The phrase "What is dead may never die" is a religious saying from the Iron Islands in the Game of Thrones universe, associated with the worship of the Drowned God. It reflects the Ironborn's belief that through a ritual drowning and resurrection (a form of baptism), a person is spiritually reborn and blessed by the Drowned God. The phrase means that although someone may be "dead" in a physical sense, they are never truly gone, as they are reborn stronger and harder, symbolizing resilience and spiritual endurance. This belief is rooted in the myth that the Drowned God himself drowned in battle but rose again, which inspires the Ironborn's ritual and motto
. The phrase also serves as a metaphor for strength through hardship, akin to "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." It is used in the series to emphasize the Ironborn's toughness and their cultural identity tied to the sea and their god
. Additionally, "What Is Dead May Never Die" is the title of the third episode of the second season of Game of Thrones , where this theme is explored in the context of the Iron Islands and other storylines
