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Lineages and Histories

The dragonbone hilt of Petyr Baelish's Valyrian steel dagger.

"The blade is Valyrian steel, the handle dragonbone."
―Rodrik Cassel[src]

Dragonbone[1] is a durable material that, as its name indicates, is harvested from the bones of dragons.[1] Due to its high iron content,[a] dragonbone is black.[2]

Behind the scenes[]

Cersei Stormborn ep

Balerion's skull in Game of Thrones.

Balerion Skull HotD

Balerion's skull in House of the Dragon.

In Game of Thrones, all observed dragon skulls are white like any ordinary skeleton, even though the dragonbone hilt of the Valyrian steel dagger is notably black. A book that Sam is reading in "Dragonstone" depicts an identical dagger while explaining that the Valyrians decorated their weapons with dragonglass, possibly indicating that the black part of the hilt is dragonglass, not dragonbone.[3]

In House of the Dragon, the appearance of Balerion's skull is highly different to its appearance in Game of Thrones. Besides being larger and differently shaped, it is also black the way dragonbone is described in the books.[2]

In the books[]

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, dragonbone is as strong as other metals, such as steel, yet lighter and more flexible. Dragonbone bows are highly sought after as they can fire arrows a much greater distance than normal wooden bows.

During her marriage ceremony to Khal Drogo, Daenerys Targaryen participates in a traditional Dothraki ritual in which the bride is ceremonially offered a whip, arakh, and bow, refuses these gifts, and insists that they be given to her husband. The bow in question is described as being made of dragonbone and standing taller than Daenerys herself.

The World of Ice and Fire sourcebook says that dragonbone can be found in the Shadow Lands beyond Asshai.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Game of Thrones: Season 1, Episode 2: "The Kingsroad" (2011).
  2. 2.0 2.1 House of the Dragon: Season 1, Episode 1: "The Heirs of the Dragon" (2022).
  3. Game of Thrones: Season 7, Episode 1: "Dragonstone" (2017).

Notes[]

  1. Conjecture based on information from A Song of Ice and Fire; may be subject to change.

External links[]

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