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ictographs, Symbols and the Wheel of Time.

by zanguini: 2006-11-20 | 4.9 out of 10 (10 votes)

Previous Categories: The Wheel of Time

The Pictographs

A pictograph is a symbol or picture that represents an idea.

In the Wheel of Time pictographs are used as foreshadowing device that gives the reader an idea of the action of the chapter they are about to read. There are two types of ideographs in the Wheel of Time. The first of these are the ideographs that represent a particular person, a people, or a place. The second are those ideographs which represent a particular action. Though most fall into these two categories there are some which are chameleons which change depending on the situation.

The Wheel.

This symbol is a snake eating its own tail shaped as an infinity symbol intertwined with a seven spoke wheel (the Wheel of Time). This symbol is the most prevalent throughout the entire series. Also called the Snake-Wheel. Not only does it show up at the beginning of many chapters it is also at the end of every chapter., as well as the title page. Because of the proliferation of this symbol it is probably the most difficult to put into one category or another. The voices range from Rand to Forsaken to random people who forward the plot. Also there is no particular action which is associated with this symbol. However I believe Jordan uses the Wheel to indicate plot movement and significant events which will have long lasting effects throughout the series.

The Ravens.

This symbol is of two Ravens (or black birds I believe they are ravens). This is one of the concrete symbols without exception when ever the Ravens precede a chapter there will always be dark friends featured or make an appearance or make life difficult for the protagonists. It is very difficult in the books to distinguish Seanchan ravens from dark friend ravens. In Egwene’s dream of the battle for the tower she dreams of two ravens striking the lamp. Darkfriend’s are always represented by two ravens. Could she have misinterpreted her dream, or is the Seanchan Empress always a dark friend and therefore took the ravens as her symbol?

The Dragon’s Fang

This symbol is of an upside down teardrop colored black (I believe that even though the symbol is tiger striped I believe it is completely black). This is one of the more difficult symbols to pin down. Early in the books it can represent a man channeling, for example during the first book Rand’s flight from Edmond’s field he channeled for the first time refreshing Bela the horse. The Dragon’s Fang was at the beginning of the chapter. Before the end of the second book when Rand proclaims himself the Dragon Reborn this symbol normally represents when Rand channels. After, it sometimes represents when Rand channels but more often than not Rand from this point is represented by the Dragon. The Asha’men take over the main representation of this symbol after the formation of the black tower. There are a few times where the symbol appears where men do not channel, in this case there are discussions of channeling or in the earlier books talk of False Dragons Taim and Logain.

The Harp

This is a small handheld harp. Without exception the Harp represents Thom. Every chapter that has a harp in front features Thom. Pretty self-explanatory.

The Heron-marked Blade.

This is represented by a sword hilt which has a bird marked on it whit its peak pointed towards the blade end. This is one of those Rand specific symbols. This symbol only shows up in chapters in Rand’s voice or featuring Rand. In all circumstances it has Rand dueling or practice dueling with his heron-marked blade. In most circumstances it is the main action of the chapter.

The Tree in Moonlight.

This is a tree devoid of leaves shown under a full moon. This was one of the more prolific symbols in the first few books. It has however not been seen in a while. Most of the time it represents flight usually desperate and usually in the dead of night. Since the heroes have not been fleeing much it has not shown up lately.

Moiraine’s Staff.

This is represented by a twisted short staff which I take to represent Moriaines staff which she carried around in the earlier books. Not all of the chapters that feature Moiraine have this symbol but those that do are always about Moiraine.

The Flame of Tar Valon.

The Flame is represented by a white teardrop. This is one of the catch-all symbols it represents women channeling, Aes Sedai, and the Amyrlin Seat. The Flame is probably the second most prevalent symbol and as a result it shows for chapters that feature different people in different situations. In most cases there is a woman channeling if not channeling then it features one of the Amyrlins.



The Sunburst

This is represented by a multi-rayed sun. One of the easier ones to figure out. Always the Sunburst represents the Children of the Light.

Avendesora.

This is represented by three tri-frond leaves. I believe these are leaves from the Avendesora.

This is one of the symbols that act as a chameleon. At times the Avendesora represent Ogier, Loial, traveling through the Ways, and the Tinkers. I’ve always associated this symbol with peace these chapters rarely have outright violence in them.

The Trolloc.

This symbol is represented by a skull with long horns, a trident, and the a clenched fist. Whether it is a Trolloc or not is up to you I believe it is. Whether it is a trolloc or not without exception when ever this symbol is present expect a battle with Trollocs and Myrrdrall.

The Wolf

This symbol is a wolf. This is Perrin’s personal symbol. When ever the wolf is present so is the wolf brother. Though I suppose if ever there were a chapter that was about Elyas without Perrin it would be represented by the Wolf.

The Lion.

The Rearing Lion is the symbol of the Kingdom of Andor. Always when the Lion is present the chapter is about the Kingdom of Andor, Queen Morgasse, and/or Daughter-Heir Elayne.

The Crooked Tree

This symbol is of a wind twisted tree with one fruit in its branches, it does not look healthy. This symbol has only shown up twice thus far and in both cases the main action took place in the Blight. I believe that this is the symbol for the Blight. We will probably see it again.

The Ruby Dagger

This symbol is a dagger with the hilt of intertwined snakes with a gem presumably a ruby set in the hilt, the blade is curved and one edged. The Dagger first shows up in the second book. The Dagger switches identities midway through the series early on it represents Mat when he has the Dagger. Later on it becomes the personal symbol of Padan Fain/Moredeth. Now the symbol could represent the dagger itself but besides cutting Rand and killing random dark friends it doesn’t do much, so I prefer to think it represents whoever has it in their possession.

The Horn of Valere

The Horn is a instrument that’s looks vaguely like a French horn. The Horn always shows up when the Horn does or is the main part of the action. When the heroes figure out the Horn has been stolen the Horn represents the chapter as well as when it is sounded. We have not seen this one in a while, I am sure we will see it again.

The Portal Stone

This symbol is a cylindrical stone with runes set in it. When ever this stone is present people travel by way of portal stones. Since the discovering Traveling the Portal Stone has become obsolete as has the symbol.

The Rising Sun

The symbol of the Rising Sun is the symbol of the Kingdom of Cairhein (whether you think it is rising or setting is up to you). Always the symbol represents the inner workings of Cairhein and Daes’dae Mar , the Great Game.

Seanchan Helmet

This symbol is odd looking and is of a helmet that looks like a bugs head complete with eyes. I don’t know whether it actually looks like an insect head or not (but the color pictures that show it have it colored so that it does kind of look like one, colored pictures can be found on bottom right corner of the map on the inside cover of the paper back editions as well as the large map in the readers guide.).When ever the helmet shows up so will the Seanchan.

The Great Tree.

This is the rarest of symbols of a large tree full of leaves. It only shows up a couple of times the first is when Rand’s bunch enter Stedding Tsofu, it comes back when Perrin convinces Loial to take him to Two Rivers by way of the Ways. Unless it represents Ogier or stedding the same as the avendesora this one escapes me.

The A’dam

This a bracelet and a collar connected by a rope in the shape of a figure eight. This one is pretty self-explanatory, the A’dam always represents sul’dam and damanae.

Mirrored Faces

This symbol is of the faces of two women in profile one white-on-black the other black-on-white. The Mirrored Faces always represent the Black Ajah. Whether its through actions of their doing or the actual members. More often than not though when this symbol is here we will have a voice from the point of view of one of the black sisters.

The Dice

This is represented by five dice all showing sixes. After Mat is separated from the dagger in the third book, the Dice become Mat’s personal symbol. And are present in Mat’s chapters especially when his luck is working and the dice are rattling around in his head.

Crescent Moon and Stars

This is represented by a crescent moon and five five-pointed stars in a line from one point of the moon to the other. This is Lanfear’s personal symbol and is present where she enters. Its first showing was when Lanfear was pretending to be Selene.

The Ring of Dreams

This is a picture of alternating black and white curves that combine to make a swirl pattern with a hole in the middle. The ring is always present when Egwene, Elayne, Nyn, or Siuan enter ter’aran’rhoid. It is not however present when Perrin or Rand enter the world of dreams. I believe the symbol is a black and white representation of the ring of dreams ter’angreal which is hard to render on a two dimensional picture.

Waves

This symbol is waves of water alternating black and white. This symbol is one of those which describe an action, and always describes travel by boat. The only time when the heroes travel by boat and the waves are not present is in book one. I don’t know why it isn’t there but I assume it is because Jordan had not made it yet.

The Dragon.

The Dragon is exactly as it is described in the book . When it first appears it replaces the Dragon’s Fang as Rand’s personal symbol for obvious reasons. It first shows up at the very end of the third book.

The Seabirds.

The seabirds are two birds flying facing another separated by an eight pointed star. Whether these are seabirds are not is up to interpretation. But, this is the symbol of the Atha’an Mere. Whether they are the voice or the main action surrounds them the Seabirds make an appearance.

The Aiel Spears.

This is a pair of spears crossed behind a small round shield. This is one of the symbols that have an identity crises. At first the Aiel spears specifically represent the maidens and Avi, then after a couple of chapters they become about the Aiel as a whole, and finally towards the end they become specifically about the Shaido.

The Bull.

In the fifth book the first new symbol is that of a bull with roses wrapped around its neck. This is the personal symbol of the house and person of Gareth Byrne. When the bull shows up so does Gareth.

The Elephant

Or as called by the book s’redit or as Luca describes them giant boar-horses. The Elephant shows up at Valan Luca’s Grand Traveling Show and Magnificent Display of Marvels and Wonders.

The Ancient Aes Sedai Symbol.

This symbol is of a yin-yang without the dots (Rand put dots in it when he clensed the taint). It is the meeting of the Flame of Tar Valon and the Dragon’s Fang. Now this one has be perplexed many thing of importance happen under this symbol. I believe however that the symbol represents men and women channeling together either at one another or with one another.

The Snake

This symbol for me has become the most ominous of symbols, it is of a snake which is wrapped around a square. Always this symbol represents the Forsaken. It first makes an appearance in the sixth book. Only one chapter with the snake at the beginning has no Forsaken and I have a theory about that but it is for another time. Other than the one the Snake represents the Forsaken and most often from their voice.

The Falcon

This symbol is of a falcon about to take flight. This is Faile’s Falcon. I suppose this will eventually become her signet like Mats foxes and moons, or Perrin’s wolf head.

The Sword and Anchor

This is the sword crossed with an anchor and chain. This is the signet of the House of Mistobar here and after Tynin’s death. The Sword and Anchor represents Altara and Ebou Dar, like the Lion Andor, and the Rising Sun Cairhien.

The Hand, Shield, and Sword

Side by side on a flag left to right the Hand the Shield (oval and pointed at the ends) and the sword pointing up. This is the symbol and seal of Far Madding. Each of the three statues in the three markets in Far Madding feature one of the golden hand, the sword, and the shield.

The Fox-snake

A foxes head connected to a snake on a triangle background. This is first seen in book 11 and is the symbol for the Finns. This may be one of the more important symbols in the next book. It is only in book 11 once.

The Blacksmith Puzzle.

I am not sure what this one means it is a series of interconnecting iron links. I would expect this to represent Perrin, but Perrin has his own symbol and no one else has two. It could possibly represent the puzzle of Malden to Perrin. This is the only time it shows up.

Lan’s Helmet

This is first seen in the New Spring. It matches the helmet Lan is wearing in the cover artwork of the first book. Although it doesn’t show up in the series proper I am sure it will be in the upcoming book representing Lan.

The Fish

I don’t know what kind of fish this is but I’ve no doubt that its Siuan’s symbol.

The Six-pointed star

This is a six pointed star on cobblestones. It only shows up once when Moiraine and Siuan test for the Shawl. I believe that this star represents the test for the shawl and I believe we will see it again if Nyn, Elayne, and Egwene test.

Mice

These are the mice Moiraine and Siuan put into Elaida’s bed the night after their test.



The Wooden Triangle

This one is a wooden triangle bound at the corners by rope. It only shows up once when Moiraine and Siuan choose blue. It could either represent the blue or all the Ajahs.

The Stag

This symbol only appears once It represents the town in which Lan is moving through I doubt it is seen again.

Stars and Moon

Two five-pointed stars and a crescent moon dangling on chains. This is the most intriguing symbol in all of the New Spring. Not for its ambiguity but because it doesn’t show up in the other books. I’ve little doubt that this symbol represents Cadsuane.

Well that is all of the pictographs in the series thus far. I hope you enjoyed please ask me if you have any questions.
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Comments

1

Tamyrlin: 2007-02-24

Zan, nicely done. I should place this in the "study" category, but seeing how you feel you are continuing to develop the idea, for now I will leave it here for you to receive more feedback. Feel free to contact me by email and let me know when you believe it's ready, and I will drop it in the study category.

2

JakOShadows: 2007-02-24

nice work. It looks good to me, I just never really payed attention to the pictographs on the chapter pages. I'll have to look at it next time I read the books.

3

terez: 2007-02-24

Zan:

The Blacksmith Puzzle.

I am not sure what this one means it is a series of interconnecting iron links. I would expect this to represent Perrin, but Perrin has his own symbol and no one else has two. It could possibly represent the puzzle of Malden to Perrin. This is the only time it shows up.


There’s a whole chapter called “Blacksmith’s Puzzle” in Crossroads of Twilight. Here’s a quote from it:

______________
TITLE - Crossroads of Twilight
CHAPTER: 7 - Blacksmith’s Puzzle

“Your wife,” Masema said in a flat voice, directing a look at Berelain that made Perrin’s blood boil. Even Berelain colored, though her face remained smooth. “Do you really believe you will have word of her today?”

“I do.” Perrin’s voice was as flat as Masema’s, and harder. He clutched the pommel of his saddle, atop the hoop-handles of Berelain’s basket, to keep from reaching for his axe. “Freeing her comes first. Her and the others. We can fill our bellies to bursting once that’s done, but that comes first.”

The horses approaching were audible to everyone, now. A long line of lancers appeared to the west, sifting through the shadowed trees with another mounted line behind it, the red streamers and breastplates of Mayene interspersed with the green streamers and burnished breastplates of Ghealdan. The lines stretched from opposite Perrin down below the mass of horsemen who were waiting on Masema. Men afoot ghosted from tree to tree, carrying long Two Rivers bows. Perrin found himself hoping that they had not stripped the camp too far. Stealing that Seanchan paper might have forced Masema’s hand, and he was a veteran of fighting along the Blight and against the Aiel. He might have thought further ahead than simply riding out to find Berelain. It was like another blacksmith’s puzzle. Move one piece to shift another just enough to let a third slip free. A camp with weakened defenders could be overrun, and in these woods, numbers could count for as much as who had people channeling. Did Masema want to keep his secret enough to try putting a seal to it here and now? Perrin realized that he had moved one hand to rest on his axe, but he left it there.
_______________

There’s also some mention of that blacksmith’s puzzle in the two previous chapters, so it was a well-developed theme in the beginning of the book:

________________
TITLE - Crossroads of Twilight
CHAPTER: 5 - The Forging of a Hammer

Only the Aes Sedai themselves knew how tightly their oaths held them, or what room they saw to maneuver between the words, and neither was allowed to hop unless a Wise One said toad. Seonid and Masuri had both said Masema should be put down like a mad dog, and the Wise Ones agreed. Or so they said. They had no Three Oaths to hold them to the truth, though in truth, that particular Oath held the Aes Sedai more in letter than spirit. And he seemed to recall one of the Wise Ones telling him that Masuri thought that the mad dog could be leashed. Not allowed to hop unless a Wise One said toad. It was like a blacksmith’s puzzle with the edges of the metal pieces sharpened. He needed to solve it, but one mistake and he could cut himself to the bone.
_________________

TITLE: Crossroads of Twilight
CHAPTER: 6 - The Scent of a Dream

The cold air seemed clean and fresh in Perrin's nose as he galloped into the forest, the breezes full of the crispness of the snow that fountained in sprays beneath Stepper's hooves. Out here, he could forget old friends who were willing to believe the worst on rumor. He could try to forget Masema, and the Aes Sedai, and the Wise Ones. The Shaido were welded to the inside of his skull, however, an iron puzzle that would not yield no matter how he twisted. He wanted to wrench it apart, but that never worked with a blacksmith's puzzle.
________________

It’s weird, though, that the chapter, “In Malden”, where the icon was used, was totally in Faile’s point of view, with the exception of the Galina bit at the end. I do like how the wolves are howling in Galina’s point of view, though. :)

4

Sarevok: 2007-02-25

***The Trolloc.

This symbol is represented by a skull with long horns, a trident, and the a clenched fist. Whether it is a Trolloc or not is up to you I believe it is. Whether it is a trolloc or not without exception when ever this symbol is present expect a battle with Trollocs and Myrrdrall.***

The picture itself is not of a trolloc, it's three pictures of trolloc clan signs:

***KoD, Ch. 19 Vows

The silver whirlwind of the Ahf'frait band and the blood-red trident of the Ko'bal. The forked lightning of the Ghraem'lan and the hooked axe of the Al'ghol. The iron fist of the Dhai'mon and the red, bloodstained fist of the Kno'mon. And there were skulls. The horned skull of the Dha'vol and the piled human skulls of the Ghar'ghael and the skull cloven by a scythe-curved sword of the Dhjin'nen and the dagger-pierced skull of the Bhan'sheen.***

So, the pictures depict the Ko'bal, the Dha'vol and either the Dai'mon or Kno'mon clans.

Also, Terez, in the chapter Malden we have a reference to a REALLY BIG blacksmith's puzzle:

***KoD, Ch. 28 In Malden

The jumble of charred timbers and half-burned boards filling the staircase resembled one of those blacksmith's puzzles her Perrin enjoyed. Almost everything seemed to be propping up something else. Worse, the heavier timbers might be beyond all of them working together. But if they could clear enough for them to be able to crawl through, writhing between the thick beams. ... It would be dangerous, that crawl. But when a dangerous path was your only route to safety, you had to take it.***

5

Terez1: 2007-02-25

I have a few things to add to this, as I actually put some thought into it.

"The Wooden Triangle

This one is a wooden triangle bound at the corners by rope. It only shows up once when Moiraine and Siuan choose blue. It could either represent the blue or all the Ajahs."


There are two distinct possibilities for the meaning of this symbol: the first one that comes to mind, and the one that I favor, is the Three Oaths - because the triangle is bound. The other possibility is the triangle in the Traitor's Court, upon which sisters stretched to be birched. In the first case, the two inward-pointing triangles in the uppermost corners of the square would represent Siuan and Moiraine, and the square would represent the Tower (the Oaths being what it is to be Aes Sedai); in the second case, they would represent the two sisters that were birched on the triangle in this chapter, and the square would represent either the Traitor's Court or the Tower.

"The Fish

I don’t know what kind of fish this is but I’ve no doubt that its Siuan’s symbol."


I bet it's a lionfish. :)

"The Stag

This symbol only appears once It represents the town in which Lan is moving through I doubt it is seen again."


Specifically, it represents Lord Varan, the High Seat of House Marcasiev - his banner is the Red Stag.

"The Tree in Moonlight.

This is a tree devoid of leaves shown under a full moon. This was one of the more prolific symbols in the first few books. It has however not been seen in a while. Most of the time it represents flight usually desperate and usually in the dead of night. Since the heroes have not been fleeing much it has not shown up lately."


Have we seen this one since the Eye of the World? I tend to think it would represent the winter that did not end until the battle at the Eye.

Maybe some more comments on this later. :)

6

Marie Curie 7: 2007-02-25

Note, though, that the WOT FAQ summary does not include the new icons that first appeared in Knife of Dreams, nor does it include icons that appeared exclusively in New Spring.
The WOT FAQ has a summary of the chapter icons.

A few comments:

Avendesora.

This is represented by three tri-frond leaves. I believe these are leaves from the Avendesora.

This is one of the symbols that act as a chameleon. At times the Avendesora represent Ogier, Loial, traveling through the Ways, and the Tinkers. I've always associated this symbol with peace these chapters rarely have outright violence in them.


There are actually two chapter icons that involve leaves. The one you mention is a large trefoil leaf, with two smaller ones below and to either side. There is another chapter icon that depicts similar leaves, but smaller and with vines included (so this icon can't represent Avendesora since Avendesora is a tree, not a vine). The small leaves with vines icon appears extensively in TEotW, for example in Chapters 16, 25, 27, 36,44, 50, and 52. In these instances, the small leaves with vines icon represents Nynaeve (the Wisdom), Tinkers (the Way of the Leaf), Ogier (first meeting with Loial), the Ways, and the Green Man (action surrounding the Eye of the World). The small leaves with vines icon seems to have been replaced by the larger leaf icon starting in TDR. It first appears in Ch. 48, Following the Craft, which is where the girls meet Mother Guenna, the Wise Woman in Tear. It's then used to refer to the Ways throughout TGH, and so on.

*****
The Portal Stone

This symbol is a cylindrical stone with runes set in it. When ever this stone is present people travel by way of portal stones. Since the discovering Traveling the Portal Stone has become obsolete as has the symbol.


Sure, we haven't seen the Portal Stones used recently. But they're not obsolete per se. Aes Sedai in the Age of Legends used them, after all, and they could Travel, too. It's just because virtually all information regarding the use of Portal Stones has been lost in the Third Age that Traveling is obviously the preferred mode of transport. :)

*****
The Ring of Dreams

This is a picture of alternating black and white curves that combine to make a swirl pattern with a hole in the middle. The ring is always present when Egwene, Elayne, Nyn, or Siuan enter ter'aran'rhoid. It is not however present when Perrin or Rand enter the world of dreams. I believe the symbol is a black and white representation of the ring of dreams ter'angreal which is hard to render on a two dimensional picture.


Yeah, I think this icon definitely represents the dream ter'angreal and the icon is meant to appear to look like a mobius strip. Remember that the dream ter'angreal was described as such that you could run your finger around it and only feel one side, just like a mobius strip. Here's the scene in which Verin first gives Egwene the dream ter'angreal and it is described:

-----
TITLE: Dragon Reborn, CHAPTER: 21 - A World of Dreams

"You have no time to wait, child. The Amyrlin has entrusted a great task to you and Nynaeve. You must reach out for any tool you might be able to use." Verin dug a red wooden box from under the welter on her table. The box was large enough to hold sheets of paper, but when the Aes Sedai opened the lid a crack, all she pulled out was a ring carved from stone, all flecks and stripes of blue and brown and red, and too large to be a finger ring. "Here, child."

Egwene shifted the papers to take it, and her eyes widened in surprise. The ring certainly looked like stone, but it felt harder than steel and heavier than lead. And the circle of it was twisted. If she ran a finger along one edge, it would go around twice, inside as well as out; it only had one edge. She moved her finger along that edge twice, just to convince herself.
-----

*****
The Ancient Aes Sedai Symbol.

This symbol is of a yin-yang without the dots (Rand put dots in it when he clensed the taint). It is the meeting of the Flame of Tar Valon and the Dragon’s Fang. Now this one has be perplexed many thing of importance happen under this symbol. I believe however that the symbol represents men and women channeling together either at one another or with one another.


The ancient symbol of the Aes Sedai has no dots in it, as you note, and it still has no dots. What do you mean that Rand put the dots in it when he cleansed saidin?

*****
The Sword and Anchor

This is the sword crossed with an anchor and chain. This is the signet of the House of Mistobar here and after Tynin's death. The Sword and Anchor represents Altara and Ebou Dar, like the Lion Andor, and the Rising Sun Cairhien.


Just to clarify: the sword and anchor emblem is specific to House Mitsobar; it does not represent Altara as a whole, which distinguishes it from the Lion of Andor and the Rising Sun of Cairhien. The glossary of ACoS notes that Altara's banner is two golden leopards on a field checkered with red and blue.

More importantly, though, I don't belive that the sword and anchor chapter icon represents Altara or even House Mitsobar. It is not used in chapters in which Tylin appears, but rather chapters in which Egeanin and Bayle appear. After Egeanin is raised to Captain of the Green, her new sigil is a sword and fouled anchor:

-----
TITLE: Winter's Heart, CHAPTER: 21 - A Matter of Property

Stiffening her spine, she marched to the table where her writing desk sat and flipped open the lid. The wave-carved writing desk, with its silver-mounted glass inkpot and silver sand jar, had been her mother's gift at that first command. The neatly stacked sheets of fine paper bore her newly granted sigil, a sword and a fouled anchor. "I will write out your manumission," she said, dipping the silver pen, "and give you enough coin to buy passage." The pen glided across the page. She had always had a good hand. Log entries had to be legible. "Not enough to buy a ship, I fear, but it must do. You will depart on the first available ship. Shave the rest of your head, and you should have no trouble. It's still a shock, seeing bald men not wearing wigs, but so far no one seems to-" She gasped as Bayle slid the page right out from under her pen.
-----

The sword and anchor chapter icon shows a sword crossed with a fouled anchor (that is, an anchor with rope wrapped around it). This icon appears in WH, Ch. 21 (A Matter of Property), where Egeanin is first reintroduced as a Captain of the Green. It later appears in CoT, CH. 29 (Something Flickers), in which Egeanin is stabbed by Renna. So, this icon represents Egeanin.

*****
The Six-pointed star

This is a six pointed star on cobblestones. It only shows up once when Moiraine and Siuan test for the Shawl. I believe that this star represents the test for the shawl and I believe we will see it again if Nyn, Elayne, and Egwene test.


Right, the six-pointed star is the symbol that the channeler being tested had to walk to when she started each of the hundred weaves of the test. But Nynaeve, Elayne, and Egwene are already Aes Sedai -- I doubt that they will be required to be tested. :)

7

zanguini: 2007-02-25

"What do you mean that Rand put the dots in it when he cleansed saidin?"

Hmmm sorry when i first read the clensing part, It is how i explained to myself how Rands clensing worked that he filtered all of saidin through saidar... to my imagination it was putting a dot into saidar... shrug...

8

princeofravens: 2007-02-26

Awesome job...That took a lot of work to do. The only symbol I didnt agree with was mentioned by Marie Curie, i.e. the anchor belonging to Egeanin. I actually thought it belonged to both her and Domon, but I guess not.

So am I going to have to reread the whole series for the 50th time to find out which chapter has the forsaken symbol without a forsaken making an appearance?

9

zanguini: 2007-02-26

Lord of Choas Chapter 13 "Under the Dust" Its one of the pillars of the "Tarna is Messena" theory

10

Marie Curie 7: 2007-02-26

Zan,

I think that you've missed one chapter icon that appears only in New Spring. The chapter icon for Ch. 22, Keeping Custom, is a rearing horse. The rearing horse is the sigil of Kandor and the action in that chapter takes place in Chachin. From the BWB:

------
TITLE: The World of Robert Jordan's the Wheel of Time, CHAPTER: Kandor

SIGIL: A rearing red horse; the Red Horse. BANNER: The Red Horse on a field of pale green. CAPITAL CITY: Chachin.
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*****
"What do you mean that Rand put the dots in it when he cleansed saidin?"

Hmmm sorry when i first read the clensing part, It is how i explained to myself how Rands clensing worked that he filtered all of saidin through saidar... to my imagination it was putting a dot into saidar... shrug...


Ah. I understand your symbolism now. But in your description a "dot" only gets put into saidar, not saidin. :)

11

terez: 2007-02-26

"Lord of Choas Chapter 13 "Under the Dust" Its one of the pillars of the "Tarna is Messena" theory"

That one is easy:

________________________________
TITLE - Lord of Chaos
CHAPTER: 13 - Under the Dust

She drew breath finally, and Nynaeve abandoned the notion of throwing her last apple core at her and darted into the momentary quiet. "Where is Marigan?"

"She was finished tidying – and took her time about it, too – so I sent her off to her own room. I am still wearing the bracelet. See?" She waved her arm in the air and let it fall back to the mattress, but the flow of words did not slow. "She was going on in that awful whining way about how we should run off to Caemlyn, and I just could not stand it another minute, not on top of everything else. My novice class was a disaster. That horrible Keatlin woman – the one with the nose? – kept muttering about how she’d never let a girl order her around back home, and Faolain came stalking up demanding to know why I had Nicola in the class – how was I supposed to know Nicola was meant to be running errands for her? – then Ibrella decided to see how big a flame she could make and nearly set the whole class on fire, and Faolain dressed me down right in front of everybody for not keeping my class under control, and Nicola said she –"

Nynaeve gave up trying to get a word in edgewise – maybe she should have thrown the apple core – and just shouted. "I think Moghedien’s right!"

That name shut the other woman’s mouth, and sat her up staring, too. Nynaeve could not help looking around to see if anyone had overheard, even if they were in their own room.

‘That is foolish, Nynaeve."

Nynaeve did not know whether Elayne meant the suggestion or speaking Moghedien’s name aloud, and she did not intend to inquire. Sitting on her own bed opposite Elayne, she adjusted her skirts. "No, it isn’t. Any day now Jaril and Seve will tell somebody Marigan isn’t their mother, if they haven’t already. Are you ready for the questions that will bring? I’m not. Any day some Aes Sedai is going to start digging into how I can discover anything without being in a fury from sunup to sundown. Every second Aes Sedai I speak to mentions it, and Dagdara has been looking at me in a funny way lately. Besides, they aren’t going to do anything here but sit. Unless they decide to go back to the Tower. I sneaked up and listened to Tarna talking with Sheriam —"
________________________________

So, yeah...Moghedien. :)

12

Marie Curie 7: 2007-03-02

The Heron-marked Blade.

This is represented by a sword hilt which has a bird marked on it whit its peak pointed towards the blade end. This is one of those Rand specific symbols. This symbol only shows up in chapters in Rand's voice or featuring Rand. In all circumstances it has Rand dueling or practice dueling with his heron-marked blade. In most circumstances it is the main action of the chapter.


I agree that the heron-mark sword hilt icon is generally used to signify Rand involved in a sword fight or practice. However, there is one instance of its occurrence that I don't understand. The heron-mark icon is used in The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 18, Healing. This is the scene in which Mat is Healed of the Shadar Logoth dagger at the White Tower. The use of the heron-mark icon for that chapter doesn't make any sense to me. Does anybody understand why it's used there? Mat does spout ancient battle cries of Manetheren in the Old Tongue, but it seems a stretch that the heron-mark icon would be used for that since Mat has never had any association with sword fighting.

princeofravens:
Awesome job...That took a lot of work to do. The only symbol I didnt agree with was mentioned by Marie Curie, i.e. the anchor belonging to Egeanin. I actually thought it belonged to both her and Domon, but I guess not.

The chapters in which the fouled anchor/sword icon appears always do have both Bayle and Egeanin in them. However, since it's the sigil of Egeanin, I simply suggested it should be associated with Egeanin.

13

Birgitte: 2007-03-04

Good Job, Zan. Very interesting. :)

Marie --

**Sure, we haven't seen the Portal Stones used recently. But they're not obsolete per se. Aes Sedai in the Age of Legends used them, after all, and they could Travel, too. It's just because virtually all information regarding the use of Portal Stones has been lost in the Third Age that Traveling is obviously the preferred mode of transport. :)**

I don't think you're right about that one. Aes Sedai made them, but they didn't use them. They made them for the Ogier to use; they didn't really need to use them themselves.

This is what it says:

** TITLE: Eye of the World

CHAPTER: 43 - Decisions and Apparitions

"As I was saying," the Ogier went on, "the Aes Sedai, the male Sedai, left. But before they went, they gave a gift to the Ogier in thanks for our sanctuary. The Ways. Enter a Waygate, walk for a day, and you may depart through another Waygate a hundred miles from where you started. Or five hundred. Time and distance are strange in the Ways. Different paths, different bridges, lead to different places, and how long it takes to get there depends on which path you take. It was a marvelous gift, made more so by the times, for the Ways are not part of the world we see around us, nor perhaps of any world outside themselves. Not only did the Ogier so gifted not have to travel through the world, where even after the Breaking men fought like animals to live, in order to reach another stedding, but within the Ways there was no Breaking. The land between two stedding might split open into deep canyons or rise in mountain ranges, but in the Way between them there was no change.**

The Aes Sedai made the Ways for the Ogier in return for the sanctuary the Ogier gave them after the Breaking began. I don't think they intended to use the Ways themselves.

14

Marie Curie 7: 2007-03-04

Birgitte:
I don't think you're right about that one. Aes Sedai made them, but they didn't use them. They made them for the Ogier to use; they didn't really need to use them themselves.

Your quote says that Aes Sedai made the Ways for Ogier to use; it doesn't say anything about Portal Stones. I was not referring to the Ways -- my comment was about Portal Stones. And we do know that Aes Sedai in the Age of Legends studied travel by Portal Stones and from that learned how to make the Ways:

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TITLE: Great Hunt, CHAPTER: 16 - In the Mirror of Darkness

"She is a fascinating woman, isn't she? Some of the Elders don't know as much as she does about history -- especially the Age of Legends -- and about -- oh, yes. She says you were right about the Ways, Rand. The Aes Sedai, some of them, studied worlds like this, and that study was the basis of how they grew the Ways. She says there are worlds where it is time rather than distance that changes. Spend a day in one of those, and you might come back to find a year has passed in the real world, or twenty. Or it could be the other way round. Those worlds -- this one, all the others -- are reflections of the real world, she says. This one seems pale to us because it is a weak reflection, a world that had little chance of ever being. Others are almost as likely as ours. Those are as solid as our world, and have people. The same people, she says, Rand. Imagine it! You could go to one of them and meet yourself. The Pattern has infinite variation, she says, and every variation that can be, will be."
-----

But not only did Aes Sedai in the Age of Legends study the Portal Stones, they also used them:

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TITLE: The World of Robert Jordan's the Wheel of Time, CHAPTER: The Wheel and the Pattern

There are records of people in the Age even transporting to other worlds, both among the stars and in other dimensions. Portal stones, activated by the One Power, allowed users and any who accompanied them to travel to other dimensions and worlds within the universe of the Wheel. It is doubtful that Portal stones were used regularly by any other than Aes Sedai, because skill and strength in the Power were needed to activate them.
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Ogier could not use Portal Stones because they require activation by the One Power.

15

Gandelail: 2007-03-05

The ways and Portal Stones are different methods of travel. You're correct in saying that the male servants made the ways for the Ogier so they could find the Stedding no matter how the world should shift, and it is well possible that the knowledge of how to make them came from the knowledge of portal stones/mirror worlds/skimming space... whatever. But as far as we know, the portal stones were already in place before the age of legends, and though the legendary Aes Sedai knew some of their use and workings, it is doubtful that even they knew everything. Though as with most other thing,s those Aes Sedai knew much more than survived the breaking. Many Aes Sedai used portal stones to travel elsewhere to study. I doubt they used them for day to day travel, but what better way to get to a mirror world to study something, and be able to find your way home?

16

Birgitte: 2007-03-07

~Blushes~

Yeah, you're right, Marie. That's what I get for not paying enough attention to what I read. ~slaps own wrist~

17

Marie Curie 7: 2007-03-10

I love the chapter icons -- they're just one of those little things that makes WoT special. This has been a fun theory to think about -- thanks, Zan. :)

Another comment:

I'd like to suggest an expansion in the assignment of the harp chapter icon beyond just usage as Thom Merrilin's personal icon. Thom is involved in the action in all the chapters that have the harp icon except one. In The Great Hunt Chapter 21 (The Nine Rings), the harp icon is present but Thom does not appear. This is the chapter in which Rand, Selene, Hurin, and Loial arrive at an inn in Cairhien after Rand encounters the partially buried Choedan Kal statue. The innkeeper mistakenly thinks Hurin can play the flute because he observes Hurin with the bundle containing the flute, Thom's harp and cloak. Rand interjects that he is the one who plays, and so he ends up playing flute in the common room. Rand never plays Thom's harp, though, so you have to wonder why the harp is the chapter icon in this case. It does not appear in the other chapters that feature Rand playing flute.

Later in the chapter, though, after the group goes up to their rooms, Hurin and Loial try to explain to Rand about Daes Dae'mar. This marks the point at which Cairhienin nobles start trying to include Rand in their manipulations in the Great Game. My suggestion is that the introduction of Daes Dae'mar is the reason that the harp is the icon for this chapter. And, in chapters in which Thom Merrilin appears, it makes sense, too, since not only does the harp represent being a gleeman, but it also represents Thom's skill in the Great Game.

Zan, did you make a spreadsheet or something listing the icons chapter by chapter for each book? That would be cool. :)

18

zanguini: 2007-03-13

(Zan, did you make a spreadsheet or something listing the icons chapter by chapter for each book? That would be cool. :) )

Nope I just went right down the line with my last reread and listed them all ... But it wouldnt be too difficult to come up with one.