Sea Snake, Corlys Velaryon’s burial ship

The Sea Snake, Corlys Velaryon’s burial ship, was the ancient vessel on which Corlys was buried at sea after his death in 132 AC. Its battered hull was floated once more and towed east of Dragonstone, making the ship that had given him his name the setting for his final passage.

The Ship and Its Namesake

The Sea Snake was Corlys Velaryon’s ancient ship, and its name was bound to his own. After Corlys died, his body lay in state beneath the Iron Throne for seven days. His remains were then carried to Driftmark aboard the Mermaid’s Kiss, captained by Marilda of Hull and her son Alyn Velaryon.

The Burial at Sea

At Driftmark, the old Sea Snake’s battered hull was floated again and towed into deep water east of Dragonstone. Corlys was buried at sea aboard that very ship. The funeral thus returned the vessel to the water for a final purpose, bringing its long association with its namesake to an end in the place where he was laid to rest.

The Cannibal’s Alleged Salute

A later account claimed that the Cannibal swept overhead as the hull sank, spreading his great black wings in a last salute. The tale is treated skeptically: given what was known of the dragon, he was considered more likely to eat the corpse than salute it. The reported flight survives as a moving funeral image, but not as a detail the account presents as reliable.