Fans of HBO’s Game of Thrones are familiar with the series’ Iron Throne: hundreds of swords melted together to form an impressive, intimidating seat from which the king rules. The show’s representation, however, is not quite as author George R. R. Martin intended it to look, and he has taken to LiveJournal to offer another interpretation of the Iron Throne.
According to Martin, the most accurate depiction of the iconic image was painted by Marc Simonetti for the upcoming “World of Ice and Fire” companion volume. Described as massive, ugly and asymmetric, Martin says that the throne itself is “a symbol of conquest […] from on top, the king dominates the throne room. And there are thousands of swords in it, not just a few.”
The image depicts the throne as much larger than HBO’s version, with steps—also lined with weapons—leading up to the “not at all comfortable” seat. The painting emphasizes the sharp edges, focusing on the blades of swords rather than the rounded hilts of Game of Thrones’ depiction. It is a design that would likely be impractical for use on the show, but it is a stunning representation to consider while reading Martin’s novels. In his own words, “This Iron Throne is scary.”
Simonetti’s Iron Throne can be viewed below.
