HBO’s House of the Dragon has showcased many dragons, each with unique looks and characteristics. In Season 2, we see even more dragons, including majestic and mythical creatures.
Dragons are impressive and can be quite scary with their tough scales, fiery breath, and sharp teeth. While we have seen big dragons like Vhagar and fearsome ones like Vermithor, there is one dragon that stands out as the most terrifying: the Cannibal.
In the series, wild dragons are dragons that have grown up without forming a bond with humans. They live freely in the wild and do not follow human commands. Wild dragons are rare compared to those raised in captivity. Most Targaryen children bond with dragon hatchlings from a young age, making those dragons more open to humans.
The reasons why some dragons remain wild are unclear, but it suggests not all dragons are meant to be ridden. In George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, adapted in Season 2, there is a storyline about trying to tame wild dragons.
At the start of the Dance of the Dragons, three wild dragons are roaming Dragonstone: Sheepstealer, Grey Ghost, and the Cannibal. Sheepstealer loves eating sheep and steals them from nearby areas.
Grey Ghost is a small, slender dragon with gray-white skin that helps him hide. The Cannibal is a large, black-scaled dragon with green eyes who eats other dragons.
Who Is the Cannibal Dragon?
The Cannibal is one of the most frightening dragons. In the books, Prince Jacaerys asks dragonseeds to help tame wild dragons and fight in the war against the Greens. Many dragonseeds try to tame Sheepstealer and Grey Ghost, but no one dares to approach the Cannibal because its lair is filled with the bones of those who tried to ride it.
The Cannibal is older and larger than other wild dragons. If Sheepstealer is at least 80 years old, the Cannibal might be close to 100. This dragon is known for its hostility and cannibalistic behavior. The Cannibal eats dead dragons, hunts younger dragons, and even consumes dragon eggs and newborn dragons.
What Makes the Cannibal the Most Terrifying Dragon? The Cannibal’s actions show it takes pleasure in eating other dragons, which feels deeply disturbing and evil. The idea of a dragon enjoying cannibalism adds a layer of horror.
The Cannibal is a terrifying foe because it seems to have a disturbing level of detachment from its own kind. Little is known about the Cannibal because few have survived encounters with it. After the Targaryen civil war, the Cannibal disappeared and has not been seen again.
There is a legend that the Cannibal lived in Dragonstone before Aegon the Conqueror and that it belonged to a different lineage of dragons. This theory, however, is doubted by many scholars because it would make the Cannibal over 240 years old, older than any dragon known in the series.
Some believe the Cannibal is still alive, causing chaos elsewhere. The Cannibal is a powerful symbol of the destructive nature of internal Targaryen conflicts.
The Targaryen civil war weakened the house as family members fought against each other, leading to its eventual downfall. The Cannibal represents this self-destructive nature, and it makes sense that it disappeared after the war, as there were no more Targaryens left to fight.
