Not Only is It Impossible to Sit, it Also Hurts: Who and Why Invented the Uncomfortable Iron Throne from 'Game of Thrones'

If you think that the Iron Throne is just a backdrop for pathetic scenes, then you should re-watch House of the Dragon or re-read A Song of Ice and Fire. The throne in these stories is like a lie detector: it hurts those it needs, and scares those it doesn’t. And in general, it’s not furniture, but an ideology forged from the conquered.

First there was Aegon. Then the flame. Then the throne

The creator of the throne is Aegon I Targaryen. He came with dragons, saw the continent and decided: “This will be mine.” And he began to collect the swords of fallen enemies. According to legend, there were a thousand of them, although in reality there were about two hundred. Balerion the Black Dread melted them with flame, and blacksmiths turned them into a terrifying symbol of power. Beautiful? No. Impressive? Very.

Why is the throne so uncomfortable? To keep the king from relaxing

"A king should not sit still," said Aegon, and hammered this thought into every sharp edge of the throne. There are no armrests, no ergonomics - only handles, blades, and memories of blood. Sitting on it is like living on a powder keg. Comfortable? No. But for centuries.

Power that cripples

History remembers many kings who were literally wounded by the throne. Viserys I, the hero of House of the Dragon, at some point simply began to rot - figuratively and literally. The wounds did not heal, symbolically bleeding when difficult decisions were made. And Maegor the Cruel was found dead right on the throne - as if the chair itself decided that it had had enough.

But why didn't Joffrey cut himself, and Viserys - covered in festering sores?

There is a theory that the throne senses the Targaryens - they have a special connection with magic and dragons. And if they are not kings, the throne makes it clear: you are superfluous here. But the Baratheons, Lannisters and others - just sit, without mysticism. Although Joffrey was a moral ulcer, he remained physically intact. Cersei - generally posed on the throne, as if at a photo shoot, and not a scratch.

The end of the throne - like the end of an entire era

Daenerys, the last of the line, burned everything - and became the very Mad Queen that everyone was afraid of. And then Drogon came and melted the throne - as if he realized that the symbol no longer works. The dragon began, the dragon finished. A beautiful, albeit hasty point.