Game of Thrones Creator Calls Out ‘Sloppy’ Mistake in House of the Dragon Sigil Leg Numbers

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As a longtime fan of George R.R. Martin’s intricately woven worlds and a dedicated viewer of the Game of Thrones series, I can’t help but be both thrilled and slightly irked by the recent revelation of a “sloppy” mistake in the design of the Targaryen sigil in HBO’s prequel, House of the Dragon.

George R.R. Martin has expressed delight with many aspects of “House of the Dragon,” the “Game of Thrones” prequel. He’s particularly impressed by the most devastating dragon battle in the franchise, and the growth of characters that he had not fully developed in his novel “Fire and Blood.” However, this appreciation doesn’t shield him from pointing out concerns. One such issue is an inconsistency in the design of a significant part of the Targaryen crest in the HBO production.

In simpler terms, no Earth-dwelling animal possesses six limbs. It’s unfortunate that the show didn’t get it completely correct. Maybe someone made an error or was overly confident after learning a bit about heraldry. A small amount of knowledge can sometimes lead to more harm than good.

In his latest blog entry, George R.R. Martin delved deeply into the subtle distinction between the depiction of the Targaryen sigil in his writings and its representation in the series. Though seemingly minor within the context of the overarching narrative, this discrepancy centers around a significant variation: the number and form of the dragon or wyvern legs. Martin elaborated on this point extensively.

The origin of the debate over how many legs a dragon should have can be traced back to medieval heraldry. Initially, both four-legged and two-legged creatures were depicted on shields and banners. However, as heraldry evolved and standardized over time, heralds began labeling the four-legged beasts as dragons and their two-legged counterparts as wyverns. Since neither dragon nor wyvern was a real animal but rather a mythical creature, the distinction between them was largely arbitrary. Furthermore, medieval heralds were not particularly knowledgeable about zoology, even for real animals, which further complicated matters. To put it simply, their understanding of seahorses was hardly accurate.

George R.R. Martin Explains The Differences Between Dragons and Wyverns

As a dedicated gamer and fan of George R.R. Martin’s “House of the Dragon,” I’ve been looking forward to exploring the intricacies of Westeros’ mythical creatures, particularly the dragons. However, Martin has emphasized a crucial aspect about the world of Westeros that significantly impacts our interpretation of these scaly beasts. In his own words:

In the realm of Westeros, dragons and wyverns are reality. Thus, my messengers didn’t have the luxury of denying their existence. Consequently, in my stories, the Targaryen emblem displays the correct number of dragon legs – two. Why would anyone represent a dragon with four limbs when they could observe the genuine article and verify? My wyverns also possess two legs; their primary differences being size, coloration, and the absence of the ability to breathe fire. It’s important to note that while the Targaryen crest correctly displays two legs, it is not entirely accurate. The wings are significantly smaller than the body, and, of course, no dragon has three heads. That aspect is symbolic, representing Aegon the Conqueror and his two sisters.

Many fans find the additional legs in the sigil of “House of the Dragon” an insignificant detail, not detracting from their newfound excitement for the “Game of Thrones” franchise’s impressive comeback. Five years after, fans of Martin’s novels yearn for a resolution to his storyline, but “House of the Dragon” has rekindled their affection for the Westeros universe. This renewed interest is promising news for upcoming spin-offs like “The Hedge Knight.”

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2024-07-16 16:32