Of all the prophecies populating the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, the most famous concerns The Prince That Was Promised, otherwise known as Azor Ahai reborn. And although fans widely consider Jon Snow the most likely contender to be this legendary savior, Jon Snow himself doesn’t give it much thought.
In a recent interview with The Huffington Post, Kit Harington said, “I think Jon would hate the term ‘The Prince That Was Promised.’ If someone turned to him and said, ‘You’re The Prince That Was Promised,’ he just wouldn’t pay much attention. That’s what I love about him, so I don’t really care about it either.”
The Prince That Was Promised has been mentioned by Melisandre several times, as she initially thought it was Stannis Baratheon. As the lore goes, Azor Ahai was a legendary hero with an equally legendary sword, who lived five thousand years before the events of the show. He will be reborn to save the world from darkness. As it so happens, darkness is coming on the show in the form of The Long Night of Winter and the impending White Walker invasion. The strongest evidence for Jon Snow as the prince is that he’s reborn thanks to the Lord of Light — and Melisandre has resurrected Jon Snow with the help of the Lord of Light.
According to the prophecy, Azor Ahai will be reborn “amidst salt and smoke,” and he’ll use his legendary sword Lightbringer to save the world. Some fans theorize that if Jon Snow is indeed Azor Ahai reborn, Lightbringer is not a literal sword but it is actually his stalwart follower Davos.
Intriguingly, although Jon Snow fits the bill as the most recently resurrected character, the “salt and smoke” element also makes his aunt, Daenerys Targaryen, a contender. Also supporting the Daenerys theory is the condition that Azor Ahai is to be reborn under a “bleeding star.” Recall the comet in the sky before Daenerys stepped into the flames in Season 1’s “Fire and Blood,” only to emerge unburnt with baby dragons.
Whoever Seasons 7 and 8 reveal to be the true Prince That Was Promised, if it does turn out to be Daenerys, it seems that Jon Snow wouldn’t mind.
Game of Thrones Season 7 premieres on July 16.
