It was a symbol of power and added legitimacy to Starks by tradition. Remove the symbol, and you weaken whatever it stands for.
Also, Valyrian steel was pretty much impossible to make anymore since the secrets of refining the metal was lost with valyria, which made the sword pretty much priceless. Some master blacksmiths knew how to work it, but not how to make the steel. So it was logical to add a few of these priceless blades to the Lannister arsenal, and melting the original down would help remove the link to the original owners and legitimise the new ownership.
I suppose they could have not reforged it and just renamed it or something, but these weapons as rare and revered as they are, will have records of it being used and by whom - a paper trail.
I’ve just always thought it a bit of a classless act from Tywin. They sent the man’s bones back, but not the house ancestral sword.
Your comment is likely right, it’s just never sat well with me and I’d be interested to know how it went down across the rest of the realm. Even in war I figured the great houses would have kept a modicum of respect for one another, or maybe I’m just naive.
It was a symbol of power and added legitimacy to Starks by tradition. Remove the symbol, and you weaken whatever it stands for.
Also, Valyrian steel was pretty much impossible to make anymore since the secrets of refining the metal was lost with valyria, which made the sword pretty much priceless. Some master blacksmiths knew how to work it, but not how to make the steel. So it was logical to add a few of these priceless blades to the Lannister arsenal, and melting the original down would help remove the link to the original owners and legitimise the new ownership.
I suppose they could have not reforged it and just renamed it or something, but these weapons as rare and revered as they are, will have records of it being used and by whom - a paper trail.
Anyway thats what I think.
I’ve just always thought it a bit of a classless act from Tywin. They sent the man’s bones back, but not the house ancestral sword.
Your comment is likely right, it’s just never sat well with me and I’d be interested to know how it went down across the rest of the realm. Even in war I figured the great houses would have kept a modicum of respect for one another, or maybe I’m just naive.
i think it was a way of showing that for all his savvy, Tywin could still have a political blind spot based entirely on avarice for something