Pigeons and doves are birds similar to the real-life animals.
Culture
Pigeons are known for their large eggs.[1][2][3][4]
Pigeons and doves can be cooked into pies.[5][6][7][8] Skewered pigeon can also be served.[9] Pigeon can be included in bowls of brown in Flea Bottom.[10][11]
Great pies for wedding feasts can be filled with doves and songbirds, with the birds flying away after the pie is cut.[12][8]
History
Since doves and pigeons can carry messages, the peaceful King Baelor I Targaryen attempted to have the maesters of the Citadel replace their messenger ravens with doves;[13] the debacle is included in Archmaester Walgrave's Black Wings, Swift Words.[14] Baelor also claimed to have seen a child speaking with doves that answered him in the voice of men and women. Baelor believed the birds spoke with the voices of the Seven, so the king convinced the Most Devout to choose the child as the new High Septon.[14]
Pigeons and doves were part of the great pie at the wedding at Whitewalls.[12]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Arya Stark, living on the streets of King's Landing after escaping the arrest of Eddard Stark, learns to knock down pigeons with a stick. She eats some raw and sells others to shops in Flea Bottom.[11]
A Clash of Kings
Skewers of pigeon and capon are served during the harvest feast at Winterfell.[9]
A Storm of Swords
A hundred doves are baked into a great pie for the wedding of King Joffrey I Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell.[15] The royal couple cut the pie with a greatsword, allowing the birds to escape during the wedding feast.[8] Cooked and spiced pigeon pies are served during the celebration.[8]
A Dance with Dragons
Paezhar zo Myraq is mocked as the "Little Pigeon" by the Windblown.[16]
The Iron Fleet captures a Myrish cog named Dove in Slaver's Bay.[17]
Quotes
Doves and pigeons can also be trained to carry messages, though the raven is a stronger flyer, larger, bolder, far more clever, better able to defend itself against hawks ... yet ravens are black, and they eat the dead, so some godly men abhor them. Baelor the Blessed tried to replace all the ravens with doves, did you know? The Night's Watch prefers ravens.[13]
She took a deep breath and stepped closer to the pigeon. It was a plump one, speckled brown, busily pecking at a crust that had fallen between two cobblestones, but when Arya's shadow touched it, it took to the air.[11]
—thoughts of Arya Stark
Joffrey and Margaery joined hands to lift the greatsword and swung it down together in a silvery arc. When the piecrust broke, the doves burst forth in a swirl of white feathers, scattering in every direction, flapping for the windows and the rafters. A roar of delight went up from the benches, and the fiddlers and pipers in the gallery began to play a sprightly tune.[8]
—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister
References
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 27, Eddard VI.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 41, Jon V.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 49, Eddard XIV.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 27, Jaime III.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 24, Bran IV.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 29, Sansa II.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 28, Bran IV.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 60, Tyrion VIII.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 21, Bran III.
- ↑ The Sworn Sword.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 65, Arya V.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 The Mystery Knight.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 60, Jon VIII.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 12, Tyrion II.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 25, The Windblown.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 63, Victarion I.