A stitch in time: Tapestry immortalizes "Game of Thrones"

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A stitch in time: Tapestry immortalizes "Game of Thrones"

2019-09-20 17:24 Last Updated At：17:30

Famously, Arya Stark always preferred her sword Needle to needlework. Still, even she would be impressed with the giant tapestry now on show in France that recounts the plot of "Game of Thrones" in glorious and, of course, gory and salacious detail.

With the award-winning saga about power struggles in mythical Westeros poised for more success at the Emmy Awards on Sunday, the tapestry's unveiling this month in the Normandy town of Bayeux could hardly be better-timed. The show's 32 nominations broke a single-year record.

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In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019 a detail of the "Game of Thrones" tapestry is pictured in Bayeux, Normandy France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

Famously, Arya Stark always preferred her sword Needle to needlework. Still, even she would be impressed with the giant tapestry now on show in France that recounts the plot of "Game of Thrones" in glorious and, of course, gory and salacious detail.

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, a man takes a picture of the "Game of Thrones" tapestry in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

"It's fantastic. You can see kind of the story, how it all lays out," Amanda Zides, visiting from a suburb of Boston, said as she pored over the tapestry this week. "They did a nice job — great color, great detail."

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, a woman points to a detail of the "Game of Thrones" tapestry in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

"We consider the Bayeux Tapestry as the grandmother of our 'Game of Thrones' tapestry," said Séverine Lecart, director of marketing in France for Tourism Ireland.

The tapestry begins with fictional King Robert Baratheon visiting the Stark family in Winterfell and ends with the final scenes from the eighth and last season. It took a 30-strong team of volunteer embroiderers in Northern Ireland nearly four months to stitch the tapestry in 2017, adding final scenes after "Games of Thrones" finished airing in May.

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, a detail of the "Game of Thrones" tapestry is pictured in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, visitors look at the "Game of Thrones" tapestry in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, a man looks at the "Game of Thrones" tapestry in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, a detail of the "Game of Thrones" tapestry is pictured in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, a man walks past the "Game of Thrones" tapestry in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, two women walk past the "Game of Thrones" tapestry in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019 Loic Jamin, Bayeux's deputy mayor for tourism and museums, poses with the "Game of Thrones" tapestry during an interview with the Associated Press in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

This photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019 shows the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England, in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicting major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery is temporarily on display in Bayeux. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

This photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019 shows a detail of the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England, in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicting major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery is temporarily on display in Bayeux. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

This photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, shows a detail of the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England, in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicting major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery is temporarily on display in Bayeux. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

This photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019 shows the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England, in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicting major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery is temporarily on display in Bayeux. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

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Famously, Arya Stark always preferred her sword Needle to needlework. Still, even she would be impressed with the giant tapestry now on show in France that recounts the plot of "Game of Thrones" in glorious and, of course, gory and salacious detail.

"It's fantastic. You can see kind of the story, how it all lays out," Amanda Zides, visiting from a suburb of Boston, said as she pored over the tapestry this week. "They did a nice job — great color, great detail."

"We consider the Bayeux Tapestry as the grandmother of our 'Game of Thrones' tapestry," said Séverine Lecart, director of marketing in France for Tourism Ireland.

The tapestry begins with fictional King Robert Baratheon visiting the Stark family in Winterfell and ends with the final scenes from the eighth and last season. It took a 30-strong team of volunteer embroiderers in Northern Ireland nearly four months to stitch the tapestry in 2017, adding final scenes after "Games of Thrones" finished airing in May.

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, a detail of the "Game of Thrones" tapestry is pictured in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, visitors look at the "Game of Thrones" tapestry in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, a man looks at the "Game of Thrones" tapestry in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, a detail of the "Game of Thrones" tapestry is pictured in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, a man walks past the "Game of Thrones" tapestry in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, two women walk past the "Game of Thrones" tapestry in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019 Loic Jamin, Bayeux's deputy mayor for tourism and museums, poses with the "Game of Thrones" tapestry during an interview with the Associated Press in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicts major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery. The artwork is temporarily on display in Bayeux, the Normandy town famous for the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

This photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019 shows the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England, in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicting major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery is temporarily on display in Bayeux. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

This photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019 shows a detail of the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England, in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicting major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery is temporarily on display in Bayeux. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

This photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, shows a detail of the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England, in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicting major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery is temporarily on display in Bayeux. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

This photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019 shows the 11th century Bayeux tapestry chronicling the Norman conquest of England, in Bayeux, Normandy, France. The "Game of Thrones" tapestry depicting major scenes from all eight seasons of the hit TV series in 87 meters of embroidery is temporarily on display in Bayeux. "Game of Thrones" is expected to rack up more awards at the Emmy ceremony on Sunday. (AP PhotoKamil Zihnioglu)

Fans who have flocked in their thousands to see the embroidered artwork are giving it a thumbs-up.

"It's fantastic. You can see kind of the story, how it all lays out," Amanda Zides, visiting from a suburb of Boston, said as she pored over the tapestry this week. "They did a nice job — great color, great detail."

At 87 meters (285 feet), the tapestry is longer than the width of a soccer pitch and longer than the famous 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry that recounts the Norman invasion of England in 1066. That tapestry served as an inspiration for the "Game of Thrones" lookalike.

The work was commissioned by the tourism office of Northern Ireland, where HBO filmed many of the scenes. Irish officials hope the Bayeux exhibit will boost tourism to Northern Ireland. Its "Game of Thrones" sites are already a big draw, attracting 350,000 visitors in 2018 alone.

"We consider the Bayeux Tapestry as the grandmother of our 'Game of Thrones' tapestry," said Séverine Lecart, director of marketing in France for Tourism Ireland.

Obvious parallels between the two tapestries include the embroidery styles, colors and structures. Both are divided into three segments, with their central storylines running through the middle bordered by smaller panels displaying motifs like winged beasts or weaponry. The two works evoke similar themes of violent conquest and feudal loyalties.

The Bayeux Tapestry is thought to have been commissioned by William the Conqueror's brother. It tells the story of William's conquest of England with vivid scenes of battle and palace intrigue. It attracts nearly 400,000 visitors annually and Bayeux officials hope the "Game of Thrones" exhibit will grow that number.

The tapestry begins with fictional King Robert Baratheon visiting the Stark family in Winterfell and ends with the final scenes from the eighth and last season. It took a 30-strong team of volunteer embroiderers in Northern Ireland nearly four months to stitch the tapestry in 2017, adding final scenes after "Games of Thrones" finished airing in May.

Like the often-racy show, the tapestry includes several sex scenes. But among visitors on Wednesday, scenes depicting Daenerys Targaryen with her dragons and Jaime Lannister getting his hand chopped off proved particularly popular.

"Amazingly well-presented," said Geoffrey Vasse, visiting from the Normandy city of Caen. "I'm a fan of the series of 'Game of Thrones' and if there is a tapestry just nearby, I wanted to come and see it."

Macron outlines his vision for Europe to become an assertive global power as war in Ukraine rages on

2024-04-26 00:49 Last Updated At：00:52

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron warned Thursday that Europe could “die” if it fails to build its own robust defense as Russia’s war in Ukraine rages on, or if it fails to undertake major trade and economic reforms to compete with China and the U.S.

Macron urged Europeans to become more ambitious in a fast-changing world to face the challenges of war, fierce trade competition, energy scarcity, climate change and increasing authoritarianism.

In a nearly two-hour speech at Sorbonne University in Paris, Macron said that the continent is divided and “too slow and lacks ambition” at a time when the 27-member European Union needs to become a superpower, defend its own borders and speak with one voice if it wants to survive and thrive.

“Our Europe today is mortal,” Macron said. “It can die and that depends solely on our choices,” he added. He called on people to make those choices now because, “it’s today that Europe is between war and peace.”

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year, is an existential threat and Europe isn't armed enough to defend itself when “confronted by a power like Russia that has no inhibitions, no limits,” Macron said.

‘Our ability to ensure our security is at stake," Macron said. “Russia mustn’t be allowed to win.”

Europe now has the “good fortune” of having the Biden administration’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, Macron said. But, in a year of key elections around Europe, in the U.S. and elsewhere, support may fragment or disappear entirely, he added.

“Europe must become capable of defending its interests, with its allies by our side whenever they are willing, and alone if necessary,” Macron said.

Strong armies, a European rapid intervention program and force, tanks, a missile shield and other weapons, produced in Europe, will need the support of “a joint diplomatic force that will speak with one voice and build bridges with Africa and Latin America,” the French leader said.

“Only then will Europe show that it's not a United States’ lap dog, and that it also knows how to talk to other regions of the world,” he said.

France has been a firm supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, and Macron has often clashed with other Western leaders as he has insisted that Europe must stand by the country at any cost. The French president alarmed European leaders by saying recently that sending Western troops into Ukraine to shore up its defenses shouldn’t be ruled out.

Referring to trade practices of China and the U.S., Macron said “the two world powers have decided not to respect the rules of global trade” by shoring up protections and subsides while Europe’s industry remains open and is stuck in overregulation.

“Let’s do the same, we are in competition,” Macron said.

“We must buy faster, we must produce more and we must buy more that is made in Europe. That is key,” Macron said.

Thursday's speech came less than two months before a pivotal European Parliament election.

Macron, an avid advocate of a united and assertive Europe, also rallied support for his centrist Renaissance party before the June 6-9 vote as far-right parties lead the moderate coalitions in the polls. He called for safeguarding democratic values as the “authoritarian model” was becoming “more popular” across the continent.

The war in Ukraine and immigration are top priorities for European Union voters, according to polls. Far-right parties have gained support by criticizing Macron’s government policies on both issues. Macron acknowledged divisions on immigration policies, including on asylum and deportation rules for those who have arrived to Europe illegally.

He emphasized the need for an effective response and Europe-wide coordination for curbing illegal immigration, closer cooperation with immigrants' countries of origin and a unified, relentless fight against human traffickers.

Macron criticized the idea of striking an agreement, as Britain as done, with countries in Africa and elsewhere to transfer immigrants there.

“This is a betrayal of our values that ultimately leads us to dependency on other counties,” Macron said.

The British government earlier this week approved a law allowing the deportation of some migrants who enter the country illegally to Rwanda.

Macron lost his majority in France’s most influential house of parliament, the National Assembly, after the 2022 election to the far-left coalition and the far-right National Rally party.

The social situation in France remains tense as Paris prepares to host the Olympic Games this summer, amid protests from teachers and police officers, and farmer demonstrations in recent weeks. The protests follow huge rallies last year against Macron’s ultimately successful proposal to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Barbara Surk reported from Nice, France. Lorne Cook contributed to this report from Brussels.

A stitch in time: Tapestry immortalizes "Game of Thrones"

ENT

A stitch in time: Tapestry immortalizes "Game of Thrones"

Famously, Arya Stark always preferred her sword Needle to needlework. Still, even she would be impressed with the giant tapestry now on show in France that recounts the plot of "Game of Thrones" in glorious and, of course, gory and salacious detail.

"It's fantastic. You can see kind of the story, how it all lays out," Amanda Zides, visiting from a suburb of Boston, said as she pored over the tapestry this week. "They did a nice job — great color, great detail."

"We consider the Bayeux Tapestry as the grandmother of our 'Game of Thrones' tapestry," said Séverine Lecart, director of marketing in France for Tourism Ireland.

Famously, Arya Stark always preferred her sword Needle to needlework. Still, even she would be impressed with the giant tapestry now on show in France that recounts the plot of "Game of Thrones" in glorious and, of course, gory and salacious detail.

"It's fantastic. You can see kind of the story, how it all lays out," Amanda Zides, visiting from a suburb of Boston, said as she pored over the tapestry this week. "They did a nice job — great color, great detail."

"We consider the Bayeux Tapestry as the grandmother of our 'Game of Thrones' tapestry," said Séverine Lecart, director of marketing in France for Tourism Ireland.

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A stitch in time: Tapestry immortalizes &quot;Game of Thrones&quot;

A stitch in time: Tapestry immortalizes &quot;Game of Thrones&quot;

Famously, Arya Stark always preferred her sword Needle to needlework. Still, even she would be impressed with the giant tapestry now on show in France that recounts the plot of "Game of Thrones" in glorious and, of course, gory and salacious detail.

"It's fantastic. You can see kind of the story, how it all lays out," Amanda Zides, visiting from a suburb of Boston, said as she pored over the tapestry this week. "They did a nice job — great color, great detail."

"We consider the Bayeux Tapestry as the grandmother of our 'Game of Thrones' tapestry," said Séverine Lecart, director of marketing in France for Tourism Ireland.

Famously, Arya Stark always preferred her sword Needle to needlework. Still, even she would be impressed with the giant tapestry now on show in France that recounts the plot of "Game of Thrones" in glorious and, of course, gory and salacious detail.

"It's fantastic. You can see kind of the story, how it all lays out," Amanda Zides, visiting from a suburb of Boston, said as she pored over the tapestry this week. "They did a nice job — great color, great detail."

"We consider the Bayeux Tapestry as the grandmother of our 'Game of Thrones' tapestry," said Séverine Lecart, director of marketing in France for Tourism Ireland.

Next Article

Macron outlines his vision for Europe to become an assertive global power as war in Ukraine rages on

EU military officer says a frigate has destroyed a drone launched from Yemen’s Houthi-held areas

Poland’s prime minister celebrates after his party wins a string of cities in mayoral votes

European nations with Patriots hesitate to give their missile systems to Ukraine

Reuters photographer wins World Press Photo of the Year with poignant shot from Gaza

Defense and security are on citizens’ minds before the EU Parliament elections, a survey finds

EU leaders vow to impose tougher sanctions against Iran as Ukraine’s president pleads for support

Hungary’s leader calls for change at the top in June European elections at a far right gathering

A stitch in time: Tapestry immortalizes "Game of Thrones"

A stitch in time: Tapestry immortalizes "Game of Thrones"