The Sand Snakes or sand snakes[1] are the bastard daughters of Prince Oberyn Martell.[2][3] The collective name references the Dornish bastard surname, Sand, and their father's nickname, the Red Viper. Oberyn's eight daughters have been born to five different mothers.[4] While they differ in appearance, they are said to all have their father's "viper eyes", no matter what color they are.[2]
The Sand Snakes
[edit]In birth order, Oberyn Martell's daughters are:[4]
- Obara Sand, daughter by a whore from Oldtown (b. 271 AC or 272 AC)
- Nymeria Sand, also known as Lady Nym, daughter by a Volantene noblewoman (b. 274 AC or 275 AC)
- Tyene Sand, daughter by a septa (b. 276 AC or 277 AC)
- Sarella Sand, daughter by a trader from the Summer Isles (b. 280 AC or 281 AC)
- Elia Sand, also known as Lady Lance, eldest daughter by his long-time paramour, Ellaria Sand (b. 285 AC or 286 AC)
- Obella Sand, second daughter by Ellaria (b. 287 AC or 288 AC)
- Dorea Sand, third daughter by Ellaria (b. 291 AC or 292 AC)
- Loreza Sand, fourth daughter by Ellaria (b. 293 AC)
Recent Events
[edit]A Feast for Crows
[edit]The three eldest Sand Snakes—Obara, Nymeria, and Tyene—try to stir Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne, into declaring war against the Iron Throne in revenge for the death of their father, Oberyn Martell, at the hands of Ser Gregor Clegane in King's Landing. Doran orders his captain of guards, Areo Hotah, to take all Sand Snakes into custody, however. While the youngest Sand Snakes pose no threat, Doran wants to prevent anyone from using them against him. Sarella remains free, however, because she is outside of Dorne, and Doran says to leave her to her "game".[2]
Obara, Nym, and Tyene are confined to cells in the Spear Tower of Sunspear.[5] Elia, Obella, Dorea, and Loreza are secluded in the Water Gardens along with their mother, Ellaria Sand.[6] Doran's daughter, Princess Arianne Martell, plans to crown Princess Myrcella Baratheon and then free the Sand Snakes. Her plot is halted by Areo at the Greenblood, however.[7]
A Dance with Dragons
[edit]Obara, Nym, Tyene, and their cousin, Arianne, are released from captivity and are present at the feast in which the Mountain's skull is presented to the Dornish court.[3]
Prince Quentyn Martell, Doran's heir, remembers his cousins' sharp, mocking smiles.[8]
Quotes
[edit]
His tourneys, his battles, his duels, his horses, his carnality ... it was said that he bedded men and women both, and had begotten bastard girls all over Dorne. The sand snakes, men called his daughters. So far as Tyrion had heard, Prince Oberyn had never fathered a son.[1]
—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister
All of Prince Oberyn's daughters have his viper eyes, Hotah realized suddenly. The color does not matter.[2]
—thoughts of Areo Hotah
It would gladden my heart if I could assure you that the Sand Snakes were alone in wanting war, but I will not tell you lies, ser.[5]
Arianne: Are you certain you are not off to some other bed, some other woman? Tell me who she is. I will fight her for you, bare-breasted, knife to knife. Unless she is a Sand Snake. If so, we can share you. I love my cousins well.
Arys: You know I have no other woman. Only ... duty.[5]
Arianne loved all her bastard cousins, from prickly, hot-tempered Obara to little Loreza, the youngest, only six years old. Tyene had always been the one she loved the most, though; the sweet sister that she never had.[6]
—thoughts of Arianne Martell
If you would wed, wed. If not, take your pleasure where you find it. There's little enough of it in this world. Choose well, though. If you saddle yourself with a fool or a brute, don't look to me to rid you of him. I gave you the tools to do that for yourself.[6]
—Oberyn Martell to his daughters
Family
[edit]
References
[edit]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 38, Tyrion V.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 2, The Captain Of Guards.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 38, The Watcher.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 A Feast for Crows, Appendix.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 13, The Soiled Knight.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 40, Princess In The Tower.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 21, The Queenmaker.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 6, The Merchant's Man.