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[[File:Godswood Noth by Kim Pope.jpg|thumb|350px|Godswood. Art By Kim Pope, for ''[[Game of Thrones]]'']]
 
[[File:Godswood Noth by Kim Pope.jpg|thumb|350px|Godswood. Art By Kim Pope, for ''[[Game of Thrones]]'']]
A '''godswood''' is usually a small wooded area within the walls of castles throughout the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. It is primarily used as a place of worship by those who carry on the traditions of the [[First Men]] and pray to the [[old gods]]. To followers of the [[Faith of the Seven]], some of whom belong to families that converted to the Faith throughout the centuries, they are treated as a private wooded area of solitude.{{ref|AGOT|2}}
+
A '''godswood''' is usually a small wooded area within the walls of castles throughout the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. It is primarily used as a place of worship by those who carry on the traditions of the [[First Men]] and pray to the [[old gods]]. To followers of the [[Faith of the Seven]], some of whom belong to families that converted to the Faith throughout the centuries, they are treated as a private wooded area of solitude.{{Ref|AGOT|2}}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
[[File:Rafal Hrynkiewicz Godswood Attendant.png|thumb|350px|Godswood attendant - by artist Rafal Hrynkiewicz . © Fantasy Flight Games.]]
+
[[File:Rafal Hrynkiewicz Godswood Attendant.png|thumb|350px|Godswood attendant - by artist Rafal Hrynkiewicz © Fantasy Flight Games]]
When the First Men took up the [[old gods]] of the [[children of the forest]], they created godswoods, groves within their castles and villages where a single [[weirwood]], known as a "[[heart tree]]" and carved with a face, was planted so the gods could be worshipped. In the [[north]] every castle has a weirwood heart tree with a face. South of the [[Neck]], however, most weirwoods were cut down or burnt years ago.{{Ref|aGoT|2}} There is a significant number on the [[Isle of Faces]], however, and many [[southron]] castles still have weirwoods within their godswoods.{{ref|TWOIAF| The Arrival of the Andals}}
+
When the First Men took up the [[old gods]] of the [[children of the forest]], they created godswoods, groves within their castles and villages where a single [[weirwood]], known as a "[[heart tree]]" and carved with a face, was planted so the gods could be worshipped. In the [[north]] every castle has a weirwood heart tree with a face. South of the [[Neck]], however, most weirwoods were cut down or burnt years ago.{{Ref|aGoT|2}} There is a significant number on the [[Isle of Faces]], however, and many [[southron]] castles still have weirwoods within their godswoods.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Arrival of the Andals}}
  
 
==Locations==
 
==Locations==
  
 
===Casterly Rock===
 
===Casterly Rock===
[[Casterly Rock]] in the [[westerlands]] contains the Stone Garden with a twisted weirwood.{{ref|ADWD|48}}{{ref|TWOIAF| Casterly Rock}}
+
In the [[westerlands]], [[Casterly Rock]]'s godswood is a cave within the mountain, called the Stone Garden. It contains a twisted weirwood, whose tangled roots have almost filled the cave, choking out all other growth.{{Ref|ADWD|48}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Westerlands: Casterly Rock}}
  
 
===Darry===
 
===Darry===
Shortly before winter is declared, the godswood at [[Darry]] in the [[riverlands]] contains bare trees with black branches reaching the sky.{{ref|AFFC|30}}
+
Shortly before winter is declared, the godswood at [[Darry]] in the [[riverlands]] contains bare trees with black branches reaching the sky.{{Ref|AFFC|30}}
  
 
===Deepwood Motte===
 
===Deepwood Motte===
The godswood of [[Deepwood Motte]] in the north is frequented by the pious Lady [[Sybelle Glover]].{{ref|ADWD|26}}
+
The godswood of [[Deepwood Motte]] in the north is frequented by the pious Lady [[Sybelle Glover]].{{Ref|ADWD|26}}
  
 
===Eyrie===
 
===Eyrie===
The [[Eyrie]] in the [[Vale of Arryn]] contains a godswood but no heart tree.{{ref|AFFC|41}} It is more garden than godswood, as the ground is too thin and stony for a weirwood to grow. Instead, there is a statue of a weeping woman at its center.{{ref|ASOS|80}}
+
The [[Eyrie]] in the [[Vale of Arryn]] contains a godswood but no heart tree.{{Ref|AFFC|41}} It is more garden than godswood, as the ground is too thin and stony for a weirwood to grow. Instead, there is a statue of a weeping woman at its center.{{Ref|ASOS|80}}
  
 
===Harrenhal===
 
===Harrenhal===
The godswood at [[Harrenhal]] in the riverlands covers twenty acres.{{ref|ACOK|30}} Besides a weirwood heart tree with a terrible face, it contains pines, [[sentinel]]s, and a little stream. Bats hunt at night.{{ref|ACOK|47}}
+
The godswood at [[Harrenhal]] in the riverlands covers twenty acres.{{Ref|ACOK|30}} Besides a weirwood heart tree with a terrible face, it contains pines, [[sentinel]]s, and a little stream. Bats hunt at night.{{Ref|ACOK|47}}
  
 
===Highgarden===
 
===Highgarden===
Although [[Garth IX Gardener]], [[King of the Reach]], built the first sept of Highgarden, he continued to pray within the castle's godswood.{{ref|TWOIAF| Andals in the Reach}} The lush godswood contains three weirwoods, said by some to have been planted by [[Garth Greenhand]].{{ref|TWOIAF| Highgarden}}
+
Although [[Garth IX Gardener]], [[King of the Reach]], built the first [[sept]] of [[Highgarden]], he continued to pray within the castle's godswood.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: Andals in the Reach}} The lush godswood contains three weirwoods, said by some to have been planted by [[Garth Greenhand]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reach: Highgarden}}
  
 
===Raventree Hall===
 
===Raventree Hall===
 
[[File:Elena-Vacas-raventreehallweirwood.jpg|thumb|400px|The godswood of Raventree Hall, with its enormous weirwood and hundreds of ravens - by [https://www.artstation.com/artist/ab3nd Elena María Vacas]]]
 
[[File:Elena-Vacas-raventreehallweirwood.jpg|thumb|400px|The godswood of Raventree Hall, with its enormous weirwood and hundreds of ravens - by [https://www.artstation.com/artist/ab3nd Elena María Vacas]]]
The godswood of [[Raventree Hall]] in the riverlands contains trees said to be as old as the castle's towers. Its weirwood heart tree, although dead, is colossal and can be seen from leagues away. Hundreds of ravens have roosted on the tree at night for thousands of years. The godswood also contains a statue of [[Melissa Blackwood]].{{ref|ADWD|48}}
+
The godswood of [[Raventree Hall]] in the riverlands contains trees said to be as old as the castle's towers. Its weirwood heart tree, although dead, is colossal and can be seen from leagues away. Hundreds of ravens have roosted on the tree at night for thousands of years. The godswood also contains a statue of [[Melissa Blackwood]].{{Ref|ADWD|48}}
  
 
===Red Keep===
 
===Red Keep===
The godswood at the [[Red Keep]], the castle of [[King's Landing]] in the [[crownlands]], overlooks the [[Blackwater Rush]]. It is an acre of elm, alder, and black cottonwood. Unlike the weirwoods of older godswoods, the Red Keep's heart tree is a great oak covered in [[smokeberry]] vines. Red [[dragon's breath]] grows below the oak.{{ref|AGOT|25}}
+
The godswood at the [[Red Keep]], the castle of [[King's Landing]] in the [[crownlands]], overlooks the [[Blackwater Rush]]. It is an acre of elm, alder, and black cottonwood. Unlike the weirwoods of older godswoods, the Red Keep's heart tree is a great [[oak]] covered in [[smokeberry]] vines. Red [[dragon's breath]] grows below the oak.{{Ref|AGOT|25}}
  
 
===Riverrun===
 
===Riverrun===
The godswood at [[Riverrun]] in the riverlands is a bright and airy garden. Full of birds and flowers, it consists of tall redwoods and old elms overlooking streams.{{Ref|aGoT|2}} Its heart tree is a slender weirwood with a sad face.{{ref|AGOT|71}}
+
The godswood at [[Riverrun]] in the riverlands is a bright and airy garden. Full of birds and flowers, it consists of tall redwoods and old elms overlooking streams.{{Ref|aGoT|2}} Its heart tree is a slender weirwood with a sad face.{{Ref|AGOT|71}}
  
 
===Storm's End===
 
===Storm's End===
The godswood at [[Storm's End]] in the [[stormlands]], including its solemn-faced weirwood heart tree, is burned by [[Stannis Baratheon]] as an offering to the [[Lord of Light]].{{ref|ASOS|5}}
+
The godswood at [[Storm's End]] in the [[stormlands]], including its solemn-faced weirwood heart tree, is burned by [[Stannis Baratheon]] as an offering to the [[Lord of Light]].{{Ref|ASOS|5}}
  
 
===Whispers===
 
===Whispers===
The ruins of the [[Whispers]] in the crownlands are overgrown with [[soldier pine]]s, amidst which is a slender young weirwood.{{ref|AFFC|20}}
+
The ruins of the [[Whispers]] in the crownlands are overgrown with [[soldier pine]]s, amidst which is a slender young weirwood.{{Ref|AFFC|20}}
  
 
===White Harbor===
 
===White Harbor===
The city of [[White Harbor]] in the north contains a godswood within the [[Wolf's Den]]. The godswood is a brooding tangle of root, branch, and stone,{{ref|ADWD|15}} made up of oaks, elms, and birch. Its weirwood heart tree is massive, with branches breaching walls and windows and an angry carved face.{{ref|ADWD|29}}
+
The city of [[White Harbor]] in the north contains a godswood within the [[Wolf's Den]]. The godswood is a brooding tangle of root, branch, and stone,{{Ref|ADWD|15}} made up of oaks, elms, and birch. Its weirwood heart tree is massive, with branches breaching walls and windows and an angry carved face.{{Ref|ADWD|29}}
  
 
===Winterfell===
 
===Winterfell===
[[File:Eddard Godswood.jpg|400px|thumb|[[Eddard Stark]] in the godswood at [[Winterfell]] - by Amok ©]]
+
[[File:Eddard Godswood.jpg|thumb|400px|[[Eddard Stark]] in the godswood at [[Winterfell]] - by Amok ©]]
The [[godswood of Winterfell]] in the north is a dark, primal place of three acres of old forest untouched for ten thousand years. It primarily consists of [[sentinel]]s, oaks, and [[ironwood]]s,{{Ref|aGoT|2}} but also has ash, chestnuts, elms, hawthorn, and [[soldier pines]].{{ref|ACOK|49}}{{ref|ADWD|37}} In the center is a small, dark, and cold pool with an ancient weirwood heart tree. The weirwood has bark white as bone, dark red leaves, and a long and melancholy face carved in the bark, its deep-cut eyes red with dried sap. A thousand years of humus covers the earth.{{Ref|aGoT|2}} Across the godswood, below the windows of Winterfell's Guest House, three small ponds are fed by an underground hot spring.{{ref|AGOT|53}}
+
The [[godswood of Winterfell]] in the north is a dark, primal place of three acres of old forest untouched for ten thousand years. It primarily consists of [[sentinel]]s, oaks, and [[ironwood]]s,{{Ref|aGoT|2}} but also has ash, chestnuts, elms, hawthorn, and [[soldier pines]].{{Ref|ACOK|49}}{{Ref|ADWD|37}} In the center is a small, dark, and cold pool with an ancient weirwood heart tree. The weirwood has bark white as bone, dark red leaves, and a long and melancholy face carved in the bark, its deep-cut eyes red with dried sap. A thousand years of humus covers the earth.{{Ref|aGoT|2}} Across the godswood, below the windows of Winterfell's Guest House, three small ponds are fed by an underground hot spring.{{Ref|AGOT|53}}
  
 
==Quotes about godswoods==
 
==Quotes about godswoods==
{{quote|There was something wild about a godswood; even here, in the heart of [[Red Keep|the castle]] at the heart of [[King's Landing|the city]], you could feel the [[old gods]] watching with a thousand unseen eyes.{{ref|ACOK|18}}|thoughts of [[Sansa Stark]]}}
+
{{Quote|There was something wild about a godswood; even here, in the heart of [[Red Keep|the castle]] at the heart of [[King's Landing|the city]], you could feel the [[old gods]] watching with a thousand unseen eyes.{{Ref|ACOK|18}}|thoughts of [[Sansa Stark]]}}
  
{{quote|There is a power in living wood, a power strong as fire.{{ref|ACOK|69}}|[[Jojen Reed]] to [[Bran Stark]]}}
+
{{Quote|There is a power in living wood, a power strong as fire.{{ref|ACOK|69}}|[[Jojen Reed]] to [[Bran Stark]]}}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
{{references|3}}
+
{{References|3}}
  
[[Category:Forests]]
 
 
[[Category:Old gods]]
 
[[Category:Old gods]]
 +
[[Category:Terms]]
 
[[Category:Westeros]]
 
[[Category:Westeros]]
  
 
[[es:Bosque de Dioses]]
 
[[es:Bosque de Dioses]]
 
[[fr:Bois sacré]]
 
[[fr:Bois sacré]]
 +
[[nl:Godenwouden]]
 +
[[pt:Bosque Sagrado]]
 
[[ru:Богороща]]
 
[[ru:Богороща]]
 
[[zh:神木林]]
 
[[zh:神木林]]

Revision as of 23:51, 17 July 2022

Godswood. Art By Kim Pope, for Game of Thrones

A godswood is usually a small wooded area within the walls of castles throughout the Seven Kingdoms. It is primarily used as a place of worship by those who carry on the traditions of the First Men and pray to the old gods. To followers of the Faith of the Seven, some of whom belong to families that converted to the Faith throughout the centuries, they are treated as a private wooded area of solitude.[1]

History

Godswood attendant - by artist Rafal Hrynkiewicz © Fantasy Flight Games

When the First Men took up the old gods of the children of the forest, they created godswoods, groves within their castles and villages where a single weirwood, known as a "heart tree" and carved with a face, was planted so the gods could be worshipped. In the north every castle has a weirwood heart tree with a face. South of the Neck, however, most weirwoods were cut down or burnt years ago.[1] There is a significant number on the Isle of Faces, however, and many southron castles still have weirwoods within their godswoods.[2]

Locations

Casterly Rock

In the westerlands, Casterly Rock's godswood is a cave within the mountain, called the Stone Garden. It contains a twisted weirwood, whose tangled roots have almost filled the cave, choking out all other growth.[3][4]

Darry

Shortly before winter is declared, the godswood at Darry in the riverlands contains bare trees with black branches reaching the sky.[5]

Deepwood Motte

The godswood of Deepwood Motte in the north is frequented by the pious Lady Sybelle Glover.[6]

Eyrie

The Eyrie in the Vale of Arryn contains a godswood but no heart tree.[7] It is more garden than godswood, as the ground is too thin and stony for a weirwood to grow. Instead, there is a statue of a weeping woman at its center.[8]

Harrenhal

The godswood at Harrenhal in the riverlands covers twenty acres.[9] Besides a weirwood heart tree with a terrible face, it contains pines, sentinels, and a little stream. Bats hunt at night.[10]

Highgarden

Although Garth IX Gardener, King of the Reach, built the first sept of Highgarden, he continued to pray within the castle's godswood.[11] The lush godswood contains three weirwoods, said by some to have been planted by Garth Greenhand.[12]

Raventree Hall

The godswood of Raventree Hall, with its enormous weirwood and hundreds of ravens - by Elena María Vacas

The godswood of Raventree Hall in the riverlands contains trees said to be as old as the castle's towers. Its weirwood heart tree, although dead, is colossal and can be seen from leagues away. Hundreds of ravens have roosted on the tree at night for thousands of years. The godswood also contains a statue of Melissa Blackwood.[3]

Red Keep

The godswood at the Red Keep, the castle of King's Landing in the crownlands, overlooks the Blackwater Rush. It is an acre of elm, alder, and black cottonwood. Unlike the weirwoods of older godswoods, the Red Keep's heart tree is a great oak covered in smokeberry vines. Red dragon's breath grows below the oak.[13]

Riverrun

The godswood at Riverrun in the riverlands is a bright and airy garden. Full of birds and flowers, it consists of tall redwoods and old elms overlooking streams.[1] Its heart tree is a slender weirwood with a sad face.[14]

Storm's End

The godswood at Storm's End in the stormlands, including its solemn-faced weirwood heart tree, is burned by Stannis Baratheon as an offering to the Lord of Light.[15]

Whispers

The ruins of the Whispers in the crownlands are overgrown with soldier pines, amidst which is a slender young weirwood.[16]

White Harbor

The city of White Harbor in the north contains a godswood within the Wolf's Den. The godswood is a brooding tangle of root, branch, and stone,[17] made up of oaks, elms, and birch. Its weirwood heart tree is massive, with branches breaching walls and windows and an angry carved face.[18]

Winterfell

Eddard Stark in the godswood at Winterfell - by Amok ©

The godswood of Winterfell in the north is a dark, primal place of three acres of old forest untouched for ten thousand years. It primarily consists of sentinels, oaks, and ironwoods,[1] but also has ash, chestnuts, elms, hawthorn, and soldier pines.[19][20] In the center is a small, dark, and cold pool with an ancient weirwood heart tree. The weirwood has bark white as bone, dark red leaves, and a long and melancholy face carved in the bark, its deep-cut eyes red with dried sap. A thousand years of humus covers the earth.[1] Across the godswood, below the windows of Winterfell's Guest House, three small ponds are fed by an underground hot spring.[21]

Quotes about godswoods

There was something wild about a godswood; even here, in the heart of the castle at the heart of the city, you could feel the old gods watching with a thousand unseen eyes.[22]

—thoughts of Sansa Stark

There is a power in living wood, a power strong as fire.[23]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 2, Catelyn I.
  2. The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Arrival of the Andals.
  3. 3.0 3.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 48, Jaime I.
  4. The World of Ice & Fire, The Westerlands: Casterly Rock.
  5. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 30, Jaime IV.
  6. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 26, The Wayward Bride.
  7. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 41, Alayne II.
  8. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 80, Sansa VII.
  9. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 30, Arya VII.
  10. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 47, Arya IX.
  11. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: Andals in the Reach.
  12. The World of Ice & Fire, The Reach: Highgarden.
  13. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 25, Eddard V.
  14. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 71, Catelyn XI.
  15. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 5, Davos I.
  16. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 20, Brienne IV.
  17. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 15, Davos II.
  18. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 29, Davos IV.
  19. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 49, Tyrion XI.
  20. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 37, The Prince of Winterfell.
  21. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 53, Bran VI.
  22. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 18, Sansa II.
  23. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 69, Bran VII.