‘Game of Thrones’: Unveiling the Church of Starry Wisdom

In ‘Game of Thrones’, religion plays a pivotal role, with the Faith of the Seven being the dominant belief system in Westeros. However, this is far from the only faith practised across the continent. The old gods are still revered in various regions, and beyond Westeros, some even worship ancient deities. Among the more obscure religions is the Church of Starry Wisdom, which stands out due to its unusual and dark origins.

While the television adaptation of ‘Game of Thrones’ offers a focused narrative, the source material, ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’, is filled with extensive lore that often gets sidelined. One such detail is the Church of Starry Wisdom, a cult with a history that predates the events of the series by millennia. 

Image Courtesy: Game Rant

The Church’s origins trace back to the Great Empire of the Dawn, a legendary civilization in Essos. According to myth, this empire was founded by a godly couple and ruled by their divine offspring for 10,000 years. Over time, the ruling line became more mortal and corrupt, culminating in the rise of the Bloodstone Emperor—a tyrant who founded the Church of Starry Wisdom after murdering his sister.

The Church’s practices are steeped in dark magic, torture, and cannibalism, which many believe led to the apocalyptic Long Night. Despite its niche status, the Church is briefly mentioned in ‘A Dance with Dragons’, where Arya Stark, undercover in Braavos, hears the cult’s acolytes singing to the stars.

Image Courtesy: HBO

The Church of Starry Wisdom is inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s works, specifically ‘The Haunter of the Dark,’ where a similar cult worships an esoteric artefact. While this cult remains largely peripheral in the ‘Game of Thrones’ narrative, its presence adds to the rich tapestry of the series’ religious and mythological landscape. If ever central to the plot, the Church of Starry Wisdom could usher in significant upheaval for Westeros.

–Farheen Ali