{"id":3057,"date":"2014-04-16T08:00:23","date_gmt":"2014-04-16T08:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/?p=3057"},"modified":"2014-06-06T17:42:52","modified_gmt":"2014-06-06T17:42:52","slug":"game-of-thrones-ancient-rome-part-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/game-of-thrones-ancient-rome-part-i\/","title":{"rendered":"Game of Thrones & Ancient Rome: Part I"},"content":{"rendered":"

The popular book and television series, Game of Thrones, portrays a world rich\u00a0with magic, adventure, romance, and history. While most fans of the series thoroughly enjoy the refreshing originality of the series; others would say that Game of Thrones is simply a fantastical interpretation of actual historic events\u00a0and themes. In this post, I will attempt to analyze some of these historic references that may be obvious or not so obvious.\u00a0While it is known that a majority of the history that Game of Thrones is based on is much later than Ancient Rome (1400’s or later); I would argue that there are several examples from Ancient Rome that relate to this series.<\/p>\n

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DISCLAIMER:<\/strong><\/span> If you are new to the series and are not up to date on the HBO\u00a0series’ episodes, I should warn you that there are spoilers<\/strong><\/span> ahead! I will not be discussing any events that lie beyond the current HBO series (The Lion and The Rose;Episode S4E2)\u00a0as I do not wish to deter those who have not read the books from this post. Any quote from the books will not reveal any spoilers or new information.<\/p>\n

1) The Wall vs. Hadrian’s Wall<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The author, George R.R. Martin, has acknowledged openly his inspiration of The Wall from Hadrian’s Wall:<\/p>\n

Certainly the Wall comes from Hadrian’s Wall, which I saw while visiting Scotland. I stood on Hadrian’s Wall and tried to imagine what it would be like to be a Roman soldier sent here from Italy or Antioch.\u00a0 To stand here, to gaze off into the distance, not knowing what might emerge from the forest.\u00a0 Of course fantasy is the stuff of bright colours and being larger than real life, so my Wall is bigger and considerably longer and more magical.\u00a0 And, of course, what lies beyond it has to be more than just Scots<\/em>. (SF Site Interview; found here<\/a>.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Hadrian's<\/a>

Hadrian’s Wall or Vallum Aelium. Courtesy of WikiCommons & Adam Cuerden.<\/p><\/div>\n

Hadrian’s Wall was begun in 122 CE\u00a0 by Emperor Hadrian.\u00a0The origin for its\u00a0purpose vary from military defense, to protection from immigration, smuggling, or simply a demonstration of power. Perhaps it was built for all these reason (or none of them).One text,\u00a0 Scriptores Historiae Augustae:<\/i> Vita Hadriani, claims:<\/p>\n

“(Hadrian) was the first to build a wall 80 miles long to separate the Romans from the barbarians”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Location<\/a>

Location of Hadrian’s Wall. Courtesy of WIkiCommons & Mahahahaneapneap.<\/p><\/div>\n

In the series, one of the main characters (Jon Snow) gives his account upon seeing The Wall for the first time:<\/p>\n

Almost seven hundred feet high it stood, three times the height of the tallest tower in the stronghold it sheltered. His uncle said the top was wide enough for a dozen armored knights to ride abreast. The gaunt outlines of huge catapults and monstrous wooden cranes stood sentry up there, like the skeletons of great birds, and among them walked men in black as small as ants. <\/em>– Jon Snow’s first impression of\u00a0 ” The Wall.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The following video is of Jon Snow seeing The Wall for the first time (please excuse any add-ons; this was the only video available):<\/p>\n

http:\/\/youtu.be\/kGcKOXk9Qbs<\/a><\/p>\n

2) Daenerys\u00a0 Targaryen vs. Boudicca<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In Game of Thrones, the once proper and submissive princess is transformed through the series into\u00a0a barbaric queen, a destitute widow, a mother of dragons,\u00a0a sacker of cities, and a mother of freed slaves. Daenerys Targaryen\u00a0is interesting character that evolves quite rapidly and adapts to each of her roles. She is one of the strongest female characters within the series. Here is a perfect quote concerning her character:<\/p>\n

I know that she spent her childhood in exile, impoverished, living on dreams and schemes, running from one city to the next, always fearful, never safe, friendless but for a brother who was by all accounts half-mad…a brother who sold her maidenhood to the Dothraki\u00a0 for the promise of an army.\u00a0 I know that somewhere upon the grass, her\u00a0 dragons hatched, and so did she.\u00a0 I know she is proud. How not?\u00a0 What else was left her but pride? I know she is strong.\u00a0 How not? The Dothraki despise weakness. If Daenerys had been weak, she would have perished with Viserys. I know she is fierce. She has survived assassins and conspiracies and\u00a0\u00a0fell sorceries, grieved for a brother and a husband and a son, trod the cities of the slavers to dust beneath her dainty sandalled feet.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Here is an example of her strength and wit from season 3:<\/p>\n