Dance with Death: Interpreting the symbolism of Arya and the pale horse

We get a closeup of the ashen, or ‘bloody-ashen,’ Arya as she continues her measured approach.

A shot from Arya’s perspective, looking at the horse. Its saddle is missing and its reins dangle.

The white horse itself is a common sacred symbol in world mythology, often denoting supernatural powers. The ancient Greek Pegasus had wings and flew. The Hindu Uchchaihshravas had seven heads and served as the mount of the Sun God Surya.

But since our Thrones animal is presenting as pale/grey/ashen, lets go with that color.

This low-angle shot of Arya approaching the pale horse is stunning, and also once again places her in a spill of sunlight; the lighting effect on the horse gives it a momentary translucent, ghost-like quality. The horse turns its head to look at her.

Grey Horses ware often categorized as white in ancient mythology, but the old Norse god Odin specifically rode an eight-legged grey horse named Slepnir. Slepnir can ride into Hel, part of the the Nordic land of the dead often linked to the underworld Niflheim.