7. Introducing core features of the ancient Persian religion, the Red Faith in Game of Thrones strongly mirrors Zoroastrianism whilst its primary acolyte in the show, Melisandre, is a patent imitation of Rasputin
Introduced in Game of Thrones season two, the Red Faith is a foreign religion which advocates worship of the “lord of light”, also known as R’hllor, who appears to his followers in the form of fire. Proselytized by Melisandre, a priestess from Asshai, the Red Faith proclaims an eternal war against the darkness and the abolition of the traditional deities of Westeros. Whilst some have ascribed early Christian motifs to the Red Faith, a far more consistent parallel is the older Persian religion of Zoroastrianism. Not only introducing the spiritual concept of a struggle between light and darkness, the existence of demons, as well as many other features later appropriated by Christianity, but Zoroastrianism is also intimately concerned with fire.
In Zoroastrianism, fire serves as a medium for spiritual awareness, with its adherents commonly praying in the presence of fire. Furthermore, important similarities can be noted between Melisandre herself and the Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin. Both rose from nothing to become important figures within a royal household, both won the trust not only of the King but also, and more strongly, the Queen, both remained unpopular and feared by the general public, both are allegedly capable of cheating death, and both ultimately contributed to the destruction and extermination of the royal house they served.