Harpy

A massive harpy atop a meeting hall on one of the ends of the Walk of Punishment

Harpies are a creatures whose likeness is used as the sigil of the Ghiscari Empire, as well as the cities of Slaver's Bay, where Ghiscari culture survives to this day. They are apparently mythological, as no living harpies have been reported in centuries.

Harpies are shown as having the face and torso of a woman and the wings of a bird.

History

Season 3

Harpies are shown prominently in the city of Astapor on Slaver's Bay. A great statue of a harpy can be seen on the walls of Astapor overlooking the bay.

The harpy of the Astapori flag is depicted holding, between her talons, a chain with open manacles on both ends.

Image gallery

The harpy of Astapor, as shown in the title sequence

A harpy statue from the city of Old Ghis as depicted in the Complete uide to Westeros

The statue of a harpy seen from a distance

In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, the harpy is the ancient sigil of the Ghiscari Empire, described as having a bat's wings, an eagle's talons, and a scorpion's tail. On the Ghiscari flag, the harpy is shown clutching a thunderbolt in its talons. Valyria destroyed the Ghiscari Empire and conquered its lands, but after the Doom of Valyria Ghiscari culture reasserted itself. The nation of Ghiscar, expanding from the island city of New Ghis, bears the harpy on its flag.

The city-states of Slaver's Bay (Astapor, Yunkai and Meereen), although not subject to the new Ghiscari kingdom of New Ghis, are Ghiscari in culture and origin and also employ the harpy as their sigil. The Astapori harpy holds a chain with open manacles, the Yunkish harpy holds a whip and an iron collar, while the Meereenese harpy holds nothing.

References

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