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{{Heraldry
The '''rat cook''' is the subject of legends and myths in the [[Seven Kingdoms]].
 
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|image = Crow shield icon.png
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|link = Night's Watch}}{{Character
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|Title = The Rat Cook
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|Season = [[Season 3|3]]
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|Mentioned = "[[Mhysa]]"
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|Status= [[:Category:Status: Dead|Deceased]]
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|Place = [[Nightfort]]
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|Allegiance =[[Night's Watch]]}}
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{{Quote|It wasn't for murder the gods cursed the Rat Cook, or for serving the King's son in a pie... he killed a guest beneath his roof... that's something the gods can't forgive.|[[Bran Stark]]|Mhysa}}
 
The '''Rat Cook''' is the subject of legends and myths in the [[Seven Kingdoms]].
   
According to these legends, a king once paid a visit on the [[Nightfort]], then the chief castle on [[the Wall]]. The king insulted the food of the castle's cook. Incensed with rage, the cook killed the king's son and served his flesh in a pie to the unknowing king. The king enjoyed the pie so much he asked for a second helping.
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According to these legends, a King once paid a visit to the [[Nightfort]], then the chief castle on [[the Wall]]. Due to some offense by the king,<ref>[[Bran Stark]] said he couldn't remember the exact reason when he recounts the tale.</ref> the cook killed the king's son and served his flesh in a pie to the unknowing king. The king enjoyed the pie so much he asked for a second helping.
   
The gods cursed the cook by turning him into a fat, white rat which could only survive by feasting on its young. He was condemned to run the halls of the Nightfort. The gods were not offended by the murder or even the cooking of the prince, but by the cook breaking the [[Guest right|laws of hospitality and protection]], which are held to be sacred above all others.<ref>''[[Mhysa]]''</ref>
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The gods cursed the cook by turning him into a fat, white rat which could only survive by feasting on its own young. He was condemned to run the halls of the Nightfort, eating his own offspring. The gods were not offended by the murder, nor even by cooking the son and feeding him to his own father, for a man has a right to vengeance. What the gods could not forgive and cursed the cook for was that he broke the [[Guest right|laws of hospitality and protection]], which are held to be sacred above all others.<ref>"[[Mhysa]]"</ref>
   
 
==In the books==
 
==In the books==
The story is much the same in the books, except for the detail that all of the rats in the Nightfort are its descendants. The king in the story is identified as an [[Andals|Andal]] ruler, not the [[King in the North]]. It is extremely well-known in [[the North]] and there is even a popular song about it.
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The story is much the same in the ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' novels, except that the king in the story is identified as an [[Andals|Andal]] king. It is extremely well-known in [[the North]] and there is even a popular song about it.
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[[George R.R. Martin]] may have drawn inspiration for the Rat Cook from the Greek myth about the curse of the [[Wikipedia:Atreus|House of Atreus]]. The two brothers Atreus and Thyestes were feuding over the kingship, and Atreus discovered that Thyestes was having an affair with his own wife Aerope. Atreus exacted revenge by inviting Thyestes to dinner at his home, then secretly killed Thyestes' sons, cooked their meat, and served it to the unknowing Thyestes. After he had finished consuming his own issue, Atreus revealed to Thyestes what he had done and taunted him with the severed heads and hands of his sons. This is the source of modern phrase "Thyestean Feast", one at which human flesh is served.
   
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
*[http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Rat_Cook The Rat Cook at A Wiki of Ice and Fire] (spoilers from the books).
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*{{AWOIAF}} (spoilers from the books)
   
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{Reflist|2}}
 
{{Reflist|2}}
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{{LegendaryHeroes}}
[[Category:Histories & Lore]]
 
 
[[Category:Legendary and Magical Creatures]]
 
[[Category:Legendary and Magical Creatures]]
 
[[Category:Legendary heroes]]
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[[Category:Characters]]
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[[Category:Mentioned Characters]]
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[[Category:Characters from the North]]
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[[Category:Stewards of the Night's Watch]]

Revision as of 23:19, 30 April 2016

"It wasn't for murder the gods cursed the Rat Cook, or for serving the King's son in a pie... he killed a guest beneath his roof... that's something the gods can't forgive."
Bran Stark[src]

The Rat Cook is the subject of legends and myths in the Seven Kingdoms.

According to these legends, a King once paid a visit to the Nightfort, then the chief castle on the Wall. Due to some offense by the king,[1] the cook killed the king's son and served his flesh in a pie to the unknowing king. The king enjoyed the pie so much he asked for a second helping.

The gods cursed the cook by turning him into a fat, white rat which could only survive by feasting on its own young. He was condemned to run the halls of the Nightfort, eating his own offspring. The gods were not offended by the murder, nor even by cooking the son and feeding him to his own father, for a man has a right to vengeance. What the gods could not forgive and cursed the cook for was that he broke the laws of hospitality and protection, which are held to be sacred above all others.[2]

In the books

The story is much the same in the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, except that the king in the story is identified as an Andal king. It is extremely well-known in the North and there is even a popular song about it.

George R.R. Martin may have drawn inspiration for the Rat Cook from the Greek myth about the curse of the House of Atreus. The two brothers Atreus and Thyestes were feuding over the kingship, and Atreus discovered that Thyestes was having an affair with his own wife Aerope. Atreus exacted revenge by inviting Thyestes to dinner at his home, then secretly killed Thyestes' sons, cooked their meat, and served it to the unknowing Thyestes. After he had finished consuming his own issue, Atreus revealed to Thyestes what he had done and taunted him with the severed heads and hands of his sons. This is the source of modern phrase "Thyestean Feast", one at which human flesh is served.

See also

References

  1. Bran Stark said he couldn't remember the exact reason when he recounts the tale.
  2. "Mhysa"

Template:LegendaryHeroes