Glyphs
| Glyphs | |
|---|---|
| 200px by ERROR: page 'File:Dalinar Kholin Sigil.jpg' does not exist
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| World of Origin | Roshar |
Glyphs were a form of writing used on Roshar during the Era of Solitude, that were said to have been given to the Rosharans by the Dawnsingers.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
Glyphs
While the lines of the glyph itself have meaning, it is often drawn as a pictograph, in the shape of its meaning, so those who cannot read glyphs, such as illiterate servants,Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content can still understand what they mean.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content There are both major and minor glyphs, as well as more topical glyphs.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content In keeping with Vorin belief, the glyphs have bilateral symmetry.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content The sounds they represent are also pronounced symmetrically. There are ten fundamental glyphs.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Glyphs can easily be drawn in complicated ways that make it difficult to identify what they are, unless a person knows what they are looking for.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
Known Glyphs
- khakh
- DeterminationCite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; refs with no name must have content - khokh
- Meaning unknown, often drawn in the shape of a crownCite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; refs with no name must have content - lerel
- Meaning unknownCite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; refs with no name must have content - linil
- Meaning unknown, often drawn in the shape of a towerCite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; refs with no name must have content - merem
- HonorCite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; refs with no name must have content - morom
- Meaning unknownCite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; refs with no name must have content - nahn
- Meaning unknown, likely tied the caste nahnCite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; refs with no name must have content - sas
- Meaning unknownCite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; refs with no name must have content - shash
- DangerousCite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; refs with no name must have content - shesh
- Meaning unknownCite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; refs with no name must have content - thath
- Justice, had a very complex shapeCite error: Invalid
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Uses
Despite the Vorin ban on men reading, it is permissible for them to read glyphs.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content However, mostly they look at the pictographs and could not actually identify what a glyph meant if it was not drawn in the form of its meaning.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content When a man is able to read glyphs not drawn in the shape of their meaning, it is still remarkable, especially if the man is a darkeyes.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Stormwardens' books are written in glyphs.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
Glyphs are inexplicably tied to the Heralds and Knights Radiant. They are inscribed upon all of the Honorblades.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content In fact the hilts of the Honorblades are themselves the bases of the swordglyphs. The hilt of those glyphs are the symbols of the Knights Radiant. These are possibly the ten fundamental glyphs. They also appear on some Shardblades.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content When Shardplate was worn by Radiants before the Recreance, it had glowing glyphs etched into the plate that trailed vapor corresponding to the Radiant's order.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content These have since vanished for unknown reasons.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Some of these glyphs were known in the Era of Solitude, and others were not.
Glyphs are pervasive in decorations of all sorts. Glyphs are often put on clothing. They are often sewn into military uniforms, depending on the highprince the soldier serves.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Alethi women sometimes wore dresses patterned with glyphs.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content The Parshendi have weapons, such as daggers, decoracted with carved unfamiliar glyphs.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
Sometimes glyphs were believed to be able to be used to tell the future, by using extrapolations of the tenth glyphic paradigm. This was considered to be nothing but superstition.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
Glyphpairs
Glyphpairs are used for a variety of things. Most commonly they serve as the crest for various families of lighteyes.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content These glyphpairs were used on maps of the Shattered Plains to show which highprince owned what plateaus.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Glyphpairs were also used to designate body parts in anatomical diagrams.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
Glyphpairs are also used to mark slaves, despite the Vorin ban on slavery.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content The glyphpair of the district they were enslaved in is branded onto their forehead to signify their new caste. The addition of a shash glyph, marking a dangerous slave, can make it difficult to get a good price for the slave.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
Known Glyphpairs
- khokh linil - House Kholin's glyphpair, in the shape of a tower and crownCite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; refs with no name must have content - merem khakh - Amaram's glyphpair drawn in the shape of a whitespineCite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; refs with no name must have content - sas morom - Slave brand, glyphpair of a highlord's districtCite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; refs with no name must have content - sas nahn - Slave brand, possible glyphpair for Amaram's districtCite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; refs with no name must have content - shesh lerel - Sheler's glyphpairCite error: Invalid
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Other Glyphpairs
In addition to the named glyphpairs, several others are known:
- Tower & Hammer - Glyphpair of Highprince SadeasCite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; refs with no name must have content - Sword & Crown - King Elhokar's glyphpairCite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; refs with no name must have content
Glyphwards
| Glyphwards | |
|---|---|
| Related to | Vorinism |
| World of Origin | Roshar |
Glyphwards are prayers, written in the form of glyphs, that are used in Vorinism. Glyphwards can be a short in length as a single glyph,Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content or as long as several glyphs strung together.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content They do take some skill to draw well and neatly, so a person who can draw glyphwards calligraphically well is considered to have an impressive ability.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content After a glyphward is created, whether through drawing or sewing it into cloth,Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content it is burned to send the soul of the prayer to the Almighty. If the prayer fails to be answered, it is simply treated as his will. In addition to sending prayers to the Almighty, glyphwards often appeal to one of the Heralds, such as Jezerezeh'Elin, the Stormfather.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Glyphs were also drawn on surfaces with burn-ink, and then set on fire to burn a glyph onto something.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
The prayers sent by glyphwards vary quite a bit. Some are burned before a an action, for a blessing such as luck or success.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Others are burned in a prayer of thanksgiving for some perceived blessing.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Some glyphwards are commissioned to absolve sins, such as visiting the Nightwatcher.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content When a person dies or is in danger, his or her wife or daughters will create glyphwards to pray for that person.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Glyphwards are also believed to be able to turn away evil.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
On some occasions, glyphwards are not burned right away, or at all. A bride's prayer is a glyphward made up of a glyphpair.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content A woman who is to be married has it sewn onto her sleeve. After the engagement is formally announced, the prayer is removed and burned. Other times, a glyphward is simply sewn onto a person's sleeve in the event that they ever need it, in which case it would be burned.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Some are simply worn for protection or good fortune, without ever needing to be burned.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content On occasion, Rosharans will even get tattoos of glyphwards.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
Women are the only ones to typically make glyphwards,Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content although both men and women make use of them. In addition to being homemade, glyphwards are often purchased from luckmerches or apothecaries,Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content the latter of which will often decorate their shops will glyphwards.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Ardents will also burn prayers to the Almighty, to help the people they serve.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
More scientifically minded or more logical Rosharans deplore glyphwards as mere nonsense and superstition.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content Some wonder why, if the Almighty is omniscient, he needs to have a prayer burned to him before he can aid someone.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content