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Essos is the "scientific" name for the Eastern Continent... Shannow Send a noteboard - 07/04/2011 08:05:41 PM
Unlike the other two, it manages to hint at the word "south" without feeling like a bad calque.
It is probably Valyrian, given that many of the Free Cities' names end in "os" as well, like Bravos, Pentos, Norvos, Tyrosh etc.

To me it fits together perfectly.

Well, yes, that it does - that's kind of the problem. In a world that wants to seem real, things generally shouldn't fit together too perfectly like that.


It seems the Valyrians were the closest this world had to a world spanning Empire. And these guys seemed to be the ones who first mapped the world. And the term "Essos" may be similar to the mythical "Terra Australis" after which Australia was eventually named.

It also goes on to say that people seldom refer to the continent as Essos at all, in fact, Martin only introduced the name outside the books and then only in 2008. Instead, most inhabitents of the world refer to component parts of Essos instead, like the Dothraki sea, or the Free Cities, or Slaver's Bay or the Red Waste etc.

The term Essos seems to only be used by scholars, probably a term that is similar to the ancient Latin or Greek used by scholars in our world.
This message last edited by Shannow on 07/04/2011 at 08:06:43 PM
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A Map of the Free Cities from A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE Werthead - 07/04/2011 12:28:51 PM 4041 Views
Very interesting to see them *NM* Stephen - 07/04/2011 01:42:33 PM 349 Views
Great stuff! Shannow - 07/04/2011 02:35:35 PM 1179 Views
Does George The Doctor - 07/04/2011 06:53:12 PM 1170 Views
Yes. Shannow - 07/04/2011 07:41:38 PM 680 Views
Valyria is on the maps in A STORM OF SWORDS Werthead - 08/04/2011 09:47:50 AM 1638 Views
So what lies along the southern coast between the Free Cities and Valyria? Shannow - 08/04/2011 01:26:08 PM 892 Views
Not a lot, as that's where the Dothraki Sea touches the coast. Werthead - 08/04/2011 04:25:34 PM 818 Views
Huh. I always pictured them as being much closer together. Legolas - 07/04/2011 07:48:52 PM 771 Views
I think the name is very fitting, and hints at an ancient "First Language" that named all continents Shannow - 07/04/2011 07:54:13 PM 805 Views
"Sothoryos" does sound kinda cool, I'll admit. Legolas - 07/04/2011 07:59:53 PM 1136 Views
Essos is the "scientific" name for the Eastern Continent... Shannow - 07/04/2011 08:05:41 PM 913 Views
Hm. Okay, fair enough, then, I guess. Legolas - 07/04/2011 08:25:07 PM 874 Views
I got the info from Ice and Fire Wikia... Shannow - 07/04/2011 08:41:59 PM 800 Views
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