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Post by Weasel Pie on May 15, 2016 19:27:13 GMT
Moved from the History Thread. I was going to work something up about this, but I'll stick it here. Melifeather and Some Pig No Doubt might be especially interested in this. If I am correct about the Winterfell Pool and the Well of the Black Gate being connected, this is a big deal. And they can both be considered Inverted Towers. And these can be tied into actual towers of import. Since we've been so obsessed with Towers in the series, we don't always associate them with Wells. The two I'd like to point a finger at are the Well that leads to the Black Gate, and the spring at the base of the Heart Tree in Winterfell. Inversions! Time for listmaking! Anyway, I'm sure GRRM has been to Portugal and taken in the sights. You can read some cool stuff about it here. "While thousands of tourists flock to the castle every year to admire the unique architecture of the Quinta de Regaleira that combines Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance features, one of its most fascinating features is located beneath the ground – a pair of wells spiraling deep within the earth. The wells were never used, nor intended for water collection. Instead, these mysterious underground towers were used for secretive initiation rites." "The pair of wells, known as the ‘Initiation Wells’ or ‘ Inverted Towers’, consist of ‘winding stair’ architecture, which carries symbolic meaning including the death/rebirth allegory common to many hermetic traditions. One of the wells contains nine platforms, which are said to be “reminiscent of the Divine Comedy by Dante and the nine circles of Hell, the nine sections of Purgatory and the nine skies which constitute Paradise.” A smaller well, called the “Unfinished Well,” contains a set of straight staircases, connecting the ring-shaped floors to one another. It is believed that the spacing of the landings, as well as the number of steps in between were dictated by Masonic principles." And more here and here which are interesting reading about Masonic Symbolism tied into the above.
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Post by Melifeather on May 15, 2016 19:42:27 GMT
I was going to work something up about this, but I'll stick it here. Melifeather and Some Pig No Doubt might be especially interested in this. If I am correct about the Winterfell Pool and the Well of the Black Gate being connected, they can both be considered Inverted Towers. Since we've been so obsessed with Towers in the series, we don't always associate them with Wells. The two I'd like to point a finger at are the Well that leads to the Black Gate, and the spring at the base of the Heart Tree in Winterfell. Inversions! Anyway, I'm sure GRRM has been to Portugal and taken in the sights. You can read some cool stuff about it here. "While thousands of tourists flock to the castle every year to admire the unique architecture of the Quinta de Regaleira that combines Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance features, one of its most fascinating features is located beneath the ground – a pair of wells spiraling deep within the earth. The wells were never used, nor intended for water collection. Instead, these mysterious underground towers were used for secretive initiation rites." "The pair of wells, known as the ‘Initiation Wells’ or ‘ Inverted Towers’, consist of ‘winding stair’ architecture, which carries symbolic meaning including the death/rebirth allegory common to many hermetic traditions. One of the wells contains nine platforms, which are said to be “reminiscent of the Divine Comedy by Dante and the nine circles of Hell, the nine sections of Purgatory and the nine skies which constitute Paradise.” A smaller well, called the “Unfinished Well,” contains a set of straight staircases, connecting the ring-shaped floors to one another. It is believed that the spacing of the landings, as well as the number of steps in between were dictated by Masonic principles." And more here and here which are interesting reading about Masonic Symbolism tied into the above. Oh my god I love this! Are you sure you don't want to start a spin-off thread about this? I know I would love a discussion of the Black Gate and any other inverted towers!
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Post by Weasel Pie on May 15, 2016 19:45:14 GMT
How cool is that! It even has the life/death inversion and initiation thing going on.
And sure but I don't have anything more than that written up. Do you want to start a thread about it? Would be fine with me. I'm sure you can see the significance, since we have the ToJ, Ashara's Tower and the Tower from where the Stark maiden jumped. Etc!
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Post by Melifeather on May 15, 2016 19:49:50 GMT
How cool is that! It even has the life/death inversion and initiation thing going on. And sure but I don't have anything more than that written up. Do you want to start a thread about it? Would be fine with me. I'm sure you can see the significance, since we have the ToJ, Ashara's Tower and the Tower from where the Stark maiden jumped. Etc! I would, but my Tywin thread has taken off on Westeros, so I'm trying to keep up with that one, plus the Resurrection thread...I've got my hands full right now. I think you should do it.
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Post by Weasel Pie on May 15, 2016 19:51:52 GMT
I'll try to throw something together. I wonder if there are other architectural inversions? Obviously desert/sea, Valyria/Beyond the Wall. Thinking out loud.
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Post by min on May 15, 2016 19:54:14 GMT
Hah! Great inversion. It's interesting that Dany is told specifically that she must only take the stair upwards, never downwards, while Jon's dream of Winterfell, has him descending into the crypts. If I find any good Cathar stuff; I'll post it here.
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Post by Weasel Pie on May 15, 2016 19:55:29 GMT
t's interesting that Dany is told specifically that she must only take the stair upwards, never downwards, while Jon's dream of Winterfell, has him descending into the crypts. If I find any good Cathar stuff; I'll post it here. Awesome catch! I'll just move these posts to a new thread.
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Post by min on May 15, 2016 20:07:40 GMT
Umm, geographical inversion:
Braavos is situated on a sea mount. The God's Eye on a crater lake.
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Post by Melifeather on May 15, 2016 20:33:36 GMT
Inspiration for Septa Lemore perhaps?
Wouldn't that be awesome! To find one well connected to another!
It makes me think of when the Children called down the hammer of waters from a tower. This actually could support my theory that the Long Night was ended by an extinction of First Men, similar to the Biblical flood.
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Post by min on May 15, 2016 20:53:09 GMT
It makes me think of when the Children called down the hammer of waters from a tower. This actually could support my theory that the Long Night was ended by an extinction of First Men, similar to the Biblical flood. Or a mountain? The Giant's Lance? The Giant's Lance is the largest mountain in the Vale of Arryn. It lies in the northern range, its peak lost in the clouds. There lies the Eyrie, summer seat of House Arryn. On its western shoulder flows Alyssa's Tears.[1] At the foot of the mountain lies the Gates of the Moon.
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Post by Weasel Pie on May 15, 2016 20:54:22 GMT
when the Children called down the hammer of waters from a tower Inversion: Prince Garin, and Mother Rhoyne rising to drown the Volantians/Valyrians? Inversion: The Wall and... a River. The Rhoyne?
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Post by Melifeather on May 15, 2016 21:00:21 GMT
when the Children called down the hammer of waters from a tower Inversion: Prince Garin, and Mother Rhoyne rising to drown the Volantians/Valyrians? Inversion: The Wall and... a River. The Rhoyne? The inversion is the Rhoyne rose to drown the enemies, while the hammer was the comet slamming down and causing a tsunami.
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Post by Maester Flagons on May 15, 2016 21:04:02 GMT
This all reminds me of the cave o' doom with the sinkhole and the side entrance to the underground holdfast under a hill. No fancy stairs that we know of...
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Post by Melifeather on May 16, 2016 12:47:36 GMT
What I want to know, is what their purpose is? Is it simply a door to the underground tunnels? Are they used in religious ceremonies or magical incantations? Does passing through them offer any type of protection or warding? When you come through on the other side, is it a different reality?
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Post by Ser Duncan on May 16, 2016 16:12:46 GMT
Umm, geographical inversion: Braavos is situated on a sea mount. The God's Eye on a crater lake. I was thinking Braavos is the opposite of Hardhome. Braavos was hidden from the dragon lords for as long as possible and then became a thriving seafaring city. Hardhome is located in a little known area of the north, but it was never hidden and when it reached its peak it was destroyed by some unknown force.
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