Every Game of Thrones Religion Explained in 14 Minutes

The Old Gods and Their Evolution in Westeros

The Old Gods of Westeros

• The Old Gods were the primary religion in Westeros, worshipped by the Children of the Forest, who carved faces into weirwood trees as part of their sacred practices.

• Around 12,000 years ago, the First Men arrived from the East, leading to conflict with the Children over deforestation; a peace pact was eventually established to protect weirwood trees.

• Over time, many First Men adopted the worship of the Old Gods until approximately 6,000 years ago when the Andals introduced a new religion known as the Faith of the Seven.

• The followers of the Old Gods diminished significantly due to this new faith's popularity; they primarily remained in Northern regions where most First Men resided.

Practices and Beliefs

• Worshippers engage in quiet contemplation within godswoods—enclosed forest areas featuring weirwood trees that serve as shrines. Oaths made here are considered binding.

• Marriages involve seeking blessings from these deities at weirwood trees; otherwise, there are minimal demands or guidelines for followers.

The Lord of Light: A Competing Religion

Overview of Worship

• The Lord of Light is a prominent deity associated with fire and light; his followers believe he represents goodness against an evil counterpart known as the Great Other.

• This religion involves more elaborate practices than those of the Old Gods, including prophecies communicated through flames and extreme rituals like human sacrifices.

Ritual Practices

• Led by red priests, ceremonies often include bonfires and nightly prayers asking for light against darkness. A common prayer emphasizes this duality: "the night is dark and full of terrors."

• Holy texts describe current life as hellish but promise eventual salvation through a prophesied warrior known as "the prince that was promised."

The Faith of the Seven: Dominance in Westeros

Historical Context

• The Faith of the Seven is dominant in Southern Westeros but not prevalent in Northern regions or among Ironborn who follow their own Drowned God beliefs.

• This faith centers on one God with seven aspects representing different facets of life. It originated over 6,000 years ago after divine revelation to Andal people.

Impact on Society

• Following their conquest over First Men and Children, Andals imposed their religion throughout Southern kingdoms while destroying many sacred weirwood trees.

Religious Practices in the Seven Kingdoms

The Faith of the Seven

• The Faith of the Seven remains significant in Westerosi customs, despite corruption and superficial practices. Noble houses typically have a Septa to guide daughters.

• Central to this faith is the "Seven-Pointed Star," with temples called "seps" dedicated to seven aspects. Followers gather for group prayers, adhering to strict rules against homosexuality, incest, and kin slaying—except for House Targaryen.

• There are no denominations within the Faith; however, interpretations vary across regions in the Seven Kingdoms.

The Faceless Men and Death Worship

• The Faceless Men worship a deity known as the "Miniface God," representing death. They believe all gods related to death are merely different aspects of this singular entity.

• Followers view death as a gift that alleviates suffering. They do not choose their targets but act on what they believe is death's will.

• Key phrases include "Valar Morghulis" (all men must die) and "Valar Dohaeris" (all men must serve), reflecting deep societal significance in Braavos.

Unique Practices of the Faceless Men

• Their temple offers painless deaths through a poisoned drink for those seeking relief from pain. They collect corpses for disguise purposes using shape-shifting abilities.

Dothraki Beliefs: The Great Stallion

• The Dothraki worship the Great Stallion, acknowledging other supernatural beings while believing their deity is supreme. Stars are seen as fiery cisar (spirits).

• A prophesied leader known as "the stallion who mounts the world" is expected to unite all Dothraki tribes for global conquest.

Ironborn Religion: The Drowned God

• Ironborn followers justify piracy and raiding through their belief in the Drowned God, who created them for such acts. Killing enemies is considered religiously virtuous.

• They emphasize taking possessions by force ("iron price") rather than trading gold, viewing it as an essential part of their identity and belief system.

The Drowned God and Ironborn Beliefs

Overview of the Drowned God Religion

• Followers believe that the Drowned God once drowned in the sea for the ironborn but returned stronger, leading to a belief that those who drown are taken to his halls.

• Common prayer among followers: "What is dead may never die," with a ritual response involving clutching the right hand and placing a fist over the heart.

Ritual Practices

• Priests, known as drowned men, anoint followers with seawater considered holy water during baptism.

• Kings of the Iron Islands undergo drowning ceremonies; survival signifies their ascension to kingship.

The Moon Singers and Their Role

Introduction to Moon Singer Priestesses

• The moon singers serve as priestesses for the NY people in Northeastern OS, characterized as mounted raiders living in plains north of ET. Although not featured prominently in media, they play a significant role historically.

Influence on Braavos

• Founded by diverse slaves from Valyria, braavos became a melting pot of cultures and religions; moon singers were pivotal in leading escaping fleets that established Braavos.

• The temple dedicated to moon singers is notably the largest in Braavos, indicating their substantial following compared to other religions within the city.

Gender Roles within Moon Singer Society

Unique Gender Dynamics

• In this religion, women aspiring to be jihad must adopt male attire and lifestyle; similarly, men wishing to become moon singers must do so as well. This fluidity complicates traditional gender roles within their society.

Mystery Surrounding Identity

• It remains unclear whether moon singers are born male or female; they are treated uniformly regardless of biological sex within their bands, highlighting an intriguing aspect of this religion's structure.

The Old Gods of Valyria

Historical Context

• This ancient religion worshipped several gods (Bon maraxus Cyrax and Vagar), practiced by Valyrians until the Doom led House Targaryen to abandon it for the Faith of the Seven after conquering Westeros.

Marriage Ritual Practices

• A notable practice involved brides and grooms cutting hands and lips with dragon glass during weddings—mixing blood symbolized consummation in Valyrian culture. This reflects deep-rooted traditions tied to their beliefs before decline post-Doom.

Legacy and Modern Relevance

Decline Yet Persistence

• While nearly extinct today, remnants exist among some aristocrats in Volantis who cling to Valyrian cultural elements due to pride in being descendants of one of its oldest free cities.

Cultural Significance