Canal of Heroes

The Canal of Heroes is one of the principal waterways of Braavos, a city built across a hundred islands where canals serve as streets. It is a broad, central artery that cuts through the heart of the city, lined with the stone statues of famous Braavosi commanders and sea lords, from whom it takes its name. The canal is a vital route for the serpent boats that ply the city's waters, and its banks are a constant flow of foot traffic, commerce, and the daily life of the Braavosi people.

Geography and Significance

The Canal of Heroes is a major landmark in Braavos, a city whose geography is defined by its network of canals and islands. It is one of the primary routes connecting the different parts of the city, from the Ragman's Harbor to the Purple Harbor and the Isle of the Gods. The canal's prominence makes it a key reference point for navigation; characters use it to orient themselves within the city's complex layout. The canal is also a place of public spectacle and commerce, with temples, guildhalls, and markets located along its course.

The Canal as a Site of Action and Observation

The Canal of Heroes is not merely a scenic backdrop but a setting for crucial actions and observations. It is a place where characters move through the city, whether openly or in secret. The blind girl, Arya Stark, uses her knowledge of the city's canals, including the Canal of Heroes, to navigate as she carries out her duties for the House of Black and White. After a failed theft in the Purple Harbor, she escapes across the rooftops, making her way "almost as far as the Canal of Heroes" before returning to the temple. This demonstrates the canal's role as a boundary and a destination within the city's geography. The canal is also a place where the city's hidden life is conducted; the servants of the Many-Faced God gather in a chamber beneath the temple, and the canal's waters and bridges are part of the secret geography that Arya must learn to master.

The Canal and the City's Identity

The Canal of Heroes embodies Braavos's identity as a city of canals, a maritime power founded by escaped slaves. Its name, honoring heroes, reflects the city's values of freedom and martial prowess. The canal is a constant presence in the lives of its inhabitants, a thoroughfare for trade, travel, and the quiet, often violent, transactions that define the city's underworld. For Arya, learning to navigate the Canal of Heroes and the rest of Braavos's waterways is a crucial part of her training to become "no one," a process that requires her to shed her old identity and become a part of the city's fabric.