The Womb of the World is a large lake that lies just west of Vaes Dothrak and the Mother of Mountains within the Dothraki sea of central Essos.[1] It is a holy place to the Dothraki people.[2]
Geography
The Womb of the World has cool and clean waters[3] and is surrounded by a fringe of tall reeds.[2] The Dothraki believe it has no bottom, though the lake bottom is actually muddy.[2] A river runs from the lake north through the Kingdom of the Ifequevron to the Shivering Sea.[1]
Culture
According to Dothraki legends, the first man emerged from the depths of the Womb of the World, riding on the back of the first horse a thousand thousand years ago.[2] Merchant caravans are allowed to visit the Western Market of Vaes Dothrak as long as they do not profane the Mother of Mountains or the Womb of the World.[2]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
After eating the heart of a stallion as part of a ceremony for her child, Daenerys Targaryen rides to the lake and bathes naked to remove the blood. Afterwards she has sex with Khal Drogo on the grassy shore.[2]
A Clash of Kings
Within the House of the Undying in Qarth, Daenerys has a vision of a line of naked crones creeping from a great lake beneath the Mother of Mountains and kneeling before her.[4]
Quotes
They rode to the lake the Dothraki called the Womb of the World, surrounded by a fringe of reeds, its water still and calm. A thousand thousand years ago, Jhiqui told her, the first man had emerged from its depths, riding upon the back of the first horse.[2]
—thoughts of Daenerys Targaryen
Dany cupped her fingers and lifted the sacred waters over her head, cleansing herself and the child inside her while the khal and the others looked on.[2]
—thoughts of Daenerys Targaryen
Remember, Drogo. Remember our first ride together, the day we wed. Remember the night we made Rhaego, with the khalasar all around us and your eyes on my face. Remember how cool and clean the water was in the Womb of the World. Remember, my sun-and-stars. Remember, and come back to me.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Lands of Ice and Fire, Central Essos.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 46, Daenerys V.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 68, Daenerys IX.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 48, Daenerys IV.