The reaosn I mentioned the movies not being canon is because in my opinion the object in Dumbledore's cabinet in the "Goblet of Fire" movie is the same sort of thing as what we are seeing in the object on the UK cover art. The movies are based on canon, but aren't canon themselves (like just because Dumbledore has a prop on his desk in the movie doesn't mean he has that same prop on his desk in the books ;) ) Jo doesn't build the props herself, however with that said -

I think IF it an object and not just a symbol, it is built on the principles of alchemy and used for something to do with alchemy. Most of Dumbledore's objects are for measuring, divining, etc., so IF an object (like is seen in Dumbledore's cabinet in the movie) does exist in Book 7, it wouldn't negate the fact that the shapes themselves could still represent everything that has been mentioned in this thread so far. I hope that makes sense...

Afterall, if an object exists and does a certain something, someone had to make that object and decide what shape to make it to get it to do whatever magic it does. On the book spine it appears to be engraven in white marble, so in my opinion it represents an object that Dumbledore and maybe Flamel used (or invented) for their alchemy research.

To me the symbol looks like the two Greek letters delta and phi (both capitalized) put together. Now phi is related to wisdom, and delta is related to math (basically means change) and also used in legal shorthand for defended. What this is supposed to mean, I have no clue. It's easy to find links to wisdom in the books, Dumbledore's middle name might as well be Phi (in addition to the rest of them off course). Maybe it means Harry will become wise in some way, or that we, the readers will become wiser after learning the answers to all of our questions (please Jo, answer us!), or maybe Voldy will wise up and spread the love...well we pretty much know the last one is not going to happen....

Change or defended...well, change at least is not hard to connect to the series. It is likely that good will triumph over evil, and that will bring change, probably and hopefully for the better. And if evil triumphs (Jo forbid), change definitively will occur. One way or the other; change will happened.

Defended is without question Voldy (or at least I think so), he is the criminal who should be, if not executed, then castrated and tortured. I'm all for the death penalty in his particular case!

Anyway, that was my thoughts on the subject

Please don't read more into this scene than another exemple of Hermione's terrible insecurity she tries to polster with bookish knowlegde.
It is one of her annoying habits Ron and Harry put up with, just because the have a good parthnership and that partnership has proved to be their best defence so far. In that the two runes ar well choosen.
It is al a part of Hermiones character building and qualities Rowling admits are their own. Hermione is in a sense the insecure bookish girl Rowling remembers have to been when she was that age.
As Ron is how she remembers one of her closest friend with the Ford Anglia.

Melissa Anelli reminded me of something on PotterCast 84 - the fact that the UK cover artist (Jason Cockcroft) usually doesn't get to read the book before creating the cover art, instead getting descriptions from Jo about what to draw. So as Melissa mentioned, the symbol on the spine likely came from a very specific description within the book. For instance, one of the descriptions he was given might have described the symbol being seen by Harry on a tomb or piece of white marble. In my opinion, the artist may not even know himself what the symbol means, only that Jo thought it important for him to include in the cover art. I think no matter what it is something very literal that we will see in Book 7.

Here's what the Harry Potter Lexicon said about the UK and US artists:


Jason Cockcroft is the illustrator for the children's UK books for Books 5-7 only. There is no chapter art or other internal illustrations.

well to me all i see is this that three people (the triangle) who are friends or united(circle) well be divided (line).

Hey! That got me thinking. What if the triangle and circle are traditional Christian symbols of the trinity and eternity but the vertical line is symbolic of Harry's scar and the dualism that it represents, the conflict between good and evil.

John Granger in "Looking for God in Harry Potter" likened Harry, Ron and Hermione to the trinity where Ron represented the body, Hermione the mind and Harry the spirit.

Whatever it is, I dont think its going to be as important as people seem to think it's going to be.

The Last 2 Books (00TP, HBP) Had a golden feather in that spot, and gaunts ring (Btw doesnt the crack on the ring kinda look like a scar?)

And you don't think the ring was important??

I think this is an excellent theory! It's called the "Eye of Providence". Ooooo a pyramid!

Eye of Providence

The ring was inportant,
but it was inportant in an indirect way,
it pointed or make you look to events that happened, but are not told.
It make you alert and warned for what kind of terrible curses could be attached to the other Horcruces, but have to be told yet.
It is a Horcrux and therefor given the same importancy as the diary, but it never becomes an "actor" as powerfull and impressive as the diary.

The diary was "active", the ring is "passive"

The point is that it was a horcrux. And horcruxes have pretty much become the focus of the last book. If they put this symbol up, I doubt it will be mentioned once, then discarded. I agree with you that it doesn't represent 'Harry' or anything thematic, but I definitely think it will have an established place in the story.

I've done the briefest of research on this, and I am no expert on arcane symbols, but here we go anyway!
Apologies for any repetition.
The first thing I thought when I saw the symbol was the eye in the pyramid - represents the holy trinity and the all seeing eye of God in western culture. Could relate to the trio, but why the dividing line up the middle? back to the drawing board...

Having had a quick look at alchemical symbols, as I'm surfe others have spotted, the triangle represents fire, the circle water, or in HP lore Gryffindor/Slytherin, Harry/Voldemort. The positioning of the Circle inside the pyramid would seem to suggest the duality and magical link between Harry and Voldemort. They are linked by the curse that failed, their similar life patterns and the prophecy. It also suggest to me that Harry is a Horcrux!

The alchemical link also fits perfectly with Potter mythology, and the Flamel/Dumbledore/PS plot strand. The dividing line suggests to me the Dumbledore line from GOF 'but in essence divided?' Harry and Voldemort are magically linked, but seperate in terms of their choices and the relative states of their souls. The characters are linked, as shown by the symbols, but divided, as shown by the central line. TA DA! what do you think??

I still don't think Harry is a Horcrux... As DD suggested it wouuld be foolish to place one inside something that had a mind of it's own and could control itself... I think its one thing to use an animal, especially a snake, that LV feels he can easily control... but to use a boy that he had no idea what would happen to him... that would be foolish.. I think when he lost his powers he either made a Horcrux out of something in the Potter house or didn't make one at all..
I do like your idea of the line as the symbol of "In essence divided". However, I believe that quote meant that LV soul was inside the snake. It was his soul, however in essence they were divided, two seperate beings...
the symbol reminded me of analytic geometry.. An inscribed circle with angle bisectors... Point is to try to find the center of the circle.... LV having DE that surround him in a circle... the prophecy being inside an orb... The Wizenmagot being held in a circular room... the circle its no doubt a powerful symbol... What is impotant is what is at the center, or lead, of the circle...I don't believe it is a Masonic symbol... That is more of a square and compass... the all-seeing eye reminds me of Trelawny and of Harry's visions... So I wonder if it has something to do with Harry "seeing"...
All I know for sure is that I would hate to get to the end of the book and realize I still don't know what that symbol means...
LOL

LOL... watch us all be wrong and end up being some new tat that Ron wakes up with on one of his cheeks... and i aint talking about his face...

but... it is all pretty white and unfreckled, could be as white as a Malfoy cheek.

Good point Madam Malkin, it is true as you say that people do not make good Horcruxes, but I still think Harry is one - I just don't think he was intended to be one.

Is it possible that the weird circumstances of the AK curse rebounding on Voldie from Harry created a Horcrux or Horcrux-like magical link between them? Could a torn portion of voldie's soul from murdering Harry's parents have been blasted/sucked(?) into the curse scar in the unexpected (and as we know unique in the history of magic) magical explosion?

If the spine symbol is read alchemically, then you have a symbolic representation of this; two distinct shapes representing Harry and Voldie are linked together, yet at the same time clearly divided in two. I think the fact that the circle is inside or contained by the triangle denotes the fact that Harry carries a fragment of Voldemort's soul within himself.

Like you say though, there's just no way we can know for sure - maybe even not after we've read the book! there's bound to be many a detail left to the imagination.

There's one thing I do know for sure, though. Suggestions that this symbol will appear on Ron's 'cheek' are RIDIKKULUS. Anybody who has read Book 6 closely* will know that that is where the entire Weasley family were branded with the Dark Mark! Who says LV hs no sense of humour???

*with their face positioned no more than 3 inches from the page

Been researching alchemy some more, and something potentially big just occurred to me.

The spine symbol could also represent the quintessence or harmonisation of the four houses: we've got symbols for fire (triangle) and water, (circle) but air and earth can ALSO be represented by a triangle bisected by a line! In alchemy, the four elements: Fire, Water, Air and Earth can be harmonized and combined into Gold - the symbol of Love and Spirituality. This fits in well with the over arcing love theme of the series.

This image shows you something like what I mean; the final balance symbol is the star of David, which obviously Jo would not use on a Harry Potter book, (!) but substitute the water triangle for a water circle symbol, and you could argue that our spine symbol is a symbol of elemental balance...Note also that Jo has swapped the traditional masculine and feminine alignments of two elements: air (Ravenclaw) becomes feminine, and water (Slytherin) becomes Masculine. Another example of how Jo plays with Folklore and Mythology in the series.




This could mean that the spine symbol represents the final merging of the Hogwarts houses, The realisation of the Four Founders legacies and the blending and hopefully BALANCE of the characteristics/personality traits/abilities of the four student bodies. If combined, they would represent an unstoppable force in the fight aginst Voldemort, whose 'gift' according to Dumbledore, 'for spreading enmity and discord is very great.' In other words, he is the enemy of balance. His success depends on creating fear and division among wizardkind. Quintessence/Balance on the front cover doesn't bode too well for Voldie!

There is plenty of precedent for this theory in canon: Dumbledore called for the students to unite in his speech to the school (end of GOF) Also the sorting hat's warning song (beginning of OOTP) where it worries that quartering the students is wrong, and there are many minor references here there and everywhere (e.g. the textbook called: 'Quintessence: A Quest'). This powerful force has also already been shown in microcosm, by Dumbledore's Army - although this was minus Slytherin.

Will the chosen one be the catalyst that unites Hogwarts in the final chapter?

I believe the words are in hebrew, which makes sense because this site is very religious.

I also found a philosophy website that talks about a Circular Theory:

http://www.popularphilosophy.com/symbols/2...2/triangle.html

They say, "Circles turn into lines turn into triangles turn into squares turn into stars turn into circles forever." In summery, it could simply symbolize that the story is coming full circle.

Best idea I've seen... Perhaps it's just it. The end.

Ohhhh.... well this is getting interesting...

I do like the idea that this is really coming full circle and that the symbol may just be showing it.... And I also like the idea of the houses uniting as the sorting hat and DD warned....

Ahhh.. This suspense is killing me!

i still hold to the thought that we have been introduced to the symbol before, but we just never saw what the symbol looked like until now. Jo normally introduces things in other books under the radar that go unnoticed and then all of the sudden we have an "ah ha" moment and scramble to find where the concept was previously introduced to us. I think that this holds true for the symbol.

It all makes perfect sense when you put it that way. You must have really done your homework on this topic! I completely agree and wish I had your knowledge and reasoning. Then maybe, just maybe, I could figure out DH!!!!

I think that is very true. I don't think we've seen the symbol directly before, but I think someone has seen it in their school textbook Quintessence: A Quest. Harry is reading the book in chapter 15 of HBP. Surprisingly, it's not an Ancient Runes book, though, its charms.

Nobody as far as I know has yet mentioned the actual appearance of the symbol; it looks to me like it might be carved on stone. If my theory of Hogwarts unity is correct, then I think it likely that the symbol is carved somewhere within Hogwarts itself, my guess would be either its on a founder's tomb, or it's carved on a concealed entrance to the tomb of the founders/the Graveyard that's 'somewhere else' according to the Jo/Cuaron POA DVD interview. Is Harry's knowledge going to help him spot this symbol in the castle, carved into the rough stone walls of Snape's dungeon corridor, or some other older part of Hogwarts?

PS
some people have mentioned writing on the symbol, but I can't see any even with the image blown up? Also worth mentioning that true symbols don't normally have writing on them, cos they're a visual sign...

Amazing research gone into this I was pulling all the books out last night just to look for previous symbols! This is probably wide of the mark but aren't there markings around the pensieve? I'm ploughing through all the books again in prep for summer so I'm keeping a look out..............I wish I had JKR's imagination!

Who has mentioned writing on it???

there are markings around the pensieve:
the pensieve is first introduced in ch 30 of GoF.
" A shallow stone basin lay there, with odd carvings around the edge; runes and symbols that Harry did not recognise."

I was sitting here doodling the symbol and I thought it could be something as simple as the triangle representing the trio, encasing the eye of the snake or a cat's eye or a sword through the snake eating its tail/Ouroboros. The snake fits better than a cat's eye. The Ouroboros represents LV.

I drew the circle first, then the triangle around it and finally the line down the middle, like thrusting a sword/dagger through it.

This also reminds me of essence divided. The circular snake in the symbol is divided into two.

Lexicon:


'fragile silver instruments' and 'the miniscule silver tube at the top' - JKR is careful not give away too much away in the description.

head nor tail - Ouroboros

There is a good article at wikipedia about the Ouroboros and it's association to alchemy and many cultures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ourobouros

A couple of excerpts from Wiki;



immortal, - LV.

seven - magic number.

six motions - 6 horcruxes.

I really liked this post. Earlier this week I was looking at the two divided shapes within each other and saw that there are essentially four pieces - which could represent the 4 founders, 4 houses, 4 elements ----> the 4 Hallows/ 4 horcruxes that are left. Afterall, Voldemort likely wanted to make one horcrux representing each of the 4 founders. Together as a symbol they make a 5th combined shape. [I also think that Harry represents the quintessence and that his scar connection to Voldemort is likely due to a piece of Voldemort's soul lodged in Harry' scar, but that's a post for another thread, so I'll leave that idea for now...] The four pieces could be imagined as two triangles that are mirror images of each other and pointing opposite ways. You have the same with the two half circles. Infact, one triangle half could loosely represent fire or the points of a sword (Gryffindor). One triangle could represent a mountain peak (air) or a wand tip (Ravenclaw) or it could represent a snake tooth or a diamond shape - like on Nagini's back. One half-circle could represent a cup (Hufflepuff) or water (Slytherin). The other half could represent a hill or a hat or a crown (Ravenclaw).... you get the idea. (Quote was from Jo's interview with Melissa and Emerson in July 2005) There are plenty of other threads that discuss the 4 elements and the houses, the 4 Hallows, what the horcruxes are, etc. so I hope I'm not leading anyone off topic by my excitement over the four "pieces" of the symbol.


The writing I believe was Hebrew on a symbol on a linked webpage.
Many pages back some people mentioned that the symbol appeared to be carved on white marble. Dumbledore's tomb was white marble.

In my opinion there isn't really a graveyard at Hogwarts, but rather Jo knew what Cuaron didn't - that Dumbledore would die and his tomb woudl be next to the lake. The scene in McGonagall's office wouldn't make sense if there was a graveyard at Hogwarts, so I don't think there is a graveyard, though it is always possible that someone (like one of the founders) could be buried hidden at Hogwarts and it isn't common knowledge. Besides Dumbledore's tomb at Hogwarts it could Flamel's tomb, one of the founders tombs at Hogwarts or elsewhere (since Harry might have to visit one to find a horcrux). It could be on one of his parents' tombs - something connected with Lily or James' jobs. We don't know yet why Lily was supposedly going to be spared by Voldemort.
I personally think that the symbol represents a 3-D object that an alchemist used or invented. Besides our two alchemists (Dumbledore and Flamel) I think that there is a small possibility that one of Harry's parents could have been an alchemist.

Poet, I really like some of these ideas - you may well be spot on about the Hogwarts 'graveyard' mentioned by Jo/Cuaron simply being a reference to Dumbledore's Tomb. If as I believe the spine symbol represents quintessence, it would also be a perfect mark to put on an alchemists grave, which Dumbledore was of course.

As a symbol of the four elements/components/houses of the school uniting to create a 'strong place' it would also be a perfect symbol for Dumbledore's role in life as Headmaster. Dumbledore's unifying talents were displayed at his funeral, were he created a kind of social alchemy - all four houses, and the major magical races the mermen, spirits, centaurs, giants (virtually every sentient creature or 'being' in fantastic beasts were represented) were united to pay their respects.

Prior to the cover art being unveiled, my instinct was that 'Deathly Hallows' referred to founders tombs, hidden somewhere in the castle, or possibly to the Horcruxes, made from relics of the founders; however, since seeing the US cover art, I am thinking more and more that the book title refers to the region beyond the veil. If the deathly hallows are beyond the veil, the likelihood of a Hogwarts graveyard existing is somewhat reduced.

I think that the unification or 'quintessence' of the Hogwarts Houses, and maybe even a wider reconciliation of some or all of the magical races, is a real possibility in book 7, precisely because this symbol has been placed prominently on the cover.

Forget the pygmy puff! But, I really am expecting to start seeing a new round of tatoo art at the local swimming pool this summer.

Actually I didn't read all the posts, but I'll anyway express my thoughts. I don't think that symbol to be a alchemical or masonic one, instead, I think it's only a very simple graphical representation of what Harry can count on in the war against Voldemort. As Dumbledore said many times, Harry knows something Voldemort doesn't: Love. Voldemort has followers, but not friends. Harry isn't alone at all, with Ron and Hermione it forms a triangle, and it's the vertex. Together they are able to imprison the circle: Voldemort. Voldemort could be graphically represented as a circle, because of its achieved immortality, but, only from the vertex (Harry) a line goes through the circle (Voldemort) to defeat it, and break the innatural immortality Voldemort has achieved.

Only friendship and love, will make the real difference in the ultimate battle.

A poster named HarryWannaBe said this on April 12th on a website called the Diagon Alley forums:

I actually think the symbol represents an object Dumbledore or an alchemist created or used. I definitely think the symbol is engraven on white marble - most likely a tomb. I think Harry will see both the symbol and the object it represents in Book 7. Even though I think it represents an actual working instrument or object, I think its shape(s) was created created specifically by Jo to portray ideas important to Dumbledore, to alchemy, to the events of Book 7. I give you the initials of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, as seen in the symbol:

The second row of symbols shows some other options for some of the initials.

Edit to add: Whatever the symbol is, I think it holds importance to Dumbledore and to what his end goals were, and Harry will find out what the symbol's meaning and importance are somewhere along his journey in Book 7.

I agree its likely to be on Dumbledore's tomb, but I disagree on what it represents; I think it is a graphical representation of alchemy; a symbol for a branch of magic, and also a symbol of magical unification. It just makes sense to me that a symbol of alchemy/unity would appear on Dumbledore's tomb rather than a diagram of a magical object, particularly when the chapter 'the White Tomb' demonstrated how Dumbledore was able to reach out to the other magical races.

The theme of the fragmentation of magical society will need to be resolved in book 7. Social fragmentation is shown in microcosm within the school (the houses' petty divisions and rivalries) and in macrocosm, through the domination and control of the other magical races by wizards. The pure-blood elitists running the ministry (as exemplified by Fudge, Umbridge and now Scrimgeour) discriminate against half-bloods and Muggle-borns, and regard people like Lupin and Hagrid as barely human 'half-breeds.' House-Elves have been completely enslaved, Centaurs made to live on reservations (although they clearly have their own prejudices) Goblins are denied basic rights like carrying wands, giants have been driven out of the country and have nearly been exterminated, because they resorted to siding with Voldemort to try and win their freedom. To all of these marginalised, downtrodden groups we can add the werewolves, who scrape out an existence on the fringes of society, unable to join the mainstream due to ministry laws.

In short, the magical world is a hotbed of prejudice, fear of difference, inequality and injustice. Voldemort has exploited this state of affairs in both his bids for power. He rules the death eaters through fear, and exploits and widens the cracks in magical society to achieve a similar effect:



This huge and over arcing theme, the need for the different elements of the school and the fragmented elements of magical society to join together and become stronger than the sum of their parts, or risk falling to Voldemort, has only got one book left to resolve itself. This theme has been intimately linked with Dumbledore, symbolically by his association with alchemy, and through his actions in the series: He can speak mermish, employs and educates 'half breeds' (Lupin, Hagrid, Firenze) negotiates with the Centaurs (Umbridge), treats students equally whatever their background, demands that Fudge sends envoys to the giants, calls for the students of the different schools to unite, employs a freed house elf, the list goes on...


For these reasons I think that the symbol on the spine/Dumbledore's tomb represents magical unity. We know that Krum is coming back in book seven, this quote may be relevant:

Hi everyone. Maybe the symbol is a hint that the trio, Harry, Haromine & Ron will servive in the end. Just what came to mind while researching on line.[size=7]

Harry is not describing ouroboros in this sentence. He was just confused.
Can't make head nor/or tail of something:
to not be able to understand something at all. We couldn't make head or tail of the film. 'What does his message say?' 'I don't know - I can't make head or tail of it.'

Just a modly reminder to tie comments into the future happenings in DH. There is an alchemy thread here in Obscurus.

Is this an actual (perhaps alchemical) symbol that JKR has adapted for the final book? OR is it something that she has invented?

Personally, I think the symbol represents a Horcrux. The CIRCLE is a traditional symbol for something whole, like a whole soul. In this figure, the line cuts (or splits) the soul into two parts. Encased in an equilateral triangle, the divided circle is protected on three sides (representing body, sou & spirit?).

Perhaps this symbol was drawn on the object that LV was going to use for a Horcrux. If so, it might help Harry to identify the real Horcruxes. It might even help him to destroy them.

[quote name='~FlashBack~' date='Mar 29 2007, 05:33 PM' post='1157126']
quote]The circle is the symbol for infinity, because the circle is endless, and may be considered a polygon with an infinite number of sides.

The snake or dragon with its tail in its mouth continually devouring itself and being reborn from itself is a symbol of eternity and of the cyclic nature of the universe. It expresses the unity of all things, which never disappear but change form in a cycle of destruction and re-creation.
[/quote]
[/quote]

All very interesting. And I sort of agree + adding a bit of my own for us to chew upon: Say it is Ancient Egyptian/ancient something to do with a snake, reborn infinitely. What say:
a) Voldermort is killed and yet reborns again, end of the book? (Nah, we wouldn't like it + the good must win, after all this painstaking efforts)
b) it simpyl means that the Snake (a.k.a. Voldemort) will be slashed in two pieces (the stick/sword)?

Godric Griffindor's sword is probably what's shown on the children's book cover? And Harry did use it before to kill of 'spirit of Slytheryn' .. so this could be the end of the Snake. But surely, it's not as simple as that, right? (Or is it? - Great minds always love simple solutions, as is with things usually in nature and life.)

BUT guys (/girls)! Why not keep it even a bit simpler? : The triangle with a circle closely resembles the triangle with an eye: the supposed symbol of Truth and divine Justice. So perhaps the Justice will finally come down upon You Know 'oo. Or it is Providence...
The eye of "God"
[quote]The Eye of God was renamed the Eye of Providence and was approved as part of the great seal of the United States. Later it was printed on the one-dollar bill, positioned hovering over an Egyptian pyramid, emphasizing its origins. [/quote]

Or, to be a bit thedaVinciCode-ian: symbolism ... could be a simpler version of one of many symbols know to man: say a mixture of faithsmixture of faiths.

Or, a thought just struck me: looking at it, it could be a crude compass ... Does look a bit like it.

Another idea I stumbled upon (not my own) is this article here. It talks of the Medicine wheel, where [quote]this Medicine Wheel, can best be understood if you think of it as a mirror in which everything is reflected. "The Universe is the Mirror of the People," the old Teachers tell us, "and each person is a Mirror to every other person." [/quote]

It also says that [quote]these ideas and symbols center on the nature and importance of such things as: wholeness, oneness, justice, love, peace, forgiveness.[/quote], which could well be the begining/end of our wonderind (wandering): Harry Potter began with love - hate; by James and Lilly dying for Harry. Perhaps it shall bee the same in the end - we, upon "conquering" the forces of Evil, will have Love again. (We are the world, we are the children ..

(I just hope Harry won't turn out to be Frodo Baggins material: forgiving and Pitying Voldemort ... Although I've always deemed this option quite viable. He's not a killer, I think. And anyway, it takes a lot of guts and determination to do an Unforgivable curse. Perhaps Snape'll finish Him of for him and be mortally wounded in the process, dies like a good guy after all ... a bit like Lord Vader in Star Wars. Hm... Not unlikely, isn't it?)

Peace out and
remember: all you need is faith, trust, and a little bit of pixy dust:)
Aljaz

P.S.: Oh, yeah - and just one more thing: it will come.The Truth.

The first possibility would be my opinion - a triangle bisected by a line is an alchemical symbol (see post above for pic) I think that Jo has adapted it to symbolise forthcoming events in Deathly Hallows.

PS I think to help narrow down the possibilities, Jo isn't likely to spring something new or unconnected to British/European mythology on the reader in book 7. This is not likely to be Mexican, central american etc, Aboriginal etc because there would be no cultural connection with Brtish magic or foreshadowing in canon.

This symbol is going to be related to something previously introduced in canon, e.g. alchemy or ancient runes. The marble-like appearance of the illustration would suggest Dumbledore's Tomb, and so an alchemy connection. Ancient runes to the British mind means Irish Oghams or Scandinavian pre-chirstian rune symbols. This symbol isn't one of those:




That leaves a strong possibility that we're looking at an adapted alchemical symbol.

I've done some research on this topic, and there are a few symbols that sprung out at me that are either similar to, or part of, the symbol on the spine of the cover.

As hagridlurveshappyhour says, a triangle bisected by a line is an alchemical symbol - it is also often used to represent fire, and represented 'king' in the hieroglyphic system. Click here for more on this symbol.

A circle bisected by a vertical line than runs outside the margins of the circle is an ancient symbol that sometimes represented the letter 'm' in the runic alphabet. Click here for more on this symbol.

A triangle interwoven with a circle is an alchemical symbol that represents 'salt water'. Click here for more on this symbol.

I don't know if there is anything of interest here, but just thought I'd post it to see if it enlightens anything!

I think that the symbol could be on Dumbledore's tomb, as it appears to be on white marble, and may be alchemical, although it could be runic - maybe Hermione's knowledge of ancient runes could help there?


WW

29 pages on this topic and no where nearer what this could mean.
well not for sure, but a wide range of wild guesses.

Does anybody remember if the object on the back of HBP(UK child) also fired so much discussion?

I for myself only remember that I did not notice it before the second reading of the book.

If it makes you feel any better, I didn't really look at the symbols until this final book. And I think that's why it's so interesting - before, it's been pictures of objects. Owls, dogs, golden feathers, rings. Now we have a strange-looking symbol that isn't really a 'thing'. Who wouldn't be intrigued??

Before HBP, the objects on the spine where taken from the cover art itself:

PS: The face of the man on the back
CoS: Hedwig's head from the picture of the car
PoA: The head of the dog on the back
GoF: A snippet from the back cover art
OoTP: A phoenix feather presumably from the phoenix on the front

Suddenly, in HBP, we got the ring, which, after we read the book, we realised was the Horcrux.
This is probably the reason not much speculation about the objects on the spines before, because they had never really been significant - just small pictures taken from the cover art.

I agree that the symbol is very different, and intriguing as well, because no one knows what it means - everyone could see that the thing on HBP was a ring, but we don't actually know anything about the symbol.

Hmm....

Just had awhile to catch up on the last few days posts on this thread.



I think that this is a brilliant theory. Representationally, this would sum up A LOT of loose ends in the series.



The description in your link for the bisected triangle included "The vertical line, , signifying oneness, unique being, and authority, is combined with for power and divinity."

Incorporate a circle. Click here for more information on this symbol, particularly: In Western ideography is a general symbol for the eternal, the endless, that which is without beginning or end, all possibilities (within the confines of the system in which it is used).



Be it from an alchemical or Christian perspective, these symbolic descriptions seem to have the same meaning: harmonization, oneness, unity.



The letter 'm' didn't jump out at me in this link but the reference to the symbol being found in red paint did.

Interestingly, Rubedo is a Latin word meaning "redness" that was adopted by 15th and 16th century alchemists to define the fourth major stage in the "alchemical opus" in achieving enlightened consciousness and the total fusion of spirit and matter. For the Wikipedia article on Rubedo clickhere. (Italics/bold added for emphasis).

At least we have had fun speculating on the meaning of the Symbol on the Spine during these last 30 pages of posts...

When I first saw it, i thought of it as an ancient rune, but now i'm not so sure...
It doesnt look like any ancient rune i've seen before, so I have ruled this possibility out.
I think it may represent the trio. It's a bit of a loose theory, but maybe its like:

Triangle=Harry - Strong and brave, and the person who hold the trio together when they are having tough times.
I got this thought because i know that the strongest shape is infact the triangle.

Circle=Hermione. She is very clever, and likes everything to be neat and tidy, like a perfect circle. She is also a very brave person, and tries to help harry get through whatever he needs to.

Lastly, Line = Ron. Now, this is a bit of a loose one, but i think it represents him being quite cowardly in himself, as we know from other books. He isn't cowardly as such, but he does seem to be the more scared one of the trio.
It could also represent that it is just a bare line, on its own, and Ron and his family are all poor.


Hope you like my theory!

I dont think the symbol is on marble but paper !.

A screwed up sweet wrapper to be more precise!

Could this symbol be on the wrapper of Droobles Best Blowing Gum! maybe a hint\message or clue!

That Nevilles mother is trying to convey to Neville?

By giving him all them Droobles Best Blowing Gum wrappers;
When he visits her in St Mungos; as mentioned in OOTP!

I haven't seen this noted in the thread anywhere, but can those that have the previous UK versions of the books list what symbols were on each one? I only have the US Versions, which we don't get symbols, so I'm curious to see what each symbol has been on each UK Version to help us indicate what the one on DHs may mean.

Not 100% sure as I don't have the books at hand right now, but I think it was :
1 - Dumbledore.
2 - An owl.
3 - A great black dog (Sirius).
4 - An owl (again).
5 - A Phoenix feather.
6 - Marvolo's ring.

Ok I didn't realize those were the actual symbols, very interesting.

Ron sure is not a coward, but of the trio he has the least posibilioties to hide his insecurity behind.
He isn't special
he isn't brillant
he isn't famous
he is part of a package, he is Mr. Common Muck.
The only one with a lower self esteem is Neville Longbottom, who introduced himself in his 5th year to Luna with:
"I am nobody."

Insecure they all three are, but the other have better cards to cover it.

When Ron should be symbolished by a geometric figure
then it should be a square. Ron isn't very flexible, but rather rigid in his attitude.