The Dragons of Valyria descend from DINOSAURS | Wyverns Explained

Wyverns were used by the Bloodmages to create dragons, but Wyverns are something quite terrible. The shocking relationship between the Wyverns and terrible lizards of Sothoryos.
Check out my video on the Origins of Dragons in A Song of Ice and Fire: • Dragon Babies and Targ...
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Information for this video is sourced from the ASoIaF book series, Game of Thrones HBO television series, House of the Dragon HBO television series, Sample chapters from The Winds of Winter, The Dunk and Egg Novellas, The Lands of Ice and Fire, The World of Ice and Fire, Fire and Blood, Rise of the dragon, and So Spake Martin compilations from Westeros.org. This video may also contain spoilers from TWOW sample chapters.
Would you believe it if I told you that there were actually dinosaurs in the Game of Thrones book series ASOIAF. And what if I told you that in the books there are signs that point to dragons sharing a common ancestry with these predatory beasts? Well today I have scoured the books and im bringing all the evidence so be sure to stay until the end for some interesting comments by our author on the subject.
So as heretical as dinosaurs in Martin’s world may sound, you may be surprised to learn there are some bipedal predatory lizards located just south of Valyria within the continental land mass of Sothoryos. According to the Worldbook, within Sothoryos there is a creature called “the tattooed lizard”. The worldbook details how these creatures stalk the jungles running down their prey and ripping them apart with long curved claws on their powerful hind legs. This peculiar description has caused much speculation that these predators might actually be a dinosaur. Most likely a type of dromaeosaur or raptor-like creature as raptors are also described as tearing their prey apart with their characteristic curved claws on their powerful hind legs.
Of course an even more telling example is mentioned as early as book one of a game of thrones. In an Arya chapter, Syrio mentions that the sealord of braavos has a collection of very curious creatures one of which is described a terrible walking lizard with scythes for claws. Interestingly enough, this creature is described as a terrible lizard and the word dinosaur is actually derived from the greek word dinosauria which literally means terrible lizard. And the name walking lizard not only suggests this creature as being bipedal but the genus of dromaeosaurus or raptor family of dinosaurs name is derived from the Greek word for running lizard and possesses something called a sickle claw and linguistically the words scythe and sickle are often used synonymously. So basically in once sentence the author is telling us in several different ways that the Sealord of Braavos is keeping a dinosaur for a pet… and its probably a raptor.
And if you’ve read the books you might have already been aware of this, but what you might not have known is that the author himself has mentioned that there are dinosaurs in his world as confirmation of this came in 2015 when a fan was live tweeting an event where george r martin was speaking and one of those tweets had revealed our author mentioning that dinosaurs did in fact exist in the world of a song of ice and fire so the fandom naturally put two and two together realizing our author was likely referring to the raptor-esque tattooed and walking lizards found in Sothoyros and in the Sealord’s menagerie.
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Keywords: House of the Dragon, HOTD, House of The Dragon season finale, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon HBO, dragon,
#hotd #houseofthedragon #gameofthrones

[@TheDisputedLands]

‼PLEASE Leave a LIKE and a COMMENT... it REALLY DOES HELP‼Let me know your thoughts or just leave an emoji to let me know you were here. And please help the channel grow by sharing this video on social media

[@wolfsbanealphas617]

Great video check out dragons of Atalantis it proves your theory

[@TheDisputedLands]

@@wolfsbanealphas617 ill check it out, thanks!!!!!

[@americanandpinay]

They took radioactive fire worms created from nuclear fallout and bread them with raptors and wyverns and then X and Y to get dragons.

[@_..emily..june.._]

Love your videos ❤

[@iamnoone9041]

I agree with George on where the legends of dragons came from. I read somewhere that it was believed that mammoth skulls may have been the origin of the cyclops legend. If you look at a mammoth skull, knowing nothing of elephants, it's easy to see how they may have thought of a one eyed giant.

[@xavier84623]

I think the ancient empires of dawn had fire magic, and probably interacted with wild dragons, but dragon bonding and its associated fire/blood magic was a Valyrian creation.

[@KarlKarsnark]

Super cool. The tapestry intro gave some interesting dragon creation clues too, it seems. Come on by @IDGLive at 5pm, if you're available. I'll post a link to the vid. Cheers!

[@TheDisputedLands]

Thank you! The tapestry is a huge deal for me, its basically confirmation about the origin of dragons.

[@stevendorries]

Wyvverns are huge rhamphorhynchid pterosaurs, change my mind

[@AarreLisakki]

why rhamphorhynchid specifically? I thought at least huge ones could be inspired by some of those huge azhdarchids? But yeah, between the membrane wings and the quadripedal rather than bipedal gait while on the ground, I'd say our dragons seem more like a pterosaur than a bird. So still an evolutionary relationship w the in-story dinosaurs, but no where near as close as dromeosaur avialae. Birds are just really too wierd, biomechanically, even when compared to dragons I guess ^^

[@stevendorries]

@@AarreLisakki rhamphorynchids retained the ancestral toothed condition and the long tail that more derived forms like the azhdarchids lost.

[@AarreLisakki]

@@stevendorries ah, good point about the tail, that is explicitly mentioned! But we don't need teeth I think - it describes wywerns as having "cruel beaks", so maybe reduction of teeth and even some true keratinous beaks of later forms would actually be fine!

[@vishnu_m]

I would say no, they are not pterosaurs as they were not dinosaurs. But there is example of dinosaurs found in China woth batlike wings that coud ve a basis bor a dragons

[@AarreLisakki]

Scansoriopterygids? But they're tiny, and can't actively fly, but glide. I think the biggerst were pdgeon sized.

[@ApoorvaKaul]

I wish we get a walk through the process of Dragon/Dragon Rider gene creation. Splicing with blood magic! But Martin will only give hints, never the entirety of it. It's his way. Imagine Valyrians sacrificing their (current or future) children to make the dragon bond....or were ancestors sacrificed to provide a bond for future Dragon lords? Martin, we need to know!

[@laurelsilberman5705]

They’re definitely meant to evoke imagery of the raptor, specifically a dinosauroid form since they’re described as having lizards skin. But people forget the long reign of the terror birds, which were literally running the same software down to the backwards facing toe, the sickle claw.

[@elisebrodeur-jacobs5215]

We love you, Crowfoods daughter!

[@TheDisputedLands]

love you back! 💗

[@kmcd3020]

I can't remember the original so this is another new video for me. Thanks Amanda

[@erlkoenig505]

GRRM wouldn't call his dromaeosaurs "tattooed lizards" today, given that we know now that they were likely to be densely feathered. So you wouldn't see the tattoos at all! 😉

[@americanandpinay]

I think earlier dinosaurs are lizard skinned and then they became more bird like over time. It's how I took it from my kid's high school science book.

[@erlkoenig505]

@@americanandpinay I would argue against it. Feathers were found in both major groups of dinosaurs (Saurischia and Ornithischia), so their common ancestor was most likely feathered, too. And pterosaurs, the closest relatives of dinosaurs, also had a primitive feather-like fuzz, so even the common ancestor of dinosaurs and pterosaurs might have already possessed feather-like appendages. The alternative would be that these lineages evolved feather-like structures several times independently, that is less likely.

[@mikethedinoman8970]

⁠​⁠@@erlkoenig505We don’t really know if their common ancestor was feathered or not. The VAST majority of skin samples and impressions we have from both Saurischia and Ornithischia are scales. With feathers being limited to Coelurosauria In any case, it’s not impossible for there to have been a more scaled raptor species out there somewhere 😅

[@destinitaylor4360]

Me personally, I think all lizard like creatures in the world are descended from the Valyrian experiments to recreate the dragons from old. Since I’m of the belief that the empire of the dawn were the VERY early dragon riding families and they got wiped out with the blood betrayal and the first long night. This video was enjoyable thanks for sharing! 😊

[@TheDisputedLands]

Hey thanks for watching! I am of the same belief in regard to the Great Empire, that's actually my theory its just easier to say Valyrian than to get into the weeds. definitely check it out secret origin of dragons part 1 & 2 written in 2019. The videos have influenced a lot of creators. Before that the fandom was about 50/50 believing them to be naturally occurring.

[@destinitaylor4360]

@@TheDisputedLands will do! Thanks for the recommendation!

[@vurtigoneiii275]

@@TheDisputedLands I'm not sure on the time scale of the Valyrians recreating dragons from scratch, so to speak. I thought it was widely believed that old Valyria was colonised by the GOTD? I've also wondered at the idea that perhaps the Valyrian's are themselves an experiment of the BSE's civilisation to create the perfect hosts for creating dragons.

[@TheDisputedLands]

@@vurtigoneiii275 Ah yes I am very familiar with protovalyrian dragon creation, you are telling me my theory even the part of using them as hosts. I use the term "Valyrian" to mostly keep from confusing show only watchers. If anyone has any questions I simply direct them to the videos discussing dragon creation and the great empire of the dawn in the secret origins of dragons part I and II that I released 5 years ago. Hope this clears anything up!

[@destinitaylor4360]

@@vurtigoneiii275 this is an interesting take. I thought that Valyria only came afterwards and the early dragon lords, Targaryens in particular, were descendants of the Amethyst Empress. I’ll have to look more into this!

[@bumbiino]

I thought they were from the second moon that crashed into east of Asshai

[@TheDisputedLands]

Definitely check out my videos called the secret origins of dragons part I and Ii

[@vishnu_m]

Deinonychus not velocirapor as those were small like chicken. Crichton and the movie mixed things ups. Still I believe this is interesting idea, as while today we know dinosaurs were ancestors of the birds, there was a lineage of dinosaurs with batlike wings, similar to the vision of dragons from the song of ice and fire

[@Americandragonrider333.]

Very cool stuff! You should do an episode about the Reins of Castamere. There history from beginning to end. The legends and stories about them. What things they were involved in. And ovcourse the story of there tragic end, and all the stories and things about that. You would be epic telling the story of the Reins of Castamere!

[@TheDisputedLands]

I actually love the history, not a bad idea!!!

[@MeeraReads]

Aayy! Velociraptors of Sothoryos! Love the theory

[@TheDisputedLands]

Thank you!!!

[@michelesilva9491]

I like this theory, makes sense that the mages actually created dragons. I’ve watched some of your old videos and this subject as well and I think you’re spot on. However I don’t think the valeryon ppl were genetically put into the dragons with magic and vice versa as you suggest. I think it’s more along the lines of lml’s theory that mages took a Targaryen and sacrificed them putting their soul into the dragon. This explains the dragon has the 3 heads, the ancestor soul that was sacrificed, the rider and the dragon itself. This is why they marry within the family, to ensure the next generation can be dragon riders because they are kin, or the blood of, the ancestor in the dragon, or blood of the dragon. This also makes sense with the song Daemon sings to Vermithor in the show. And also ties into what you have said about the source of magic in this world being the soul. Like Nissan Nissan putting her soul into the steal, and the heart tree or soul tree. The soul of a Targaryen was put into a dragon in order for those of their blood to be able to ride the dragon.

[@TheDisputedLands]

Hi yes, we discussed this in the livestream with Company of the Cat and Eldric Stoneskin with the heart being dripped into the bowl on the tapestry. I think Eldric may be working on a video on the topic and definitely check that out when it comes ou!.

[@bigfq]

Yeah that last type was a Toothless. :)

[@conniesuper9892]

Thank you!I feel smarter today!😊

[@TheDisputedLands]

You're so welcome!

[@TheCbot88]

I do love that asoiaf has its own “Jurassic” Park. Dinosaurs from the movie being primarily from the Cretaceous period. Anyway. Planetos is probably much larger than earth or simply has different history of extinction events. Obviously. 😂

[@Magmafrost13]

Its interesting to know that these dinosaurs exist in ASOIAF, and I agree that in all likelihood wyverns would belong to the same group of animals. But I dont think this really presents any evidence that dinosaurs were used in the creation of dragons

[@TheDisputedLands]

Hey, thanks for watching. What i think you are saying is you don't believe the bloodmages of valyria used wyvers? If that is correct I have a video in the description box for you to check out. Cheers!

[@Magmafrost13]

@@TheDisputedLands Oh I 100% believe they used wyverns. I guess if you count that as using dinosaurs, then sure

[@Coasterr200145]

Another great video! Although, for myself, you can't go wrong with magic or dragons!

[@TheDisputedLands]

Very true!

[@Amanda-fz3mr]

Great vid! Thanks!

[@silverprincess2642]

I actually just made a video on Dinosaurs in GOT about a month ago! Though mine was more centered around the show, since i haven't read the books yet.

[@TheDisputedLands]

very cool and thank you so much!

[@_..emily..june.._]

Your my new fav SOIAF creator. Loving all your vids ❤

[@TheDisputedLands]

Yay! Thank you!

[@iHuntBearsWithMyFist]

Dragons have captured the imagination of peoples across the earth and through out time because they are a mixture of every predator that early humans would have had to deal with. They have they eyes and teeth of a cat, the serpentine neck and tail of a snake, and wings like a predatory bird. They also breathe fire which would have been a threat to humans living in grasslands or trees. Humans subconsciously remember when we were not at the top of the food chain and our DNA tries to remind us. So we get interested and fascinated by things our long-ago ancestors would have been interested and scared by

[@billberndtson]

Amanda, your videos are thoughtful, informative, and, with your marvelous speaking voice, a delight to listen to. If you sing can we get a Jenny of Oldstones? ❤🧡💛💚💙💜

[@TheDisputedLands]

Wow, thank you! Im not a singer unfortunately but that is a great compliment!

[@wafflingmean4477]

I definitely support GRRM's theory that dinosaurs are the original real world inspiration for dragons in ancient literature, which evolved into the dragons of the fantasy fiction genre. Think of how crazy it is when someone digs up a whole T-Rex today, when we already know what dinosaurs are. Now imagine that but in ancient times, when there's no established record of dinosaurs, you have no idea what this THING is, no certainty that there aren't some still around, and it's WAY before modern science, so most of planet Earth believes in magic. It'd be a thousand times more mysterious and impactful to those who discovered it. Then someone digs up a pterodactyl. It also lines up with many mythologies framing dragons as reclusive, living hidden away in mountain lairs or able to change shape to appear as humans. The idea of 'extinction' wasn't really a thing a few thousand years ago. Most believed the world itself wasn't more than a few thousand years old, or at least didn't think much of it. So the idea of any species going extinct was likely a strange concept. So the first thing you'd assume when you dig up what seems to be a flying T-Rex is "My god. These things exist, right now. We've just never seen a live one." So naturally the mythology evolves into "dragons exist, but they're incredibly hard to find". And it's likely stories of things like whales and crocodiles moving between cultures, across continents, getting more distorted with every re-telling and with no one having a way to just open a picture book or google it. Especially with written records being WAY less accessible (given books were way harder and more time consuming to make and copy in this time), even to ancient populations with decent literacy rates among ordinary people (instead of just rich people). If some travelling merchant that visited town 70 years ago told a story about a whale, and you live in a landlocked mountain village, and you're the hundredth person to hear the story, odds are by the time you hear it, the whale's turned into some gigantic world serpent leviathan. And you genuinely don't have any reason to doubt it, regardless of whether or not you believe it, since nobody you've ever met has seen the ocean.

[@bassanimation]

Found your videos via Gray Area. Loved this in-depth look at the dragons and wyverns. I think everyone is waiting to see what else George has to reveal about them if he finishes the books.

[@TheDisputedLands]

@@bassanimation Welcome to the Disputed Lands! Definitely check out my other dragon videos, this is just discussing the origins of one component!!

[@wolfsbanealphas617]

I think the goal was to use dragon blood to revive the immortal blood of the gemstone emperors

[@shanecoker1369]

Love the interviews with the author- pretty much confirms it!

[@straightfrom]

You're incredible.

[@TheDisputedLands]

Thank you!

[@YarPirates-vy7iv]

Hey I'm first but this seems familiar!

[@TheDisputedLands]

yes, its a reuploaded video just made an announcement in the community tab. It did poorly last year so I polished up the audio and changed some things to improve it hoping that it will do better with better audio and thumbnail. I have a new video coming out next week and livestream with company of the cat and eldric stoneskin on saturday morning.

[@orthog42]

It's topical given that the new HOTD intro includes a panel that may illustrate the origin of dragons.

[@JoeUchiha-gs5ru]

I thought this was a part 2 of that older video.

[@murp0443]

You are on a roll right now!!!!!!!

[@LNGD_46]

I don't understand where the fire-breathing part comes from. Maybe that is the result of human sacrifice? Soul = fire

[@TheDisputedLands]

Check out the video in the description box. Wyvers were crossbred with the firewyrms that lived inside the valyrian volcanos.

[@LNGD_46]

​@@TheDisputedLands yeah. Got it👍

[@bdc2320]

I wonder if these creatures can be warged.

[@TheDisputedLands]

Gray Area has a great video on Dragon Control definitely check it out!

[@corro202]

Great video.

[@TheDisputedLands]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@thomasj3701]

I dont know why or i guess i do but it bothers be that GRRM is a touch smug about dragon leg numbers yet he writes cold like he's never been cold, never seen felt cold, nor doew he understand how cold weather works. Though he's always quick to point towards "science" for dragon legs, but magic for cold. Anyway. Your input and video as always smashed and was great yet again!

[@basementmadetapes]

Most american authors don’t write cold v well, especially extreme or arctic cold. But he doesn’t get it all wrong either. But I don’t find his attitude smug. That’s just me though.

[@mattburns8839]

Of course, if you actually saw a living dromaeosaur, you would not call it a tatooed lizard or a walking lizard. It would be covered in feathers, and it would look more like a terrible turkey, than it would like any kind of lizard, or dragon. Doesn't mean your theory's wrong of course. It's just fiction after all, but if you're right, I'll be a bit disappointed in George Martin's research team TBH

[@Hochspitz]

Crikey! Ya mean to tell me Sothoryos is even more dangerous than Australia where even trees can kill you?....Hmm, the trees in Westeros and Essos also kill, sort of.... so yeah, Sothorys wins the title.

[@TheDisputedLands]

The people and the water kill you in Sothoryos too!!! Proceed with caution you will end up with parasites and blood eye and devoured by cannibals... and that is if you are lucky!

[@Hochspitz]

Are they people? I suppose that is a matter of interpretation of what constitutes "people"🤔

[@TheDisputedLands]

@@Hochspitz I dont think they are homo sapiens, but the people of Ib probably arent either. However they are given the title of "Men" i.e. brindled Men so I think people is a term that can be used to describe them although the people of Westeros would probably use the term "savages". They are likely the result of genetic manipulation that can be found in the are but they likely have speech and customs and descend from homo sapiens in some fashion.

[@Hochspitz]

@@TheDisputedLands And so are The Others, Children of the Forest, etc. GRRM doesn't portray them as extreme, frightening, people to be feared, yet that is how we perceive them. Homo sapiens are incapable of inclusivity, hence never ending wars.

[@shanenolan5625]

Thanks Amanda

[@TheDisputedLands]

Thank you Shane!!

[@jonhauge-evaldsson783]

🤩

[@totallytips]

What are your thoughts on the theory that another Cotf from asshai actually taught the valyrians how to breed/tame dragons?

[@TheDisputedLands]

@@totallytips check out my mazemaker video. My thought on the children of the forest connection to the great empire are there and its one of my favorite videos.

[@totallytips]

@@TheDisputedLands just found your channel but loving all your content. Its inspired me to make some videos of my own

[@ΓιάννηςΝικολάου-η5ω]

Dinosauria is not a Greek word. The Greek word for dinosaur is δεινόσαυρος from the words δεινός and σαύρα, literally meaning terrible/mighty lizard.

[@stevendorries]

You just said the Greek word for dinosaur is dinosaur(in a Greek accent)

[@kaleanaking5292]

Pretty sure it’s Latin not Greek

[@stevendorries]

@@kaleanaking5292 nope, neologism coined by Sir Richard Owen in 1841 from the Greek words deinós and saûros

[@ΓιάννηςΝικολάου-η5ω]

@@kaleanaking5292 I displayed the GREEK words in GREEK letters as a GREEK myself. Go do an one minute google search before displaying your stupidity online.