'Walk of Punishment'

Welcome to the Walk of Punishment, one of the most striking locations from the Game of Thrones series. Although it is a fictional location in the city of Astapor on the continent of Essos, this place carries strong symbolism - it shows how power can be expressed not only through weapons, but also through control, silence and humiliation. In the story, the Walk of Punishment is the street through which slaves who have been punished or sentenced to death pass. Their suffering is exposed to everyone - as a warning and a tool of fear. There are no swords or armies; just a cold display of power through public humiliation. It is a place where destinies are not shaped by battles, but by looks and orders, where every gesture carries the weight of a political message. Interestingly, the episode titled “Walk of Punishment” (Season 3, Episode 3) refers not only to that place, but also symbolically to the entire episode – to the quiet forms of power and the consequences of humility experienced by various characters throughout Westeros and Essos. One of the most striking displays of “quiet power” in the episode occurs far from Astapor, in King’s Landing, when Tywin Lannister convenes the Kings Council. There is no blood or harsh words in this scene – just the shifting of chairs. Whoever sits closer to Tywin has more power; whoever sits further away loses influence. This simple gesture becomes a perfect metaphor for politics in Westeros – where battles are often won without the sword, but with deliberate moves. The scenes from Astapor, including the Walk of Punishment, were filmed on authentic locations in Croatia, primarily in Split (Diocletian’s Palace) and Dubrovnik, whose historic architecture served as an ideal backdrop for the world of power, slavery and intrigue. The stone and streets of these cities evoke the weight and dignity that Game of Thrones successfully conveys on screen. Through this space, Game of Thrones perfectly demonstrates that power is not always loud. Often it is quiet, subtle, but equally powerful. Walk of Punishment shows how politics can be shaped not only by words, but also by gestures, by placing people in certain places and simply by changing their seats.