 Parzival  | 11 Jul 2014 10:20 a.m. PST |
It's a throne made out of swords.
Rusty, broken swords.
Used swords.
With points and nicked, jagged, edges.
It's ugly, uncomfortable, and a tetanus infection waiting to happen.
What king would want to sit for hours on end on the thing, holding court and issuing judgements?
Not me. If I were the King of Westeros, I'd have the thing melted down for the steel and install a barcalounger.
I mean, come on, do we really think that that fat slob Robert Baratheon wouldn't have replaced that piece of junk with a nice, comfortably upholstered, gold-plated beauty with a handy shelf for his mug and snacks? What's the point of being royalty if you can't command the basic creature comforts while doing your job? Heck, even a fool on his stool is more comfortable than a king on a throne of swords!
Even the kings and queens of England and Scotland were smart enough to place the Stone of Scone under a comfortable chair rather than sit for even a handful of minutes actually on the lumpy blob of rock. So trot the throne out for ceremony if you have to, but at least put a comfortable pillow on the thing. (And there's your pointless Game of Thrones thread for the day. Happy to oblige.  ) |
| Winston Smith | 11 Jul 2014 10:42 a.m. PST |
Because Aegon the Conqueror made it from the swords of those he vanquished.
He also said that it should not be a comfortable seat. So if you put a cushion on it you are proclaiming to the world that you are not as bad ass as Aegon the Conqueror.
So there. |
| Winston Smith | 11 Jul 2014 10:43 a.m. PST |
Btw Gandalf 's sword is one of them. |
| Garand | 11 Jul 2014 10:55 a.m. PST |
The throne isn't made to be, or meant to be a comfortable place to sit. It is meant to be as intimidating as possible to the enemies of Westeros. BTW, isn't this thing a step down anyway? In the past they had the skulls of DRAGONS laying about the throne room, the only purpose of which is to intimidate the heck out of anyone visiting the King, and to remind them that they are within his power, at his pleasure… Damon. |
| darthfozzywig | 11 Jul 2014 11:03 a.m. PST |
The only acceptable pillow would be the body of your vanquished foe. Granted, vanquishing soft, cushy people might be a good idea. |
| Thomas Whitten | 11 Jul 2014 11:06 a.m. PST |
My guess is, it is patterned after the chair the author sits in to write. |
| The Beast Rampant | 11 Jul 2014 11:09 a.m. PST |
I mean, come on, do we really think that that fat slob Robert Baratheon wouldn't have replaced that piece of junk with a nice, comfortably upholstered, gold-plated beauty with a handy shelf for his mug and snacks? I think the "point" was, he didn't. He was an absentee king who let The Hand do all the boring, uncomfortable stuff. I'm sure John Aryn owned many a hemorrhoid pillow, probably one of those beaded seat-covers taxidrivers have. |
| Feet up now | 11 Jul 2014 11:18 a.m. PST |
I'm pretty sure you should wear some sort of armour before using it .
link |
| thosmoss | 11 Jul 2014 11:32 a.m. PST |
Isn't it an allegory for "being king is a pain in the throne-sitter-parts"? If Cersi won, I'm sure a couple throws, a tapestry here, a bit of hide-of-lion there … she could do something with this. |
| Mardaddy | 11 Jul 2014 11:38 a.m. PST |
I recall in the books it was stated quite a few times that the various kings in the past had multiple cuts and slices from the throne. Something alluding to being careless with power, not giving the seat the proper respect it deserves figuratively AND literally. |
| Winston Smith | 11 Jul 2014 12:03 p.m. PST |
Yes, the Mad King was always cutting himself.
And Joffrey on TV was always squirming and uncomfortable. |
| PatrickWR | 11 Jul 2014 12:43 p.m. PST |
It was explained in the books that no king should ever sit comfortably on his throne. The Iron Throne was designed to drive that point home (no pun intended). The fact that no one on the TV show has been sliced or nicked by the Throne is kind of a big oversight. |
| altfritz | 11 Jul 2014 7:34 p.m. PST |
Wasn't there a scene in the show that debunked the Iron Throne? (And presumably in the books as well?) |
| Winston Smith | 12 Jul 2014 5:11 a.m. PST |
I am not aware of such a scene. Any details? |
| ChrisBrantley | 12 Jul 2014 10:57 a.m. PST |
There is a scene where Varys and Littlefinger are standing before the throne and discussing the myth that it was forged of 1000 or more swords of the Lords vanquished by Aemon…they dismiss the myth since obviously there are only a 100 or so swords in the actual throne. Here's the scene: YouTube link Unlike Martin's vision of the throne which is true to the myth: grrm.livejournal.com/327569.html |
 Herkybird | 13 Jul 2014 5:33 a.m. PST |
Tsk Tsk, one should not concern oneself with the Throne, rather than the one sitting upon it! |
puts together an army design.