"Game of Thrones" Season 8 may be over a year away, but that doesn't stop the fans from searching for clues in both the TV show and George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" book series. And even though the show has diverged so much from its base material, there's still a strong connection between the two. That's why the fans often come up with all sorts of wild theories to help them get through the "Game of Thrones" withdrawal. And while many of these theories might never come true in the TV show, they are still fun to think about. So with that in mind, let's delve into the mysterious Crypts of Winterfell.
The origins of the Crypts
When compared to other structures Brandon the Builder built such as the Wall, the Hightower and Storm's End, the Winterfell's round tower known as the First Keep, doesn't seem all that impressive, does it? One would think Winterfell would be his most impressive work since he is, after all, a founder of House Stark. Unless it is his most impressive work. Let me explain.
The thing is, the First Keep wasn't the only Winterfell's structure Brandon the Builder built. He also built the Crypts of Winterfell, a place for Starks to bury their rulers. But there's got to be more to these Crypts given how enormous they are. First and foremost, it's important to note that Brandon the Builder built them just after the Battle for the Dawn which marked the end of the Long Night.
And given the fact that the Wall was built to keep the Others at bay, it stands the reason to believe that the Crypts of Winterfell have something to do with the Others as well. Having said that, let's talk about the theory.
What is in the Crypts of Winterfell?
According to some fans, the Crypts of Winterfell serve as the subterranean prison for the Great Other (captured during the Battle for the Dawn), and the spirits of the dead Kings of Winter are guarding him.
This could also explain the common Stark sayings such as "The North Remembers" and "There must always be a Stark in Winterfell," meaning that they must guard the Crypts and their biggest secret. But there's more to this theory, and it has to do with Bran's wolf dream after the Sack of Winterfell where he saw a great winged snake whose roar was the river of flame.
While many believe this creature to be a dragon, YouTube channel the Order of the Green Hand has a different idea. They believe that this winged snake is actually the Great Other himself, who was released from the Crypts during the Sack of Winterfell. Crazy, right? But they do have the evidence
We know that the Great Other, the god of darkness, cold and death, wage an eternal war with the Lord Of Light over the fate of the world. And George R. R. Martin did say several times that he based the Lord of Light on the Egyptian sun god Ra who is in an eternal conflict with Apep who just happens to be represented as the massive snake that was defeated and imprisoned in the underworld. Also, the Roman version of Apep is a snake so large it attempted to swallow the sun every day trying to force the world into a state of eternal darkness.
Now, whether you believe it or not, you must admit that there is some connection.You can watch The Order of the Green Hand's video down below. The part about the winged snake is near the end of the clip, but I strongly recommend watching the whole video.
