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What Is the Crypt of Winterfell on Game of Thrones?

Game of Thrones: Winterfell's Crypt Is More Important Than You Realise

Jan 14 2019

There are few places in HBO's Game of Thrones that hold as much significance as Winterfell, the ancestral home of House Stark and the seat of the ruler of the North.

According to Northern legend, Winterfell was built by Bran the Builder more than 8,000 years ago, just as the Wall was, and considering Bran's relationship with the Giants and Children of the Forest, it's safe to say that there's more than meets the eye regarding the "capital" of the North. While the walls of the castle have certainly seen a lot go down over the years, the latest teaser for the series's upcoming final season has folks wondering about the secrets housed in the crypt below.

Here's what you need to know about House Stark's mysterious underground labyrinth before the series returns on April 14.

Image Source: HBO

1. Where Is the Winterfell Crypt?

The crypt is located beneath Winterfell and expands further and wider than the castle does. Because Winterfell is built around an ancient three-acre godswood, it's thought that the walls of the crypt are weirwood roots that have turned to stone, adding to the mystical element of the underground tombs. In the book, there are rumours that the crypt is haunted by the ghosts of dead Starks, and there are hints that there's something magical housed within it (which some believe could be a dragon).

Image Source: HBO

2. What Is in the Winterfell Crypt?

The crypt houses tombs for all deceased members of House Stark, though traditionally statues were only made for Kings in the North and Lords of Winterfell. Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark is the one who broke said tradition, creating statues of his deceased siblings after Robert's Rebellion. Though we've only seen one level on the show — the "freshest" level that houses the tombs of Lord Rickard Stark, Ned, Brandon, and Lyanna — we have no doubt that it's just as vast as in the novels.

Image Source: HBO

3. Why Is the Winterfell Crypt Important?

Aside from being historically significant for the Starks specifically, the crypt is the site for many an interaction that have been important to Game of Thrones' story. It's where we learn the popular version of Lyanna's death, told to us when Robert Baratheon and Ned visit her tomb. In the books, Jon, Bran, and Rickon all have dreams in which the crypt features prominently — it's a source of dread for Jon in particular. Before his death, Ned dreams of Lyanna's statue whispering to him, "Promise me, Ned," which we hear again in the season eight teaser. It's where Peytr recites the story of The Tourney at Harrenhal to Sansa after her return to Winterfell in season six and she finds the feather left by Robert. It's also where Sansa and Arya have their private reunion in season seven. And considering the family news that's about to break in season eight, we have no doubt the tombs will be visited once again, by the one who dreads them the most.

The crypt may also serve a more practical importance in season eight. Not only is it huge and consist of multiple layers, but it also has various tunnels running through it to aid Northerners escaping from trouble. We know there will be an epic battle early in the season and it's assumed that it'll take place either in Winterfell or close to it, since it's the first stop as the Night King's army pours into Westeros. The crypt tunnels could be the key to the survival of some major key characters, especially the members of House Stark. They could lead them to safety outside of Winterfell, or house them during battle. In George R. R. Martin's novels, there is a legend that the daughter of Lord Brandon Stark and Bael the Bard hid within the crypt for months until she reappeared with their bastard son. Perhaps the show will take some inspiration and use the crypts as a temporary sanctuary for some very important characters.

Image Source: HBO

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