50 Fun Facts About Game of Thrones

Which family's motto is "Winter is Coming"?

"Winter is Coming" is the motto of House Stark of Winterfell, serving as both a warning and a reminder to always be prepared for hard times ahead.

What is the name of the massive structure that separates the northern wilderness from the Seven Kingdoms?

The Wall is a colossal fortification made of ice that stretches 300 miles across the northern border of the Seven Kingdoms. It was built 8,000 years before the events of the series to protect the realm from threats beyond.

Who is known as the "Mother of Dragons"?

Daenerys Targaryen earned the title "Mother of Dragons" after her three dragon eggs hatched in the funeral pyre of Khal Drogo at the end of Season 1.

What are the names of Daenerys's three dragons?

Daenerys named her three dragons Drogon (after Khal Drogo), Rhaegal (after her brother Rhaegar), and Viserion (after her brother Viserys).

Which actor plays Tyrion Lannister in the HBO series?

Peter Dinklage portrayed Tyrion Lannister throughout all eight seasons of Game of Thrones, winning four Primetime Emmy Awards for the role.

What is the Iron Throne made from?

According to the lore, Aegon the Conqueror forged the Iron Throne from the swords of his defeated enemies, melted together by the dragonfire of Balerion the Black Dread.

What phrase is commonly used as a greeting in Braavos, meaning "all men must die"?

"Valar Morghulis" is High Valyrian for "all men must die." The traditional response is "Valar Dohaeris," meaning "all men must serve."

Which event involves the massacre of Robb Stark and his bannermen at a wedding feast?

The Red Wedding occurs in Season 3 at the Twins, where Walder Frey and Roose Bolton conspire with Tywin Lannister to murder Robb Stark, his mother Catelyn, his wife Talisa, and his bannermen during Edmure Tully's wedding feast.

What is the name of Jon Snow's direwolf?

Jon Snow's direwolf is named Ghost. He is an albino direwolf with white fur and red eyes, and is the runt of the litter found by the Stark children.

Who sits on the Iron Throne at the very end of the TV series?

In the series finale, Bran Stark (Brandon the Broken) is chosen as King of the Six Kingdoms by a council of lords and ladies after the destruction of the Iron Throne. Technically, the original Iron Throne was destroyed by Drogon, but Bran assumed the role of ruler.

Which House's words are "Hear Me Roar"?

"Hear Me Roar" is the official motto of House Lannister, though they are more commonly associated with the unofficial saying "A Lannister always pays his debts."

What kingdom does Sansa Stark rule at the end of the series?

At the end of the series, Sansa Stark is crowned Queen in the North after the North secedes from the Six Kingdoms as an independent nation.

Who kills the Night King in Season 8?

Arya Stark kills the Night King during the Battle of Winterfell in Season 8, Episode 3 ("The Long Night"), stabbing him with a Valyrian steel dagger after a surprise leap attack.

What is the seat of House Lannister?

Casterly Rock is the ancestral seat of House Lannister, located on the western coast of Westeros in the Westerlands. The castle sits atop a gold mine that was the source of the Lannisters' immense wealth.

What is the Valyrian word Daenerys uses to command her dragons to breathe fire?

"Dracarys" is High Valyrian for "dragonfire." Daenerys uses this command to order her dragons to breathe fire, first teaching it to Drogon in Season 2.

How many seasons did the Game of Thrones TV series run for?

Game of Thrones ran for 8 seasons on HBO, from April 2011 to May 2019. The first six seasons had 10 episodes each, Season 7 had 7 episodes, and Season 8 had 6 episodes.

Which character is known as "The Imp"?

Tyrion Lannister is derisively called "The Imp" due to his dwarfism. He is also known as "The Halfman." Despite the insults, Tyrion is one of the most intelligent and politically savvy characters in the series.

What is the name of the continent where most of Game of Thrones takes place?

Westeros is the continent containing the Seven Kingdoms where the primary political storyline of Game of Thrones takes place. The other major continent, Essos, is where Daenerys spends much of the early series.

Who wrote the book series that Game of Thrones is based on?

George R.R. Martin wrote "A Song of Ice and Fire," the book series that HBO's Game of Thrones is based on. The first book, "A Game of Thrones," was published in 1996.

What is Arya Stark's sword called?

Arya's sword is called Needle. It was a gift from her half-brother Jon Snow, forged by Winterfell's blacksmith Mikken. The name reflects Arya's dislike of needlework and traditional ladylike pursuits.

What is the name of the organization that guards the Wall?

The Night's Watch is a military order that guards the Wall and defends the realm from threats beyond it. Members take an oath forsaking lands, titles, and families to serve for life.

Which character pushes Bran Stark from a tower window in the very first episode?

Jaime Lannister pushes young Bran Stark from a tower window after Bran catches Jaime and Cersei in an incestuous encounter. This act, and Jaime's line "The things I do for love," sets much of the plot in motion.

What is Jon Snow's true parentage as revealed in the series?

Jon Snow is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, making his real name Aegon Targaryen. Ned Stark raised Jon as his own bastard to protect him from Robert Baratheon, who would have had him killed as a Targaryen heir.

Which city is known as the "Free City" where Arya trains with the Faceless Men?

Braavos is the Free City where Arya Stark trains with the Faceless Men at the House of Black and White. It is the most powerful of the Free Cities, known for the Iron Bank and the Titan of Braavos.

What material is effective at killing White Walkers?

Valyrian steel and dragonglass (obsidian) are the two materials capable of destroying White Walkers. When struck with either material, White Walkers shatter into ice.

Who is the "Red Woman" or "Red Priestess" in the series?

Melisandre, played by Carice van Houten, is the Red Priestess of R'hllor (the Lord of Light) who serves as advisor to Stannis Baratheon and later helps Jon Snow. She famously resurrects Jon Snow after his assassination.

What poison is used to kill Joffrey Baratheon at his own wedding?

Joffrey is killed by "The Strangler," a poison concealed in a gem on Sansa's necklace. The plot was orchestrated by Olenna Tyrell and Petyr Baelish. The event is known as the "Purple Wedding."

Which actress plays Cersei Lannister in the HBO series?

Lena Headey portrayed Cersei Lannister throughout all eight seasons of Game of Thrones. Her performance earned her five Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

What is the name of the mercenary company that Daario Naharis leads?

Daario Naharis is a lieutenant and later captain of the Second Sons, a mercenary company operating in Essos. He kills his co-captains and pledges the company's loyalty to Daenerys Targaryen.

What is the name of the Valyrian steel sword wielded by Jon Snow?

Longclaw is a Valyrian steel bastard sword originally belonging to House Mormont. Lord Commander Jeor Mormont gives it to Jon Snow as a reward for saving his life from a wight, with a new wolf-head pommel replacing the original bear.

What is the name of the Dothraki city where all khalasars gather?

Vaes Dothrak is the only city of the Dothraki people, located beneath the Mother of Mountains. It is a sacred city where no blood may be shed, and all khalasars meet to trade and pay tribute to the dosh khaleen.

Which character is known as "Littlefinger"?

Petyr Baelish is nicknamed "Littlefinger" because he comes from a minor holding on the smallest of the Fingers, a series of peninsulas in the Vale of Arryn. He is the show's most cunning political schemer.

In what year did the first episode of Game of Thrones premiere on HBO?

Game of Thrones premiered on HBO on April 17, 2011. The pilot episode, "Winter Is Coming," introduced audiences to the world of Westeros and became a cultural phenomenon.

What is the name of the massive wildfire explosion that destroys the Great Sept of Baelor?

In the Season 6 finale, Cersei Lannister orchestrates the destruction of the Great Sept of Baelor using caches of wildfire hidden beneath the building, killing the High Sparrow, Margaery Tyrell, and hundreds of others to avoid her trial.

Who forges Gendry's claim to significance in the story through his bloodline?

Gendry is the unacknowledged bastard son of King Robert Baratheon. His Baratheon blood makes him a potential heir to the throne and a target during the purge of Robert's bastards ordered by Cersei and Joffrey.

What is the name of the Greyjoy family's ancestral home?

Pyke is the seat of House Greyjoy and the capital of the Iron Islands. The castle is built on a series of sea stacks connected by rope bridges over the crashing waves below.

Which battle in Season 6 features Jon Snow facing Ramsay Bolton?

The Battle of the Bastards takes place in Season 6, Episode 9, where Jon Snow's forces clash with Ramsay Bolton's army outside Winterfell. The Knights of the Vale arrive to turn the tide, and Jon reclaims Winterfell for House Stark.

What nickname does Sandor Clegane go by?

Sandor Clegane is known as "The Hound" due to his family's sigil of three dogs. His older brother Gregor is called "The Mountain." Sandor's burned face is the result of Gregor pressing his face into hot coals as a child.

Which of Daenerys's dragons is killed and reanimated by the Night King?

Viserion is killed by the Night King with an ice spear in Season 7 during a mission beyond the Wall. The Night King then reanimates Viserion as an undead ice dragon, which he rides to destroy a section of the Wall.

Who is the first character to die in the very first episode of Game of Thrones?

Ser Waymar Royce is the first character shown dying on screen in the series. He is killed by a White Walker during the cold open of the pilot episode beyond the Wall, establishing the supernatural threat.

What is the name of the first book in George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series?

"A Game of Thrones" was published in 1996 and is the first novel in the series. The subsequent books are A Clash of Kings (1998), A Storm of Swords (2000), A Feast for Crows (2005), and A Dance with Dragons (2011).

Which House's words are "We Do Not Sow"?

"We Do Not Sow" is the motto of House Greyjoy of the Iron Islands. It reflects the ironborn philosophy of taking what they want through raiding rather than farming or producing goods.

Who is the Three-Eyed Raven that Bran trains with beyond the Wall?

The Three-Eyed Raven is Brynden Rivers, also known as Bloodraven, a Targaryen bastard and former Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. He is played by Max von Sydow in Season 6 and teaches Bran to use his greensight abilities.

What is the name of the Stark family's ancestral Valyrian steel greatsword?

Ice is the Valyrian steel greatsword of House Stark. After Ned Stark's execution, Tywin Lannister has Ice melted down and reforged into two smaller swords: Oathkeeper (given to Brienne) and Widow's Wail (given to Joffrey).

In the books, what is the name of the sixth Stark direwolf, given to Rickon?

Shaggydog is Rickon Stark's direwolf. The six Stark children each receive a direwolf pup: Grey Wind (Robb), Lady (Sansa), Nymeria (Arya), Summer (Bran), Shaggydog (Rickon), and Ghost (Jon).

What real-world location was used to film many of the King's Landing exterior scenes?

Dubrovnik, Croatia served as the primary filming location for King's Landing from Season 2 onward. The city's medieval walls and architecture provided the perfect backdrop for the capital of the Seven Kingdoms.

Which character says the iconic line "Chaos is a ladder"?

Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish delivers this famous line to Varys in Season 3, explaining his philosophy that disorder creates opportunities for ambitious climbers. Bran later repeats it back to Littlefinger in Season 7, unsettling him.

What is "Cleganebowl" — the fan-named event that finally happens in Season 8?

"Cleganebowl" is the fan term for the long-anticipated fight between brothers Sandor (The Hound) and Gregor (The Mountain) Clegane. It finally occurs during the destruction of King's Landing in Season 8, Episode 5, where both brothers die.

What is the sigil of House Targaryen?

House Targaryen's sigil is a three-headed red dragon on a black field. The three heads represent Aegon the Conqueror and his two sister-wives, Visenya and Rhaenys, who conquered Westeros riding three dragons.

How many total episodes of Game of Thrones were produced across all eight seasons?

Game of Thrones produced 73 episodes total: Seasons 1-6 each had 10 episodes (60), Season 7 had 7 episodes, and Season 8 had 6 episodes, giving a total of 73.