Cattle are domesticated mammals similar to the real-life animal. Aurochs are a type of wild cattle.
Culture
[edit]Female cattle are called cows, intact males are called bulls, castrated males are called oxen, and young animals of either sex are called calves. Cattle are used for meat and dairy, for leather, and as draft animals. Cows owned by the Night's Watch are milked by the order of stewards.[1] Salt beef is often included in the provisions of the Watch.[2][3]
An ox is included in the arms of House Prester,[4] and a bull's skull is depicted in those of House Bulwer.[5] Ser Buford Bulwer, the Old Ox, wore a helm with black bull's horns.[6] House Bullock served at Dragonstone.[7]
There is a temple dedicated to Aquan the Red Bull in Braavos.[8] The Stone Cow is worshiped at Faros.[9] Bullocks are among the animals sacrificed to the Black Goat in Qohor.[10]
The chair of the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard at White Sword Tower has cushions of blanched cowhide.[11]
Oxen are used to turn the winch at the Eyrie.[12]
Oxcross is a village near Casterly Rock.[13]
History
[edit]When the First Men spread throughout Westeros, they brought with them cattle which the children of the forest considered strange.[14]
The bones of oxen have been found in the Bone Mountains.[15]
Fees for oxen were included in the gate fee imposed on King's Landing by Lord Rego Draz.[16]
During the Dance of the Dragons, the Blackwoods drove off sheep and cattle from the lands of Brackens.[17] Ser Criston Cole put the sheep and cattle of Rook's Rest to the sword.[17]
Mushroom mocked the Maiden's Day Ball as the Maiden's Day Cattle Show.[18]
Rohanne Webber, Lady of Coldmoat, claimed that the Durwells lived by stealing cattle.[19] Ser Maynard Plumm mocked the Butterwells as being cattle thieves.[6]
Ser Gerold Hightower, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, was known as the White Bull.[20]
Recent Events
[edit]A Game of Thrones
[edit]
The Stone Crows cook an ox the night before the battle on the Green Fork.[4]
A Clash of Kings
[edit]Gendry is called the Bull by Lommy[21] because of the steel helm he had crafted, which is shaped like a bull's head with two great curving horns.[22]
Wolfpacks hunt sheep and cows around the Gods Eye.[23]
After the Battle of Oxcross, Lady Maege Mormont captures thousands of cattle in the westerlands and drives them towards Riverrun.[24]
During the Battle of the Blackwater, oxen within two winch towers raise the great chain to block the Blackwater Rush.[25]
The Lord of Bones includes cow bones in the armor of himself and his horse.[26]
In Qarth, Xaro Xhoan Daxos gives Daenerys Targaryen a palanquin and a matched set of bullocks to carry it. One animal is white and the other black, and their horns are inlaid with jewels.[9]
A Storm of Swords
[edit]Jon Snow sees oxen plodding along the banks of the Milkwater while with the free folk.[27]
Lannisters kill the dozen milk cows at a septry in the riverlands.[28]
When Robb Stark, King in the North, marches from Riverrun to the Twins, his host brings herds of sheep, goats, and scrawny cattle.[29]
A Feast for Crows
[edit]Brienne Tarth sees numerous oxcarts as she travels through the crownlands and the riverlands.[30][31][32]
A Dance with Dragons
[edit]Rhaegal gnaws on a bull's carcass in the pit of the Great Pyramid.[33] Some of the Brazen Beasts wear bull masks in Meereen.[34] A bull is made to fight a bear in Daznak's Pit.[34] The Pit of Ghrazz is filled with bullocks to tempt Drogon to return to the city.[35]
Quotes
[edit]Kyle: Lord Butterwell is said to have the best wines north of the Arbor. He was once the King's Hand, as his father's father was before him, and he is said to be a pious man besides, and very rich.
Maynard: His wealth is all from cows. He ought to take a swollen udder for his arms. These Butterwells have milk running in their veins, and the Freys are no better. This will be a marriage of cattle thieves and toll collectors, one lot of coin clinkers joining with another.[6]
We should have stayed well out of all this bloody foolishness if you ask me, but once the cow's been milked there's no squirting the cream back up her udder.[36]
Kraznys: Do they eat dogs or horse in these Seven Kingdoms?
Missandei: They prefer pigs and cows, your worship.
Kraznys: Beef. Pfag. Food for unwashed savages.[37]
Stannis: Sacrifice ... is never easy, Davos. Or it is no true sacrifice. Tell him, my lady.
Melisandre: Azor Ahai tempered Lightbringer with the heart's blood of his own beloved wife. If a man with a thousand cows gives one to god, that is nothing. But a man who offers the only cow he owns ...
Davos: She talks of cows. I am speaking of a boy, your daughter's friend, your brother's son.[38]
References
[edit]- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 41, Jon V.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 51, Jon VI.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 75, Samwell IV.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 56, Tyrion VII.
- ↑ The Citadel. Heraldry: Houses in the Reach
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 The Mystery Knight.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, A Surfeit of Rulers.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 64, The Ugly Little Girl.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 40, Daenerys III.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Qohor.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 67, Jaime VIII.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 41, Alayne II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 32, Sansa III.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Coming of the First Men.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Bones and Beyond.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Fire & Blood, The Dying of the Dragons - The Red Dragon and the Gold.
- ↑ Fire & Blood, Under the Regents - War and Peace and Cattle Shows.
- ↑ The Sworn Sword.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 8, Bran II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 1, Arya I.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 27, Eddard VI.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 5, Arya II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 39, Catelyn V.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 59, Tyrion XIII.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 68, Jon VIII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 7, Jon I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 39, Arya VII.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 45, Catelyn V.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 4, Brienne I.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 9, Brienne II.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 14, Brienne III.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 50, Daenerys VIII.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 52, Daenerys IX.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 70, The Queen's Hand.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 6, Sansa I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 23, Daenerys II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 63, Davos VI.