but not directly descended from each other. When Athens was already in decline. Rome was little more than a bunch of illiterate farmers and shepherds. It was only with the influx of Athenian Slaves to early Rome that instilled in them. Their love of language, culture and mathematics, architecture. The word Barbarian. Literally just means someone who doesnt speak Latin. The Romans at that time. Didnt yet regularly speak Latin. My point is. Conceptually. The idea that the Valerians were defendants of the empire of the dawn. And the Targerians one of the only surviving Valerian lines. Would also be the royal line of the Dawn empire. It just strikes me as bad writing to have it all line up so well.

[@johnnycrown5097]

I thought martin said that the marsters got it wrong and that the long night actually happened 5000 years prior...

[@GoetzimRegen]

So the great empire of a dawn conquered the seven kingdoms and the kings lines was broken, when the last king of the dawns where bound to the great wall.

[@justgeneric2876]

Maybe the black stone that was worshiped was a black dragons egg. So the later emperors of dawn worshipped dragons whereas the first worshipped stars and black stones from heaven. That 20 families of valarya might be descendants of the different emperors, which is why the targarians related to the only executed emperor would be one of the weakest

[@DDLLDDLLDDLL]

So no more intro??😢

[@renatoovelar7442]

Maybe the hightowers have those features because they descend from Rhaena Targaryen, Daemon’s daughter.

[@prongs82]

Azor Ahai is none other than Samwell Tarly😊

[@Raminagrobisfr]

"Worship a black stone that descended from the sky" Where did GRRM get that idea from ?

[@Mother_Of_Gays]

Where did he get it tho ?

[@Raminagrobisfr]

@@Darius-_ obviously

[@Oximb]

Haunter of the Dark by Lovecraft. It's about a guy investigating a cult, the Church of Starry Wisdom. The cult worshipped an evil god and a black stone with red veins (a blood stone...) that fell from outer space, it requires human sacrifices... In the ASOIAF, the Church of Starry Wisdom exist and some claims the Bloodstone Emperor was the first High Priest of the Church. He worshipped a stone that fell from outer space and did blood sacrifices to an evil god...

[@JorraneRei]

H. P. Lovecraft

[@JorraneRei]

⁠What @Oximb said.

[@ucnguyenanh9414]

Sounds like the three sovereigns and five emperors.

[@MegaKnight2012]

There's simple answers for Asshai teaching dragon magic to Valyrians. They used the Valyrians to create the kind of chaos and black magic they're empowered with, spreading it like a disease. They also empowered Valyrians because they themselves were more powerful. Valyrian Dragons won't cross over the Wall, so why not more powerful magics protecting Asshai from the same monsters? Bran Stark saw dragons stirring in Asshai, so what if their dragons are stronger than Valyrian ones, like the Cannibal, who has the Asshai black and green coloring, and is a predator to other apex predators? Instead of the Ice Others being sent to punish Bloodstone, they're more likely his children, like Melisandre's shadow assassin, or the children the Stark Night King prodeced with his queen. Bloodstone was said to take a monstrous bride, like the Stark Night King did. The Ice Others are described having the same face, like the shadow having the same face as Stannis.

[@septakaz8010]

Just a theory what if azor ahai was from dawn he forged the sword of house dayne called dawn and had children that later became the targs and thats why they have so many prohphetic dreams about the long night and its why the next prince what was promised has to be of targ decent because they trace back all the way to azor ahai

[@Luca.Bruschetta]

Mmm new asoif channels ❤

[@Luca.Bruschetta]

I should make one tbh

[@aahantechno]

Miss the intro ❤

[@alehanedilko2147]

I do think that dragons are magical hybrids between firewyrms and vyverns. That is why dragons are incapable of producing strong ofsprings naturaly. Ashai'i might have just given hybridization technology to valirians

[@Pap602]

Well, the only description of a Hightower, I believe, is Jorah's wife, who apparently likes Dany.

[@lollyklein1770]

" okay, he doesn't know how to pronounce dragon but at least he doesn't have to say a 10,000 times throughout the video"