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lady-griffin · 5 years

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GOT Circle & Spiral

Since the beginning of the show, we’ve been introduced to the White Walker’s symbols. Perhaps it’s a way they are communicating and expressing their intentions or perhaps they are just copying what they have seen before, without any meaning behind it.

There is the circle. Introduced, in S1E01 “Winter is Coming”

And then, there is the Spiral. Introduced, in S3E03 “Walk of Punishment”

From what we know so far or have gathered, is that these two symbols were taken from the Children of Forest by the White Walkers and they have been using them to communicate something to the living.

Now perhaps these are just empty symbols for the White Walkers. But the WW are capable of thinking and strategizing, for instance, they adapt to start wearing armor once one of them is killed. So, I do believe they are communicating something to the living.

Now in season 6, we are reintroduced to these symbols once more. As Jon draws our attention to them when he shows Daenerys the cave drawings in Dragonstone, in S7E04 “The Spoils of War."

The second picture and the spiral that is shown, I think represents the creation of the Night King and the place he was created. But we’ll get into that a bit later.

Circle

First, we’re going to talk about the circle. While we haven’t seen it all that much in comparison to the Spiral, particularly in the later seasons. It still is the first symbol we were introduced to.

The first scene of the first episode of the entire show introduces us to this symbol and that episode is adeptly named Winter is Coming. The White Walkers are the Winter the Starks have been talking about, and they are not only coming, but are already here.

The final scene of the final episode of Season 1, reintroduces the symbol to us with Drogo’s funeral pyre and the birth of Daenerys’ dragons. And again, the episode is adeptly named, “Fire and Blood,” which directly refers to the Targaryen dragons, who are now also present in the current story.

And before we go to the circle and its relation to Sansa Stark, it’s important to note, that we do keep seeing the symbol in relation to the overall show.

The font style of the Title, turns every “O” into the circle.

Okay, back to the story within the show.

The circle is strongly associated with Sansa Stark, who wears the symbol as a necklace when she leaves the Vale, first appearing in S4E08, “The Mountain and the Viper.”

This is quite interesting.

While we know the chain reflects Littlefinger, a piece Sansa took from his own style (particularly in the way she wears it later on) andthe end “needle" piece is related to Arya’s very own needle. We still don’t actually have any meaning applied to the circle itself, at least not to my knowledge.

We should also take note of the scene where we first see Sansa wearing the necklace in S7E08 and the implication behind it. Because Littlefinger to some extent “creates” this new Sansa (or he thinks he does), but over time he loses control over her and she turns on him, resulting in his death.

Which is a scenario that is repeated quite often within the story.

Sansa’s later circle necklace (which becomes a stable in her wardrobe), continues the idea of Littlefinger’s influence/lessons and Sansa having her own Needle.

And this necklace reminds me more of a thread going through the sewing needle eye, than the first one. And overall sewing in general. Sewing and more traditional female activities are also closely associated with Sansa, just in general.

And while the new circle itself might continue the symbolic weight of the old circle (whatever that exactly is), I believe this new necklace carries an additional symbolic weight.

Especially, when Sansa wears her Twin Direwolf Collar/Clasps.

The necklace and collar, together, create a visual makeshift of a Viking King’s Chain.

And several other blogs/people have brought this up as a visual clue.

If this is an intentional visual clue by the costume designer or creators, then I think it clearly means that Sansa’s circle necklace (new version) is her very own Chain of Intent.

Matching & opposing Daenerys’ more famous Chain of Intent and if that is true, than these two are already made out to be two opposing forces before they even meet.

It’s also quite interesting that both Sansa and Daenerys have been strongly assoicated with the WW symbols and no one else really has. Sansa the Circle. And Daenerys the Circle and Spiral.

And the circle has come to represent opposing forces already. The WW and the Dragons.

But yet, we still don’t actually know the meaning of the White Walkers and Sansa’s First Necklace.

In our own world, the circle is similar to the Greek Letters of Theta and Phi.

Theta is a closer match to Sansa’s necklace, a horizontal line contained within a circle.

Theta is the eighth letter of the Greek Alphabet. In Greek numerals it has the value of 9 though and it is likely derived from Phoenician letter Teth.

The Phoenician letter ṭēth means "wheel" and possibly is the continuation of a Middle Bronze Age glyph named ṭab meaning "good".

But back to Theta.

It was once used to represent death, as it was used as an abbreviation for the Greek θάνατος (thanatos, “death”) and as a warning of death, in the same way that skull and crossbones are or have been used.

The idea of death is very fitting for the White Walkers/Night King. To those who believe in the Lord of the Light, the WW are death and the true enemy of R'hllor. But in general and for everyone, it’s pretty easy to associate death with the WW.

But this idea of death is pretty interesting in regards to Sansa, who wears the symbol in the end of Season 4 and a good portion of Season 5. And while she stops wearing it later on, the visual style of it continues on in a different form.

The symbol could represent the symbolic death of the old Sansa that once was, the one that existed before she walked down the stairs wearing said circle necklace.

Or perhaps it’s a forewarning of her own future, literal death. Or perhaps, like the WW, Sansa herself is a harbinger of death.

A warning of death to come.

Tyrion himself, in S8E01, brought up the fact that those who’ve underestimated or cross Sansa are now all dead. But it goes a bit further than that, doesn’t it?

Many of the characters who have directly impacted Sansa’s life or interacted with her on screen are now dead.

Lady. Ned Stark. Catelyn Stark. Robb Stark. Rickon Stark. Robert Baratheon. Joffrey. Tommen. Myrcella. Jory Cassel. Septa Mordane. Lancel Lannister. Loras, Margaery and Olenna Tyrell. Ser Meryn Trant. Maester Pycelle. Ros. Shae. Dontos. Lysa Tully. Tywin Lannister. Roose Bolton. Walda Frey. Myranda. Ramsey Bolton. The old woman. Ned Umber. Petyr Baelish.

And even those who haven’t died, have in many ways gone through severe changes that we could see as symbolic deaths.

The Hound. Jon Snow (+ literal). Cersei Lannister. Tyrion Lannister. Jaime Lannister. Arya Stark. Bran Stark. Theon Greyjoy.

In all honestly, though, we could make a list like this for every current living character and some would far exceed Sansa’s own death list.

But it is interesting for one of the few characters not involved in active fighting or killing, death sure does follow her.

But again, this is Game of Thrones.

Now Phi looks closer to the White Walkers’ circle, as the line is vertical and even passes outside the circle.

Phi, is the is the 21st letter of the Greek alphabet and represents the numeral value of 500 and also 500,000.

The symbol of Phi can represent a whole number of things, most importantly the Golden Ratio. Which itself can represent infinity, beauty, nature, life and balance.

And, the Golden Ration is often represented by a Spiral shape.

Spiral

This leads us to the Spiral in the show, which has become the far more prominent symbol in later seasons.

It is first shown in S3E03, “The Walk of Punishment.” John and the Free Folk come across this symbol, specifically one that is made of horse parts. Though they don’t know its meaning, they talk of how there are no human remains.

The men that these horses belonged to are now wights, the NK has gained more soldiers. And in the same episode, Daenerys makes a deal with the Slave Masters of Astapor -- One dragon for the Unsullied. Daenerys in this episode, takes a step further in gaining her future army.

Interesting how the wights are completely mindless soldiers following one master, while the Unsullied or the idea of them is sold to Daenerys as being just that. In addition, while the Masters of Astapor never got their one dragon, the Night King did.

The Spiral is also shown when the Children of the Forest create the first ever White Walker, in S6E05, “The Door.”

Bran learns in that scene that it was the COTF who created the WW to protect themselves from the First Men. And it is also in that scene we get idea that the acts people do (or weapons they create) under the justification of war, is not always justified.

While COTF were being killed and their sacred trees destroyed, they created new life that they could not control and even slaughtered them, as well as the First Men. The COTF, in the end, had to work with Man to defeat the NK and imprison him beyond the wall.

The NK also creates the spiral in the most recent episode, S8E01 “Winterfell”, using body parts to create a spiral featuring Little Ned Umber in the middle (much like how the NK was in the middle of another spiral).

Beric Dondarrion even comments that it’s a message from the Night King. So once more we know the WW are sending the characters a message, we just don’t understand nor know what it is exactly means to the WW.

The Spiral is also associated with Daenerys Targaryen & potentially Targaryens in general.

In S4E10, “The Children” Daenerys wears a dress throughout that has the very same spiral pattern.

In that episode, Daenerys receives citizens in her hall when she is Queen of Mereen. She learns that some of the slaves want to be sold back to their former masters (as they feel there is no place for them in this new world). Daenerys learns the lesson that the freedom she has given these people, means they can defy her own wishes and wants for them.

This idea is further cemented when she learns that Drogon killed a small child. She has lost control of her dragons (drogon) and they are acting on their own will, which won’t always align with hers. So, she decides to lock up her two remaining dragons, to prevent this from happening again.

The episode is adeptly titled “The Children,” (it’s almost like the title is intentional).

We as the audience are introduced to the Children of the Forest. But further more we learn the trouble and dangers of “children” to their “parents”.

Some of the slaves don’t wish to be freed by Myhsa (mother) and the Dragons are acting on their own will.

The Hound begs Arya to kill him, who has become a pseudo daughter in a way, but she defies his will and leaves him to die a slow death. Well first she robbed him.

And the final nail in the coffin, Jaime frees Tyrion, who then kills their father, Tywin. Which is not what Jaime nor Tywin wanted.

Your children, the people you save or free from their former imprisonment, still have their own free will and that will can go against your own.

And this is a lesson that has been on repeat for quite some time.

The COTF learn this. Daenerys learns this. Littlefinger learns this. Tywin learns this. Cersei learns this. Doran Martell learn this. Roose Bolton learns this. Ramsey learns this.

Now, defying your “parents” wishes and turning on them does not always work out in the best of ways for the “child”. Robb and Sansa both went against Catelyn and Ned’s wishes in who they wanted to marry and both acts led to some terrible consequences for House Stark and said parents, as well as themselves.

So, there is a balance to be had. But the lesson remains, everyone has a will of their own.

And it’s also important to note that to create the first WW, the COTF used Dragonglass. Which is also refered to as frozen fire and is found in abundance on Dragonstone, the ancestral seat of House Targaryen.

There is of course one other way Daenerys and Targaryens are connected to the Spiral, their sigil resembles it quite a bit.

Of course, everyone has commented on the possible connection of the WW Spiral & Targaryen sigil as the similarity was made quite clear with Little Ned being set ablaze.

The Spiral itself could be seen as an abstract form of the Targaryen Sigil. Similar to how Cersei’s crown is an abstract form of a lion.

Heading back to the actual Spiral for a quick second.

Spirals in our own world can have a ton of meanings depending on different cultures, history and overall context. But overall, they can represent movement, life, creation, infinity/eternity, reincarnation/ rebirth and time (past, present and future).

And I think those meanings from our world can also be applied to the GOT Spiral.

Back to the Targaryen Sigil and its connection to the Spiral.

The Targaryen Sigil itself is reminiscent of Ouroboros - A symbol that depicts a serpent or dragon devouring its own tail.

Ouroboros represents or can represent wholeness, infinity, rebirth or a renewal of life (same as the spiral). A continuation of a cycle.

It also has the negative connation or idea tied to it -- eating (hurting) yourself to satiate your own hunger (desire).

Basically, a self-defeating way of trying to accomplish what you want.

Which is a way to describe several of the characters we’ve seen on the show and continue to see, the more they try to cement their power the more unstable that power’s foundation becomes.

But even more so, we can see it with how several of the “children” defy their “parents”.

And of course, both the Targaryen Sigil and Spiral Symbol also look like something else. A wheel.

Daenerys has sworn to break “The Wheel.”

While we can easily infer what the wheel is, it’s never actually fully discussed within the show.

We’re told the vague idea that it’s the families fighting one another for power and the destruction that follows (crushing the smallfolk), but that’s really it.

However, that idea is often shown to the audience in every episode, with once again the literal Title of the Show.

This looks like a wheel, with the different families being the spokes on it, just like what Daenerys said.

But back to our main point.

We have no idea how Daenerys exactly wants to break the wheel (dismantling the institutions of power that legitimize rulers? maybe?) nor do we know what she wants to do when the wheel breaks. Or what she wants to implement afterward.

One idea, is that she could mean she wants to do what Joffrey suggested in Season 1, dismantling the independent powers of the lower lords (Stark, Tyrell, Tully...ect) and cement the central power of the crown (mainly through armies).

This actually isn’t all that far-fetched. Daenerys has become the central ruler of her army and people, with seemingly no official lower branches or groups.

But that’s more stopping the wheel on the Targaryen Spoke, not breaking it.

The real problem is that it’s a nice line with no plan behind it and there is a fatal flaw in how it’s supposed to be achieved.

It’s hard to break the “wheel”, when Daenerys needs the wheel or the institutions of power that were or are still currently in place (monarchy/feudalism, succession rights, Targaryen rule, Iron Throne) to become Queen of the 7K, so she can break said institutions that reinforce the current social structure and help crush those below.

Daenerys (and the other characters) are part of this wheel. They might be able to change it, but can they truly break it?

I’m going to say no. The wheel and life keep spinning. The spiral continues. No matter what they do.

The wheel imagery also reminds me of the Seven-Pointed Star, the primary icon of the New Gods, which is the major religion within Westeros.

The New Gods is an interesting religion. It’s predominant across the show. It’s one of the few religions we see that has set rules and practices and it is (was) a formal institute of power in Westeros, but yet has no “proof” behind it.

The Old Gods, The Lord of Light and even the Many-Faced God have magic users and practices that seemingly reinforce said power of their god and prove its existence.

But magic isn’t linked to one religion or one god. In fact, it might not be linked to any. Magic might just be a natural part of this world and some religions may have been created to explain said magic and shape it.

Perhaps those who follow R’hllor can’t see the future through the flames because of their god, but many R’hllor exists because people could see the future in the flame.

But back to the Targaryen connection.

It always interested me that the Targaryens never brought over or implemented their own religion or gods from Valyria to Westeros. They just adapted to the dominant religion and allowed it to give them legitimacy.

One could also argue the Targaryen Sigil has “Seven Points” to it.

Three Heads. Two Wings. Two Tails.

And also, Joffrey based the throne room off the old Targaryen-style of the room. Including the Seven-Pointed Star windows.

Joffrey didn’t include the star because he himself is religious, he did so to invoke the style and power he admired in the previous Targaryen rulers.

Robert, who overthrew the Targaryens, had removed and replaced the Seven-Pointed Star (and other decorations) with forest/hunting stain-glass windows and decorations.

While we might associate the current throne room and its “look” with Joffrey and later Cersei, they are only trying to invoke the Targaryens, who were overthrown so they could have power.

And we can see that in the flashback of the Mad King, as he too had the Seven-Pointed Star glass window.

So, in the past, the Targaryens have used the Seven-Pointed Star, not just in their decorating, but legitimizing their own power with The Faith of the Seven.

Overall, the Seven-Pointed Circle it a symbol of power that keeps things more or less the same. And Daenerys might have to reinforce or rebuild this religion once more to keep or gain her own power, if she were ever to become queen.

Once more, fortifying the wheel and making it more difficult to break.

Now overall the Spiral and the Seven-Pointed Star Circle aren’t that similar in appearance, other than them being circles with “spokes”.

The Spiral has 8 spirals. While the Star has 7 points.

The Star is contained in the circle and the Spiral is the circle that can continue on and on.

But they might just both represent religion. While not confirmed, from what we can tell so far, the Spiral is a symbolic part of the COTF magic (and potentially their religion as well).

So, there is again an element of opposite forces. The Old vs. The New.

And from a Watsonian perspective, whose to say the Targaryen weren’t influenced by the dominant religion of Westeros & the Spirals imagery found on Dragon Stone (plus their three dragons) in creating their sigil.

The two symbols the WW have used can be linked to and related to many different things from our own world to the world of Game of Thrones.

And while all of these different circles and symbols may not all be directly connected together in some overall giant meaning/conspiracy that will explain everything.

We can’t ignore, the same ideas and meanings keep coming up and connect different symbols and ideas together.

They are all different, but nonetheless similar. Reflections of one another.

What do these two symbols really mean in regards to the WW?

Well, I hate to say it I don’t have a concrete answer, despite everthing we’ve talked about. But I do have speculation.

In a more literal sense. I think the circle represents the First Men and the Spiral represents the COTF. Or at least they use to.

Basically, I think it will be revealed that the circle symbol we first saw (unless they’ve forgotten about it) was once a symbol of the First Men. We actually haven’t seen the COTF really be associated with that symbol, at least not in the same way the Spiral has been shown to be related to them.

True the circle is part of the Cave Drawings, like the Spiral, but the COTF were telling the story of how they joined together with the First Men to defeat the WW.

So I believe, the WW are taking what was the primary (or what they saw as the primary) symbol of the two groups that they wish to destroy and made them their own.

For the WW to have life, they most kill the old life in the current world. And these two symbols the WW have been using is that threat. Death is coming for the First Men (humans) and the COTF.

And that leads to what these two symbols represent (not just a single person or group anymore), but ideas.

Overall, I believe they both represent opposing forces and the duality of said forces.

The Fist Men and The Children of the Forest. Ice and Fire. Starks and Targaryens. Non-Magic and Magic. Old Gods and New Gods. Greatness and Madness. Death and Life.

Different sides of the same coin.

However, these symbols in my view don’t simply represent said opposite forces themselves, or more accurately, one doesn’t necessairly represent life, while the other represents death.

They represent both opposing forces at the same time.

But more than anything, these two symbols separate or together represent --

Rebirth. Renewal. Reincarnation. A continuation of the past in the present and future.

Both symbols have come to represent the duality of Life & Death and Death & Life.

The COTF created the Night King by killing the human man he once was. (Spiral)

The Night King kills humans and brings them back (creating “new life”) as either wights or WW. (Circle & Spiral)

Daenerys had three deaths (Drogo, Rhaego, Mirri Maz Durr) and willingly walked into the funeral pyre and by doing so, she created new life in her three dragons. (Circle)

Sansa has to symbolically kill (change) old Sansa to become this new and smarter Sansa (when she leaves the vale). (Circle).

And that idea, even though the symbols aren’t presented in literal form, repeats time and time again.

The Drowned God Religion in general.

Theon must die for Reek to exist and Reek must die to allow Theon to be reborn.

Jon has to kill the boy to let the man be born.

Jon also literally dies and is resurrected.

Human Bran has to die to allow Three-Eyed Raven Bran to be born.

The Faceless Men try to get Arya to kill Arya Stark so she could become No One.

Jaime most kill the King slayer to become Jaime Lannister.

For new life, you need the death of the old life.

Both symbols represent that overall idea, particularly in association together. But yet what once was, never truly goes away, does it?

“What is dead, may never die”

The old (the past) is never truly destroyed. And thus, you get this continuation that goes on and on.

But overall the idea of the future, despite its best attempt, being a reflection of the past is something that seems inevitable.

Though I would say the future of GOT won’t look exactly like the past, because many different reflections of the past will take part in creating this new future.

So, I believe some form of the old (current) life we’re viewing now must die, for the new life to exist.

And, there are a couple of questions we might want to ponder during S8.

Which “children” will defy which “parents” in this new season?

Which of the saved will defy their savior?

Which reflections of the past will actually be realized in the future?

What exact aspect of the old must die for the new to exist?

We’ll just have to watch and see.

#Game of Thrones #GOT #GOT Symbols #White Walkers #Children of the Forest #white walker spiral #White Walker circle #Daenerys Targaryen #House Targaryen #Sansa Stark #House Stark #COTF #GOT symbolism

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