The great houses of Westeros are central to the story of Game of Thrones, and the reason for the many wars that have taken place across the eight seasons.
Family history and alliances between houses has seen power sway multiple times during the ongoing war to claim the iron throne.
Each great house has its own castle and several smaller houses who are usually sworn to fight alongside them.
They also have their own mottos and a sigil that is used to represent them on banners, wax seals and on the armour of their knights.
Here is a look at all of the sigils of the great houses of Westeros and what they mean.
House Stark sigil
A direwolf is used as the symbol for the House Stark sygil, which is probably the most well-known to Game of Thrones fans.
It is the animal that is associated with the Northern house, and this was established back in the first season when direwolf pups were discovered by the Stark family.
Since then each of the Stark children had received their own wolf, although many of them have since met their demise.
The family motto, which is said by Ned Stark, as well as his children throughout the series is ‘Winter Is Coming’.
House Lannister sigil
A lion is used for the House Lannister sigil, usually showing the full body of the lion in a standing position.
It is likely used because its association with royalty, as well as its power and leadership.
Their official family motto is ‘Hear Me Roar’ which connects to their family sigil, although they are also known for saying ‘a Lannister always pays their debts’.
This is something that is said multiple times throughout the series, particularly by Tyrion Lannister.
House Targaryen sigil
The Targaryen sigil is represented by a red dragon with three heads.
It is fitting for the family as they are heavil connected with dragon,s having had them under their control for several hundreds of years.
They are a noble family who are considered to have a deep history, with a connection to the Valyrians who were the people that discovered dragons.
Their house words are ‘Fire and Blood’, connected again to their association with dragon fire and shows their more violent nature.
House Baratheon sigil
A stag is used for the Baratheon sigil, which is often an animal associated with strength because of its antlers.
It implies that the house is strong and aggressive, which is also shown by its house motto, which is ‘Ours Is the Fury’.
House Greyjoy sigil
The Greyjoy sigil is represented by a golden kraken, which shows their position as being among the strongest fighters at sea.
It is a house that is experienced in sailing and has a powerful fleet, living on the Iron Island to the west of Westeros.
Their house words are ‘We Do Not Sow’ which refers to their belief that they can just take by force anything they need, rather than pay for them or produce their own.
Another phrase associated with the house is ‘What Is Dead May Never Die’, which is based on temporarily drowning people who serve the Drowned God.
After facing death it is felt that the person will then not fear it, and instead ‘rises again harder and stronger’.
House Mormont sigil
A black bear is the sigil for House Mormont because of his ancestral home, which is known as Bear Island.
It is a house that is loyal to the Stark and they were in possession of a valyrian steel sword called Longclaw, which was given to Jon Snow by former Night’s Watch lord commander Jeor Mormont.
The house words for the Mormont’s is ‘Here We Stand’.
House Tyrell sigil
House Tyrell’s sigil is a golden rose, representing their vast land which is able to grow plenty of crops.
Their fertile grounds enabled them to sell and trade their products, making them a rich and powerful household.
The house words of house Tyrell is ‘Growing Strong’.
House Martell sigil
(Picture: HBO)
The house Martell sigil is a red sun being pierced by a gold spear, which is connected to their family history.
It combines the red sun of the people of Rhoynar and the original Martell house, who were connected by the marriage of Nymeria and Mors Martell.
The family is also seated in Sunspear in Dorne, which is in the southern part of Westeros.
The house words are ‘Unbowed. Unbent. Unbroken.’
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