A bathhouse is a public or communal building used for washing, soaking, and sweating.
Culture
Several castles have a bathhouse, such as Maidenpool,[1] Harrenhal,[2][3] Castle Black,[4] and the Nightfort.[5]
History
Centuries ago House Mooton built a great stone bathhouse around the waters of Jonquil's Pool in Maidenpool, which are said to be blessed with healing properties. In 51 AC, the pregnant Queen Alysanne Targaryen came to Jonquil's Pool to bathe in its healing waters. Since only women were allowed in the bathhouse, Alysanne was accompanied only by her ladies-in-waiting, maids, and septas, while Ser Joffrey Doggett and Ser Gyles Morrigen of the Kingsguard waited outside. As Alysanne disrobed, three of the holy sisters from the Faith of the Seven, whose task was to maintain the bathhouse, suddenly attacked her with daggers, but the queen was not harmed due to the courage of her Wise Women, who did not hesitate to protect Alysanne despite being naked and unarmed. Shouts and screams during the struggle alerted the Kingsguard outside, who entered and slew two of the attackers.[1]
During their time at Maidenpool, Prince Daemon Targaryen and Nettles, the dragonriders of Caraxes and Sheepstealer, had a close relationship, as Daemon showed Nettles how to wash herself properly, with the maidservants reporting they often shared a single tub, washing each other.[6]
Recent Events
A Clash of Kings
During their journey from King's Landing to the Wall, Yoren's last Night's Watch recruitment group stops at a ivy-covered inn, where Yoren encourages his troupe to make use of the inn's bathhouse, where Tarber and Dobber are among those who choose to take a bath, which is interrupted by a group of gold cloaks carrying an arrest warrant for Gendry.[7] When Yoren's band to announce their resistance, Dobber comes naked out of the bathhouse asking "Is it a fight?", but the gold cloaks end up retreating without violence breaking out.[7]
When Arya Stark is brought to Harrenhal by Ser Gregor Clegane's men together with other prisoners, Goodwife Amabel and Goodwife Harra supervise the process of their cleaning in the bathhouse and give the captives their assignments.[8]
Arya finds Jaqen H'ghar relaxing in Harrenhal's bathhouse when she whispers him a second name to kill, Weese.[2] Arya later sees a raven arriving at the rookery while traveling to the bathhouse.[9]
A Storm of Swords
While they are held at Harrenhal, Ser Jaime Lannister and Brienne of Tarth share a bath in the bathhouse, a low-ceilinged room filled with great stone tubs large enough to hold six or seven, where a feverish and rambling Jaime divulges to her the events surrounding the Sack of King's Landing, including King Aerys II Targaryen's wildfire plot.[3] Brienne later remembers Jaime as "looking half a corpse and half a god".[10]
Jon Snow takes a wormway from the armory to the bathhouse of Castle Black, where he overhears Ser Alliser Thorne and Bowen Marsh mentioning that Lord Tywin Lannister, the Hand of the King, sent a letter backing Janos Slynt's rise to Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.[4]
Quotes
The bathhouse had been thick with the steam rising off the water, and Jaime had come walking through that mist naked as his name day, looking half a corpse and half a god.[10]
—thoughts of Brienne of Tarth
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 38, Arya VIII.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 37, Jaime V.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 79, Jon XII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 56, Bran IV.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - Rhaenyra Triumphant.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 5, Arya II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 26, Arya VI.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 64, Arya X.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 9, Brienne II.