Allomantic Symbols

[ArmbarBanker]

Has anyone been able to explain the progression of the allomantic symbols. I see the spikes in the symbols but do not understand the dots or the crest and what their positions mean. The only thing I noticed was that the dots are outside the crest of the metals and inside the crest of the alloys

Edited May 23, 2017 by ArmbarBanker

[Pagerunner he/him]

There are a few patterns; I don't know if we've uncovered everything yet, or the meaning behind it all.

• The elements of the symbols are drawn from the three Metallic Arts: spikes for Hemalurgy, arcs for bracers for Feruchemy, and dots for beads for Allomancy.
• Dots are all on the outside for pure metals, inside for alloys.
• The metals who have double-arcs match up to vowels or semivowels when used as an alphabet.

If you look through the in-universe older versions of the alphabet (look under the Artwork tab on Brandon's site, there's one for each of the first four Mistborn books), it looks like spike orientation (coming into the arc or out of the arc) doesn't matter, since the older 'spikes' are just lines, and you can't tell which direction they're going.

[ArmbarBanker]

Thank you that helps explain alot

[Oversleep]

20 minutes ago, Pagerunner said:

If you look through the in-universe older versions of the alphabet (look under the Artwork tab on Brandon's site, there's one for each of the first four Mistborn books)

Or here you have them compared: http://coppermind.net/wiki/Steel_alphabet#Evolution_of_the_Steel_Alphabet