Game of Thrones: What is the Church of Starry Wisdom?

Game of Thrones: What is the Church of Starry Wisdom?

As a dedicated fan with an encyclopedic memory and a knack for deciphering the most obscure of references, I find the Church of Starry Wisdom to be a fascinating enigma within George R.R. Martin’s sprawling tapestry of Westeros. This cult, steeped in ancient lore and dark rituals, is an intriguing nod to H.P. Lovecraft’s “The Haunter of the Dark,” adding a touch of cosmic horror to the already grim world of Westeros.


Faith is a dangerous concept in Game of Thrones. The dominant religion in Westeros is the Faith of the Seven. The priests and followers of the central church wield a considerable amount of power in their home nation. While they’re the primary in-group, they’re far from the only game in town. The old gods maintain popularity in a variety of locations, ensuring a mix of beliefs throughout the continent. Beyond Westeros, a few unique souls still follow even older gods. The Church of Starry Wisdom is one of the most bizarre examples.

One disadvantage of watching ‘Game of Thrones’ over reading ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ is that the series tends to be more streamlined. Although it’s lengthy, it omits numerous intricate details. The books frequently include references to aspects of the world that may never prove significant. Due to this, some fans have resorted to writing encyclopedias to clarify seemingly trivial lines for an eager audience. Much of the Known World’s multi-generational history remains unexperienced by many viewers.

What does the Church of Starry Wisdom worship?

The Church of Starry Wisdom rejected all of their ancestral deities to bow before a chunk of black stone that fell from the sky. Their leaders are the High Priests, who probably practice a selection of horrible traditions. The Church of Starry Wisdom sprouted up several millennia before the events of Game of Thrones. There are no precise calendars, but humans first reached Westeros around 12,000 years before the story begins, and the Church had to start ages before that. The Church of Starry Wisdom rose during the reign of the Great Empire of the Dawn, a mythic realm that once occupied a considerable chunk of Essos. Every element of the story exists somewhere between campfire tales and religious scripture. The Great Empire of the Dawn is long dead, and its people possessed no written language, so everything that may have happened in it remains potential fiction within fiction.

In ancient lore, it is said that the Empire of the Dawn was founded by a divine being who was born from the union of two celestial entities. This earthly deity, also known as the Son of Light and Darkness, reigned over the empire for an astonishing 10,000 years before passing on his throne to his eldest son. For countless generations that followed, the royal lineage traced back to this divine ancestor, with each ruler being one step further from their godly heritage, leading to shorter and more challenging reigns.

Is the Church of Starry Wisdom still around?

Game of Thrones: What is the Church of Starry Wisdom?

1. The Church of Celestial Insight, though quite obscure, persists even during the era portrayed in “Game of Thrones”. It is only referenced once in the books. In “A Dance with Dragons”, Arya Stark immerses herself in the training to join the enigmatic Faceless Men. Adopting the guise of a blind, destitute girl named Beth, one of her initial tasks involves navigating the city without her sight. She learns the intricate patterns of the city’s activities by listening carefully. Among the myriad sounds she hears are the faint echoes of the Church of Celestial Insight’s remaining adherents. These religious groups blend into a list of religions that Arya passes by without giving them much thought. Her narrative describes them as follows:

On her journey, she passed by the temples whereupon the high priests of the Stargazing Wise Cohort were stationed atop their crystal watchtower, chanting hymns towards the twinkling night sky.

What inspired the Church of Starry Wisdom?

Game of Thrones: What is the Church of Starry Wisdom?

The Church of Starry Wisdom is a fictional entity from H.P. Lovecraft’s “The Haunter of the Dark,” which was initially published in Weird Tales in 1936. This story, serving as a sequel to “The Shambler from the Stars” by Robert Bloch, one of Lovecraft’s protégés, revolves around the investigation of a Providence church by horror author Robert Blake. Upon discovery of its link to the Church of Starry Wisdom and its concealed artifact, the Shining Trapezohedron, disturbing this item unleashes the terrifying entity depicted in the title. The Church of Starry Wisdom is mentioned only once more, appearing in “The Shadow from the Steeple,” Bloch’s sequel to “The Haunter of the Dark.” A closer look reveals that archaeologist and occultist Enoch Bowen established this cult in 1844 following the discovery of a hidden pharaoh’s tomb in Egypt. He gathered around 200 followers who pledged to sacrifice to Nyarlathotep in exchange for mystical knowledge, leaving them somewhat mysterious within their original source material.

The Church of Starry Wisdom has not played a significant role in the storyline of “Game of Thrones” so far. While it is often a subject of intriguing fan speculations, these theories have yet to be validated. For now, they seem to exert minimal influence on the overall plot. If the Church of Starry Wisdom were to gain control of the story, the people of Westeros could expect challenging times ahead. They typically spend their days engaged in peaceful singing to the heavens.

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2024-08-23 02:05