It seems like the Maesters lost their way a long time ago. They seem solely focused on preserving information to an extent that it's become hoarding for the sake of it. They study old texts and dispense knowledge, but rarely if ever try to advance it. Content to preserve what they have and too arrogant to recognize that they understand very little.
That may be because the magic of the world ebbed away when the dragons died, and there's no one with the experience left alive to explore new knowledge so they're stuck.
As someone pointed out before they have chains on them to prevent stealing. It was a common medieval practice. The chains can be unlocked too. The books can be taken out as long as a person signs it out.
None of the chains appeared attached to the books, and Sam does not reattach a single one when reshelving them, though.
Tis a bit puzzling.
Given that 'prentice Sam isn't trusted enough to have unfettered access to the library, why would he be given the keys to the book chains so that he could reshelve the chained ones?
Plainly, as the lowly sot he is, he's only allowed to reshelve the books that don't warrant chaining up. Some Upper librarian probably gets to shelve the chained ones.
As someone pointed out before they have chains on them to prevent stealing. It was a common medieval practice. The chains can be unlocked too. The books can be taken out as long as a person signs it out.
None of the chains appeared attached to the books, and Sam does not reattach a single one when reshelving them, though.
Tis a bit puzzling.
Given that 'prentice Sam isn't trusted enough to have unfettered access to the library, why would he be given the keys to the book chains so that he could reshelve the chained ones?
Plainly, as the lowly sot he is, he's only allowed to reshelve the books that don't warrant chaining up. Some Upper librarian probably gets to shelve the chained ones.
Then why are there chains all over the shelves he's working on anyway if the books aren't important enough to chain up
Look I demand logical answers here, prop department plz
The Maester he spoke with believes and wants to help Sam, but is chained (heh) by beaurocracy. He has secretly manipulated the ancient chaining protocols and arranged for Sam to be in position to take the information he needs.
It seems like the Maesters lost their way a long time ago. They seem solely focused on preserving information to an extent that it's become hoarding for the sake of it. They study old texts and dispense knowledge, but rarely if ever try to advance it. Content to preserve what they have and too arrogant to recognize that they understand very little.
The Maesters appear to at least be doing medical research in Ep1. What else would you have them do?
Seriously though, considering the Maester's chains are their symbols of achievement and office and resumes and everything else about a Maester, it makes sense that they would also figure into the decor a bit.
I like to think that accomplished Maesters have their chains returned to the Citadel to be hung or displayed as a memorial once they die. Maybe Maesters known for work in expanding their scholarship by adding to the library get their chains hung near the books they wrote.
I like this a lot.
I'm curious if props was going for the "chained up books" idea, then it was too awkward or something and just left them there because it looked cool.
Maybe its their version of the dewey decimal system, because I don't know about you, but I am not exactly seeing a whole lot of markings on the binding spines of those books. How else would they organize that huge library?
Yeah, I assumed the chains were links forged from the metal of whatever subject it represents in a Maester's chain, yellow gold for mathematics, iron for Warcraft, silver for medicine, valerian steel for the occult and so on.
Are the maesters westerosi boy scouts?!
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syndalisGetting ClassyOn the WallRegistered User, Loves Apple Productsregular
Maybe its their version of the dewey decimal system, because I don't know about you, but I am not exactly seeing a whole lot of markings on the binding spines of those books. How else would they organize that huge library?
Yeah, I assumed the chains were links forged from the metal of whatever subject it represents in a Maester's chain, yellow gold for mathematics, iron for Warcraft, silver for medicine, valerian steel for the occult and so on.
Are the maesters westerosi boy scouts?!
yes.
chain links are merit badges
the black chain link means you studied the arcane.
I am 99.9999% certain this has been discussed on the show
syndalis on
SW-4158-3990-6116
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
It's a theory, but not really a substantial one. There is also a theory that
they have purposely been working to destroy magic in the world and/or killed all the dragons. With a related theory being that the dragons themselves somehow generate magic in the world.
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BlackDragon480Bluster KerfuffleMaster of Windy ImportRegistered Userregular
Maybe its their version of the dewey decimal system, because I don't know about you, but I am not exactly seeing a whole lot of markings on the binding spines of those books. How else would they organize that huge library?
Yeah, I assumed the chains were links forged from the metal of whatever subject it represents in a Maester's chain, yellow gold for mathematics, iron for Warcraft, silver for medicine, valerian steel for the occult and so on.
Are the maesters westerosi boy scouts?!
yes.
chain links are merit badges
the black chain link means you studied the arcane.
I am 99.9999% certain this has been discussed on the show
Can't remember it from the show, but I know in the books black iron is ravenry and Valyrian steel is magic/occult.
No matter where you go...there you are. ~ Buckaroo Banzai
Maybe its their version of the dewey decimal system, because I don't know about you, but I am not exactly seeing a whole lot of markings on the binding spines of those books. How else would they organize that huge library?
Yeah, I assumed the chains were links forged from the metal of whatever subject it represents in a Maester's chain, yellow gold for mathematics, iron for Warcraft, silver for medicine, valerian steel for the occult and so on.
The Maester's love their World of Warcraft. Including the movie.
As someone pointed out before they have chains on them to prevent stealing. It was a common medieval practice. The chains can be unlocked too. The books can be taken out as long as a person signs it out.
None of the chains appeared attached to the books, and Sam does not reattach a single one when reshelving them, though.
Tis a bit puzzling.
Given that 'prentice Sam isn't trusted enough to have unfettered access to the library, why would he be given the keys to the book chains so that he could reshelve the chained ones?
Plainly, as the lowly sot he is, he's only allowed to reshelve the books that don't warrant chaining up. Some Upper librarian probably gets to shelve the chained ones.
Then why are there chains all over the shelves he's working on anyway if the books aren't important enough to chain up
Look I demand logical answers here, prop department plz
Because only some of the books on the shelves need to be chained up - they're either currently chained and sitting on the shelves, or checked out and their chain is waiting for them when they get reshelved.
As someone pointed out before they have chains on them to prevent stealing. It was a common medieval practice. The chains can be unlocked too. The books can be taken out as long as a person signs it out.
None of the chains appeared attached to the books, and Sam does not reattach a single one when reshelving them, though.
Tis a bit puzzling.
Given that 'prentice Sam isn't trusted enough to have unfettered access to the library, why would he be given the keys to the book chains so that he could reshelve the chained ones?
Plainly, as the lowly sot he is, he's only allowed to reshelve the books that don't warrant chaining up. Some Upper librarian probably gets to shelve the chained ones.
Then why are there chains all over the shelves he's working on anyway if the books aren't important enough to chain up
Look I demand logical answers here, prop department plz
A chained library is a library where the books are attached to their bookcase by a chain, which is sufficiently long to allow the books to be taken from their shelves and read, but not removed from the library itself. This would prevent theft of the library's materials.[1] However, it also led to crowding and awkwardness when readers had to stand side by side, each holding a book or clumping so they could share one.[2] The practice was usual for reference libraries (that is, the vast majority of libraries) from the Middle Ages to approximately the 18th century. However, since the chaining process was also expensive, it was not used on all books.[3] Only the more valuable books in a collection were chained.[3] This included reference books and large books.[3]
It seems like the Maesters lost their way a long time ago. They seem solely focused on preserving information to an extent that it's become hoarding for the sake of it. They study old texts and dispense knowledge, but rarely if ever try to advance it. Content to preserve what they have and too arrogant to recognize that they understand very little.
The Maesters appear to at least be doing medical research in Ep1. What else would you have them do?
Do more to copy and disseminate texts, start teaching the peasantry and not just the children of high lords. From my point of view as a show watcher it seems as though the maesters wield enormous influence, beside every major Lord and King in the seven kingdoms there's a maester there whispering in their ears and yet the world remains stagnant. Is this their intent or an unintended consequence?
I could be totally off base here and the maesters could be doing absolutely everything they possibly could to spread information and educate the populace. The world of GoT could just be spending thousands of years in technological stagnation purely for narrative reasons. I hope we see more of them in future episodes and some of these things come into focus.
As someone pointed out before they have chains on them to prevent stealing. It was a common medieval practice. The chains can be unlocked too. The books can be taken out as long as a person signs it out.
None of the chains appeared attached to the books, and Sam does not reattach a single one when reshelving them, though.
Tis a bit puzzling.
Given that 'prentice Sam isn't trusted enough to have unfettered access to the library, why would he be given the keys to the book chains so that he could reshelve the chained ones?
Plainly, as the lowly sot he is, he's only allowed to reshelve the books that don't warrant chaining up. Some Upper librarian probably gets to shelve the chained ones.
Then why are there chains all over the shelves he's working on anyway if the books aren't important enough to chain up
Look I demand logical answers here, prop department plz
Because only some of the books on the shelves need to be chained up - they're either currently chained and sitting on the shelves, or checked out and their chain is waiting for them when they get reshelved.
I saw zero books chained up at all. All the chains appeared to be hanging like a curtain.
Maybe its their version of the dewey decimal system, because I don't know about you, but I am not exactly seeing a whole lot of markings on the binding spines of those books. How else would they organize that huge library?
Yeah, I assumed the chains were links forged from the metal of whatever subject it represents in a Maester's chain, yellow gold for mathematics, iron for Warcraft, silver for medicine, valerian steel for the occult and so on.
Are the maesters westerosi boy scouts?!
yes.
chain links are merit badges
the black chain link means you studied the arcane.
I am 99.9999% certain this has been discussed on the show
Can't remember it from the show, but I know in the books black iron is ravenry and Valyrian steel is magic/occult.
One of the earlier "history" features had Luwin discussing the chain: silver for medicine; gold is accounting; iron for war; and valyrian for magic. Ravenry isn't specified.
Maybe its their version of the dewey decimal system, because I don't know about you, but I am not exactly seeing a whole lot of markings on the binding spines of those books. How else would they organize that huge library?
Yeah, I assumed the chains were links forged from the metal of whatever subject it represents in a Maester's chain, yellow gold for mathematics, iron for Warcraft, silver for medicine, valerian steel for the occult and so on.
Are the maesters westerosi boy scouts?!
yes.
chain links are merit badges
the black chain link means you studied the arcane.
I am 99.9999% certain this has been discussed on the show
Can't remember it from the show, but I know in the books black iron is ravenry and Valyrian steel is magic/occult.
One of the earlier "history" features had Luwin discussing the chain: silver for medicine; gold is accounting; iron for war; and valyrian for magic. Ravenry isn't specified.
Naturally, it's forged out of ravens. It's a really rare talent.
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CaptainPeacockBoard Game HoarderTop o' the LakeRegistered Userregular
It's got real raven bits in it. So you know it's good.
Cluck cluck, gibber gibber, my old man's a mushroom, etc.
It seems like the Maesters lost their way a long time ago. They seem solely focused on preserving information to an extent that it's become hoarding for the sake of it. They study old texts and dispense knowledge, but rarely if ever try to advance it. Content to preserve what they have and too arrogant to recognize that they understand very little.
The Maesters appear to at least be doing medical research in Ep1. What else would you have them do?
Do more to copy and disseminate texts, start teaching the peasantry and not just the children of high lords. From my point of view as a show watcher it seems as though the maesters wield enormous influence, beside every major Lord and King in the seven kingdoms there's a maester there whispering in their ears and yet the world remains stagnant. Is this their intent or an unintended consequence?
I could be totally off base here and the maesters could be doing absolutely everything they possibly could to spread information and educate the populace. The world of GoT could just be spending thousands of years in technological stagnation purely for narrative reasons. I hope we see more of them in future episodes and some of these things come into focus.
Couple things - while it is a tad stagnant compared to our world, the timing of the culture progressing isn't actually that far off (from bronze to iron to where they're at now) IF you assume that many of the previous feats of construction (which they don't know how to replicate) are magic, like....the Wall.
But yeah, the whole "Maester in every castle, whispering in ears" is a thing. Book theories.
There's actually a segment which is pretty well supported which seems to imply that the Maesters were specifically trying to kill off magic so their education/science is the only law of the land, and as they have complete control over it they can leverage control over the rulers.
Not proven in the slightest, but there's at least some evidence.
I mean, like, compared to which part of our own history and which region of the world?
Because, the notion of our various human civilizations not being roughly the same thing for many generations of human lives is kinda only a recent thing. Even gun powder didn't really change too much up until machinery got involved in a big way with industrialization.
And that's before we even get into how fucked up their long ass magical seasons, Valarian Doom, near constant warring, a large portion of their population dedicated to subsistence farming, and general culture of "Eh, genocide isn't that bad" (see: Rains of Castemere, a popular song I'm told) into things.
Honestly, I am kinda surprised Old Town and to extent the college of maesters has managed to avoid Library of Alexandria treatment.
I think the whole maestros trying to stop magic theory holds water. Also book thing
jagen is trying to steal something from them and warns Sam to shut up about the wights
Books, re spoiler 2
That would be Marwyn, Sam and Pate exchanged few words, and he warned Sam only against speaking of dragons or prophecies.
Having re-read the Crows epilogue, I'm surprised to see how explicitly Marwyn cops to the whole anti-magic / anti-dragon agenda of those that run The Citadel. I remembered that being more of an inference.
I think the whole maestros trying to stop magic theory holds water. Also book thing
jagen is trying to steal something from them and warns Sam to shut up about the wights
Books, re spoiler 2
That would be Marwyn, Sam and Pate exchanged few words, and he warned Sam only against speaking of dragons or prophecies.
Having re-read the Crows epilogue, I'm surprised to see how explicitly Marwyn cops to the whole anti-magic / anti-dragon agenda of those that run The Citadel. I remembered that being more of an inference.
Booky:
I'd be careful of conflating not believing in magic, because it has worked in a few lifetimes, and having conspired to eliminate it. The official Maester line is that it doesn't work and is rubbish and a waste of time because it doesn't work. The other Archmaesters would ridicule Sam about it because he is spouting nonsense about faeries and grumkins. At least he would be up until about a decade ago in the book timeline. (Well, unless we go back another few hundred years.)
I think the whole maestros trying to stop magic theory holds water. Also book thing
jagen is trying to steal something from them and warns Sam to shut up about the wights
Books, re spoiler 2
That would be Marwyn, Sam and Pate exchanged few words, and he warned Sam only against speaking of dragons or prophecies.
Having re-read the Crows epilogue, I'm surprised to see how explicitly Marwyn cops to the whole anti-magic / anti-dragon agenda of those that run The Citadel. I remembered that being more of an inference.
Booky:
I'd be careful of conflating not believing in magic, because it has worked in a few lifetimes, and having conspired to eliminate it. The official Maester line is that it doesn't work and is rubbish and a waste of time because it doesn't work. The other Archmaesters would ridicule Sam about it because he is spouting nonsense about faeries and grumkins. At least he would be up until about a decade ago in the book timeline. (Well, unless we go back another few hundred years.)
Still books
Marwyn's warning is allegedly to prevent "poison in his porridge," not ridicule.
He also said that, had Aemon returned to the Citadel, he could not be trusted due to his blood. Adding "no more than I can." It is unclear whether Marwyn is also of a certain lineage, or if it's his dedication to magic or Targaryens that makes the Archmaesters distrust him, but it's pretty clear that there is more than mere cynicism behind it.
So instead of this lame "Confederate" idea, can we have one of those GOT spinoffs be based in the Summer Isles and Sothoryos, where a party from the Summer Isles explore the far south of Sothoryos, awaken something horrific and spend the rest of the show convincing all the rival Princes and Princesses that it's real and they need to unite against it? With all of the backstabbing and political intrigue you'd expect from everyone back in the Summer Isles who thinks they're crazy? Possibly with trips to Yi Ti and Asshai to research what the evil is and/or find some magical doohickey to fight it?
Also I'd like it to star Gina Torres, Chiwetel Ejifor, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Jessica Henwick, but that's just me.
So instead of this lame "Confederate" idea, can we have one of those GOT spinoffs be based in the Summer Isles and Sothoryos, where a party from the Summer Isles explore the far south of Sothoryos, awaken something horrific and spend the rest of the show convincing all the rival Princes and Princesses that it's real and they need to unite against it? With all of the backstabbing and political intrigue you'd expect from everyone back in the Summer Isles who thinks they're crazy? Possibly with trips to Yi Ti and Asshai to research what the evil is and/or find some magical doohickey to fight it?
Also I'd like it to star Gina Torres, Chiwetel Ejifor, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Jessica Henwick, but that's just me.
Add that to the pile of GoT spin-offs, HBO has a room filed with 'em.
Seriously though, the lore of the Summer Isles and Yi Ti is some of the best in a universe crammed with amazing lore.
And then they throw it all out bring us the tale of N'degé of Krats, the southern most isle, who brings rumors of lava golems spotted near the summit of Sothoryros's caldera and warns that Summer is coming.
You sweet, winter children.
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syndalisGetting ClassyOn the WallRegistered User, Loves Apple Productsregular
and its oooooonnnnnn
SW-4158-3990-6116
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
Posts
That may be because the magic of the world ebbed away when the dragons died, and there's no one with the experience left alive to explore new knowledge so they're stuck.
Given that 'prentice Sam isn't trusted enough to have unfettered access to the library, why would he be given the keys to the book chains so that he could reshelve the chained ones?
Plainly, as the lowly sot he is, he's only allowed to reshelve the books that don't warrant chaining up. Some Upper librarian probably gets to shelve the chained ones.
Steam: Elvenshae // PSN: Elvenshae // WotC: Elvenshae
Wilds of Aladrion: [https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/comment/43159014/#Comment_43159014]Ellandryn[/url]
Then why are there chains all over the shelves he's working on anyway if the books aren't important enough to chain up
Look I demand logical answers here, prop department plz
Obviously.
The Maesters appear to at least be doing medical research in Ep1. What else would you have them do?
I like this a lot.
I'm curious if props was going for the "chained up books" idea, then it was too awkward or something and just left them there because it looked cool.
Are the maesters westerosi boy scouts?!
yes.
chain links are merit badges
the black chain link means you studied the arcane.
I am 99.9999% certain this has been discussed on the show
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
they have purposely been working to destroy magic in the world and/or killed all the dragons. With a related theory being that the dragons themselves somehow generate magic in the world.
Can't remember it from the show, but I know in the books black iron is ravenry and Valyrian steel is magic/occult.
~ Buckaroo Banzai
Heh, I never actually saw the WoW movie, but watching those scenes it amazes me the actors were able to keep a straight face throughout.
and then they were like, we should devote 30 minutes of screentime to the vikings guy romancing a girl with fake teeth
Because only some of the books on the shelves need to be chained up - they're either currently chained and sitting on the shelves, or checked out and their chain is waiting for them when they get reshelved.
Steam: Elvenshae // PSN: Elvenshae // WotC: Elvenshae
Wilds of Aladrion: [https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/comment/43159014/#Comment_43159014]Ellandryn[/url]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chained_library
Do more to copy and disseminate texts, start teaching the peasantry and not just the children of high lords. From my point of view as a show watcher it seems as though the maesters wield enormous influence, beside every major Lord and King in the seven kingdoms there's a maester there whispering in their ears and yet the world remains stagnant. Is this their intent or an unintended consequence?
I could be totally off base here and the maesters could be doing absolutely everything they possibly could to spread information and educate the populace. The world of GoT could just be spending thousands of years in technological stagnation purely for narrative reasons. I hope we see more of them in future episodes and some of these things come into focus.
I saw zero books chained up at all. All the chains appeared to be hanging like a curtain.
Maybe someone can find a screenshot. I'm lazy.
One of the earlier "history" features had Luwin discussing the chain: silver for medicine; gold is accounting; iron for war; and valyrian for magic. Ravenry isn't specified.
Naturally, it's forged out of ravens. It's a really rare talent.
Couple things - while it is a tad stagnant compared to our world, the timing of the culture progressing isn't actually that far off (from bronze to iron to where they're at now) IF you assume that many of the previous feats of construction (which they don't know how to replicate) are magic, like....the Wall.
But yeah, the whole "Maester in every castle, whispering in ears" is a thing. Book theories.
Not proven in the slightest, but there's at least some evidence.
And also possibly
I think the whole maestros trying to stop magic theory holds water. Also book thing
I mean, like, compared to which part of our own history and which region of the world?
Because, the notion of our various human civilizations not being roughly the same thing for many generations of human lives is kinda only a recent thing. Even gun powder didn't really change too much up until machinery got involved in a big way with industrialization.
And that's before we even get into how fucked up their long ass magical seasons, Valarian Doom, near constant warring, a large portion of their population dedicated to subsistence farming, and general culture of "Eh, genocide isn't that bad" (see: Rains of Castemere, a popular song I'm told) into things.
Honestly, I am kinda surprised Old Town and to extent the college of maesters has managed to avoid Library of Alexandria treatment.
Books, re spoiler 2
Having re-read the Crows epilogue, I'm surprised to see how explicitly Marwyn cops to the whole anti-magic / anti-dragon agenda of those that run The Citadel. I remembered that being more of an inference.
He also said that, had Aemon returned to the Citadel, he could not be trusted due to his blood. Adding "no more than I can." It is unclear whether Marwyn is also of a certain lineage, or if it's his dedication to magic or Targaryens that makes the Archmaesters distrust him, but it's pretty clear that there is more than mere cynicism behind it.
Also I'd like it to star Gina Torres, Chiwetel Ejifor, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Jessica Henwick, but that's just me.
Add that to the pile of GoT spin-offs, HBO has a room filed with 'em.
And then they throw it all out bring us the tale of N'degé of Krats, the southern most isle, who brings rumors of lava golems spotted near the summit of Sothoryros's caldera and warns that Summer is coming.
You sweet, winter children.
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
Law and Order ≠ Justice
ACNH Island Isla Cero: DA-3082-2045-4142
Captain of the SES Comptroller of the State
Yet another scene lit with nothing but a few candles and occasional flashes of lightning
-Indiana Solo, runner of blades
;-)
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
Law and Order ≠ Justice
ACNH Island Isla Cero: DA-3082-2045-4142
Captain of the SES Comptroller of the State