Game of Thrones and Pallas Athene
7:00 AM |
| Gustav Klimt, Pallas Athene, 1898 |
She's so fabulous.
Daenerys Targaryen is the last of her family, House Targaryen. In the first season, Daenerys is portrayed as a soft spoken and timid girl. Two seasons later, and look how far she's come. Daenerys, using her three pint sized dragons, has managed to conquer several slave cities in the continent of Essos. She searches for an army, one that will help her take the Iron Throne.
For those who aren't as completely obsessed with Game of Thrones as I am, here's a brief synopsis. The House of Targaryen was the former royal family of Westeros. They had come from Valaryia, a once great city in Essos. The Valaryians were able to tame dragons and were masters of magic until the volcanoes that surrounded their civilization erupted in what was later called "The Doom." The Targaryen's were the only surviving Valaryians. They managed to save three dragons from the Doom, thus their house sigil: a three headed dragon. Aegon Targaryen and his sisters conquered Westeros with their dragons, eliminating the former warring kingdoms and uniting them, with Aegon as their king.
In order to "keep the bloodline pure," the Targaryen's would often marry relatives, even sisters to brothers if necessary. This caused, as can be expected, some incestuous consequences. "Every child knows that the Targaryens have always danced too close to madness." It is said that when a Targaryen is born, the gods flip a coin; on one side madness, on the other greatness. The last Targaryen king of Westeros, Aerys Targaryen was known as the Mad King, and, towards the end of his rule, became obsessed with burning his enemies alive. He was overthrown, killed by his own Kingsguard, and the rest of the Targaryen family was killed. Daenerys plans to take back her rightful throne with, "fire and blood."
That same madness mixed with greatness harbors in Pallas Athene. While both Daenerys and the goddess Athena evoke strength, they walk a fine line. Athena's golden eyes are terrifying; metallic like her armor. Her posture conveys a power beyond royalty, instead it's god-like, as it should be. But no matter how imperious Athena seems, her eyes still bother me, like a painting who watches you as you cross a room. I have no doubt that, at any moment, Athena could turn from greatness into madness. Daenerys holds the burden of her family's past on her shoulders, her closest of kin serving as a reminder of what power can do to those with fragile minds. But Daenerys is anything but fragile. These two women remind me that I am just as powerful, that I could lead great armies into battle. Or, more realistically, I can feel like I could as I listen to a really awesome song and walk down a hallway. In the words of Nicki Minaj (yes, I am quoting her), "You can be the king, but watch the queen conquer."
0 comments