Game of Thrones in Real Life
**The Real-World Inspiration Behind Game of Thrones' Iconic Elements**
When you think about *Game of Thrones*, the first thing that comes to mind is its fantastical elements: an enormous wall of ice, three fire-breathing dragons, and a massive fleet of ships. But while these fictional creations are certainly impressive, they actually have loose parallels in real-world history and natural history. Let’s delve into how some of *Game of Thrones'* most iconic elements stack up against their real-world counterparts.
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### The Wall: A Fortification Unlike Any Other
In the world of *Game of Thrones*, the Wall is an engineering marvel—an enormous barrier made entirely of ice, stretching 500 km along the northern border of the Seven Kingdoms. Standing at a staggering 213 meters tall, this structure was supposedly built using both magic and manual labor over 8,000 years ago to protect against the White Walkers during what’s known as the Long Night.
While the Wall is purely fictional, it does have an impressive real-world counterpart: the Great Wall of China. Though not nearly as tall (only 5–8 meters on average), the Great Wall spans a whopping 8,851 kilometers—a length that would require stacking almost 18 Wall-sized structures end to end to match. Constructed over centuries, the Great Wall was built to repel Mongolian hordes, much like the Wall was built to keep out the White Walkers and their fearsome forces.
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### The Iron Fleet: A Naval Powerhouse
The Iron Fleet, the naval arm of the ironborn, is another element that stands out in *Game of Thrones*. Initially consisting of just 100 longships, the fleet later grows to over a thousand vessels under Euron Greyjoy’s command. While it might seem unrealistic for the ironborn to build such a massive fleet so quickly, there is historical precedent for such naval power.
The Persian Empire’s navy under King Xerxes I during the second Persian invasion of Greece in 480–479 BCE was similarly vast, with an estimated 1,275 ships. Like Euron Greyjoy, Xerxes sought to use his overwhelming numerical advantage to defeat his enemies. However, despite their size, both fleets faced the same challenge: maneuverability. The Persian fleet, much like the Iron Fleet, struggled in narrow straits, leading to decisive defeats at the hands of a smaller but more agile enemy.
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### The Dragons: Fire-Breathing Monsters Made Real
Few elements in *Game of Thrones* are as iconic as the dragons. Daenerys Targaryen’s three massive creatures—especially Drogon, who is said to be the size of a 747—are among the show’s most awe-inspiring features. While fire-breathing dragons don’t exist in reality, there are ancient creatures that share some traits with these mythical beasts.
The pterosaur *Ketel* (or *Quetzalcoatlus*) was one of the largest flying creatures to ever grace the Earth. With a wingspan of 16 meters and a height of at least 3 meters when grounded, this creature was truly massive. It shared with dragons their ability to dominate the skies, though it lacked the leathery wings and solid bones typically associated with mythical dragons.
Then there’s *Megalania*, the largest known terrestrial lizard to ever exist. This ancient predator, an ancestor of modern monitor lizards, had a massive frame, strong limbs, and a fearsome jaw filled with serrated teeth. Its venom was so potent that it could cause wounds resembling severe burns—perhaps inspiring the fire-breathing legend associated with dragons today.
If only *Ketel* had wings powerful enough to lift its massive body, we might have had true dragons in the real world. While the idea of creatures that can breathe fire remains speculative, these ancient beasts remind us that nature often provides inspiration for even the most fantastical elements of fiction.
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### Conclusion: The Real-World Roots of *Game of Thrones*
As you watch *Game of Thrones*, it’s easy to get swept up in its imaginary world. But beneath the magic and the mayhem lie real-world inspirations, from ancient fortifications like the Great Wall of China to naval battles reminiscent of Persia’s fleet. And who knows? The dragons we so love—and fear—might just be the result of ancient legends born from encounters with truly terrifying creatures.
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