George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones universe is riddled with many mysteries, ranging from Melisandre’s ageless necklace to the White Walkers. While they remained unanswered in the original series, House of the Dragon has plenty more mysteries, particularly in its recently concluded second season that explores the lore of Fire & Blood.
There was a foreshadowing in the second season’s finale about the impending war between Aemond Targaryen and Rhaenyra Targaryen, which will, for some reason, unfold in the next season. While there has been a lot of buildup to the final episode, everything ultimately boils down to one significant name: the Gods Eye. So, what exactly is the Gods Eye, and why does this word have so much significance in House of the Dragon?
The Gods Eye Is the Largest Lake in the Seven Kingdoms
The Gods Eye has been mentioned several times in the series, most notably in the important conversation between Aemond and his prophetic sister Helaena, who foretells that her brother will be swallowed up in the Gods Eye, never to be seen again. Since Helaena hasn’t been incorrect in her predictions thus far, many viewers are keen on learning the true meaning of the Gods Eye.
Located north of King’s Landing, the Gods Eye is the largest lake in the seven kingdoms of Westeros. On its northern shore stands the fortress known as Harrenhal. As to why the lake was named the Gods Eye, there is also a significant reason behind it. A lone island known as the Isle of Faces sits in the middle of the lake, where the water flows into the Blackwater Rush River, forming an eye-like structure. The name “Gods Eye” is an ideal fit for the landmark since, when viewed on a map, it resembles the eye of a deity.
The Isle of Faces, which serves as the pupil section in the eye-shaped structure, is also a significant location in the lore, where the Children of the Forest and the First Men made a pact to put an end to their war. The former are previously seen in Game of Thrones as the ones who created the White Walkers, whereas the latter are the first humans who settled in Westeros and ruled the continent for thousands of years before the Andals invaded. It is believed that the Gods Eye harbors odd currents and dangerous fishes, so whoever sails across the lake towards the Isle of Faces is often chased away by ravens or dies.
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The Significance of the Gods Eye in House of the Dragon
The finale of House of the Dragon Season 2 provided a glimpse of the impending battle as Rhaenyra enlists new dragonriders from the ranks of Targaryen bastards. Following the visions of the Three-Eyed Raven and the White Walkers, Daemon pledges allegiance to Rhaenyra and forms a stronghold at Harrenhal to unify the Riverlords from the Riverlands.
The castle has a long and notorious history due to the roots of weirwood trees spreading through its grounds. When Daemon touched the bleeding weirwood tree, he experienced many visions, one of which showed him drowning in a pool of black water, possibly hinting at his imminent end, and another saw Rhaenyra sitting on the Iron Throne.
“You’ll be dead. You were swallowed up in the Gods Eye, and you were never seen again.”
Now, if we tie this event to the vicious Aemond One-Eye, who was foretold by his sister Helaena that he would be swallowed up in the Gods Eye, you know the answer. Should these prophecies come true, Aemond and Daemon would both perish in the Gods Eye (perhaps by fighting each other), drowning in Westeros’ largest lake and never to be seen again.
“It’s all a story, and you are but one part in it. You know your path.”
It’s a well-known fact that Harrenhal, which has been built from the lake’s cut-down weirwood, has a cursed history. Aegon would also burn the castle to ashes with the dragon fire during his conquest of Westeros, resulting in the renowned consequences of Fire & Blood. Furthermore, Harrenhal is believed to be a cursed location that destroys every family that resides there, which suggests that Daemon’s stronghold in the third season may also be affected by it.
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Similarly, the weirwood trees are said to hold some sort of supernatural secret, so it makes sense that Daemon’s future looks bleak, as the prophecy indicates. In other words, since Harrenhal was constructed on the northern shore of the Gods Eye, it is prone to be the center of many unsolved mysteries, some dating back to the initial days of the Children of the Forest, before the castle was built. These stories would delve deeper into the lore surrounding the weirwood trees that first appeared on the Isle of Faces, explaining the beginnings of the curse of Harrenhal.
House of the Dragon Season 2 is currently streaming on Max.
