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.