Manticore

Manticore

Manticores^[1] are highly aggressive and extremely venomous scorpion-like insects from the continent ofEssos.

Range[]

Manticores originate from several tropical islands in theJade Sea, in the distant east beyondQarth.

Manticore venom is one of the deadliest knownpoisons and as a result manticores have been imported into the collections of assassins and alchemists across the world. The city ofMantarys, east of the Free Cities and west of Slaver's Bay, is particularly noted as a producer of extracted manticore venom.^[2]

Biology[]

Manticores are physically similar to scorpions, but they lack pincers and can grow almost as large as a lobster. They possess six legs and a larger stinger-tail, which curves up over the body and hangs over the head. They have a series of threatening looking spines on each body segment, running up the sides of the body and tail. They are mostly green in color, with an iridescent sheen.^[3]

Their most recognizable features are the designs on the plates of their bodies, particularly the marking on the final plate of their tails which resembles a human face. Because of this design they are also sometimes referred to as the "Death's Head Manticore".^[2]

Manticore venom is extremely lethal, and even a single sting is usually more than enough to kill a person. Extracted manticore venom is one of the most potentpoisons used by the world's assassins: one usage is to coat bladed weapons with it so that even a single scratch will kill.^[2]

History[]

Game of Thrones: Season 3[]

Anagent of theWarlocks ofQarth attempts to assassinateDaenerys using a manticore hidden inside a hollow wooden sphere. Before the creature can harm Daenerys with its lethal sting, SerBarristan Selmy impales it with a dagger, killing it.^[3]

Game of Thrones: Season 4[]

Pycelle andQyburn assess thatOberyn Martell coated his spear with manticore venom prior to hisduel withthe Mountain. While Gregor won the duel by crushing Oberyn's head in, the poisoned wounds he took left him in agony, and he is now comatose. The effects of the poison are horrific, making the flesh around Gregor's wounds putrefy, which produces an overpowering stench. Pycelle regretfully tellsCersei that Ser Gregor is beyond any hope of healing, but Qyburn insists that he can use the knowledge he has gained from unethical human experimentation to save Gregor's life. Cersei gives him permission to proceed, though he warns that the process will "change" Gregor.^[2]

Gallery[]

Barristan Selmy kills a manticore.

Oberyn selects a manticore from his collection, to coat the blade of his spears with its venom (from "Poisons".

Oberyn Martell's squire, SerDaemon Sand, smearing the blades of his spears with manticore venom.

Gregor Clegane's putrefying wounds, the result of being poisoned with manticore venom.

Manticore concept art.

In the books[]

In theA Song of Ice and Fire novels, manticores are venomous insects from Essos, said to live on the jungle-filled islands of theJade Sea, betweenQarth and distantAsshai. They have a venomous sting that is fatal to humans and kills the instant it reaches the heart unless a clotting agent is used to thicken it and delay its fatal effects. Manticore venom is one of the deadliest poisons in the known world, and is highly sought after by alchemists,maesters, and (most of all) assassins. Thus the insects have been imported into private collections across Essos and Westeros:Syrio Forel mentions that he saw one in a menagerie of exotic animals inBraavos, and Daenerys sees a caged manticore in the market stalls ofVaes Dothrak.

When treating Gregor Clegane, Qyburn theorizes that Oberyn used his extensive knowledge of poisons to add a clotting agent to the manticore venom he coated his spear with, thickening it in order to slow its progress through the veins towards the heart, dragging out Gregor's agony. This also explains why Oberyn didn't finish off Gregor when he had the chance: he never intended to give him the mercy of a quick death.

Within the cultures of Westeros and Essos, the legendary manticore (after which the insect takes its name) is a chimeric creature with a human head, a lion's body, and a scorpion's tail.Dragonstone is adorned with gargoyles in the shape of manticores. A manticore is also the sigil ofHouse Lorch.

References[]

External links[]

• Manticore onA Wiki of Ice and Fire
• Manticore onWikipedia