A swan ship is a large ocean-going vessel designed and built in the Summer Isles.
Shape
The ships of the Summer Islanders have billowing white sails,[1] tall masts,[2] and tall, curved prows carved into the shapes of birds and beasts.[3] [1] Westerosi refer to them as swan ships because the prow resembles the neck of a swan, hence their being known as "swan ships". The ships are joined together without the use of nails, and have multiple interior walls of rare hardwoods allegedly strengthened with magic, so strong that that the rams of enemy ships would crack and break rather than pierce them. As swift as they were strong, her ships oft sported tall curved prows carved into the shapes of birds and beasts. These "swan necks" won them the sobriquet of "swan ships."
Swan ships sail well and are faster than galleys, but are helpless when becalmed.[1]
History
Swan ships are believed to have been developed by Xanda Qo in part to make a solid platform for archers, and most swan ships are built on the isle of Koj. Each ship is protected by archers wielding goldenheart bows, so they are rarely attacked by slavers.[3]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Catelyn Stark sees a swan ship when the Storm Dancer arrives at King's Landing.[4]
A Feast for Crows
There are swan ships in the Ragman's Harbor when Arya Stark arrives at Braavos aboard the Titan's Daughter.[5]
Samwell Tarly sails aboard the Cinnamon Wind, a swan ship captained by Quhuru Mo, when he travels from Braavos to Oldtown.[1] Archmaester Marwyn intends to take the same ship to Meereen to meet Daenerys Targaryen.[6]
A Dance with Dragons
Quentyn Martell notices swan ships at Volantis.[7]
Quotes
A high-masted swan ship from the Summer Isles was beating out from port, its white sails huge with wind.[4]
—thoughts of Catelyn Stark
Her favorites were the Summer Islanders, with their skins as smooth and dark as teak. They wore feathered cloaks of red and green and yellow, and the tall masts and white sails of their swan ships were magnificent.[2]
—thoughts of Arya Stark
"Swan ships," the great vessels from the Summer Isles were called in the Seven Kingdoms, for their billowing white sails and for their figureheads, most of which depicted birds. Large as they were, they rode the waves with a grace that was all their own.[1]
—thoughts of Samwell Tarly
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 35, Samwell IV.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 34, Cat Of The Canals.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: The Summer Isles.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 18, Catelyn IV.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 6, Arya I.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 45, Samwell V.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 6, The Merchant's Man.