Alethiometer

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The Alethiometer

The alethiometer is a device from the trilogy His Dark Materials which tells the truth. The word alethiometer comes from the Greek word aletheia meaning truth, so alethiometer means truth measuring instrument. It is described in Northern Lights: "It was very like a clock, or a compass, for there were hands pointing to places around the dial, but instead of the hours or the points of the compass there were several little pictures, each of them painted with the finest and slenderest sable brush".

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

To use the alethiometer, the user directs three needles to lie over certain symbols on the face of device, and forms a question in his or her mind. The fourth needle then responds to the question, swinging over different symbols to form answers. Any given symbol may have numerous meanings. The compass provides its answers through the influence of Dust, or elementary particles called shadows (dark matter).

The alethiometer is given to the leading character, Lyra Belacqua, by the Master of Jordan College. He tells her that it is a rare device, being only one of six ever made. Lyra soon finds herself able to use it by intuition, rather than the many years of study normally required.

The 36 symbols and some of their meanings:

Hourglass, Time, Death, change...
Sun, Day, Authority, truth...
Alpha and Omega, Finality, Process, inevitability...
Marionette, Obedience, Submission, grace...
Serpent, Evil, Guile, natural wisdom...
Cauldron (crucible), Alchemy, Craft, achieved wisdom...
Anchor, Hope, Steadfastness, prevention...
Angel, Messenger, Hierarchy, disobedience...
Helmet, War, Protection, narrow vision...
Beehive, Productive work, Sweetness, light...
Moon, Chastity, Mystery, the uncanny...
Madonna, Motherhood, The feminine, worship...
Apple, Sin, Knowledge, vanity...
Bird, The soul (the dæmon), Spring, marriage...
Bread, Nourishment, Christ, sacrifice...
Ant, Mechanical work, Diligence, tedium...
Bull, Earth, Power, honesty...
Candle, Fire, Faith, learning...
Cornucopia, Wealth, Autumn, hospitality...
Chameleon, Air, Greed, patience...
Thunderbolt, Inspiration, Fate, anger...
Dolphin, Water, Resurrection, playfulness...
Walled Garden, Nature, Innocence, order...
Globe, Politics, Sovereignty, fame...
Sword, Justice, Fortitude, the Church...
Griffin, Treasure, Watchfulness, courage...
Horse, Europe, Journeys, fidelity...
Camel, Asia, Summer, perseverance...
Elephant, Africa, Charity, continence...
Crocodile (caiman), America, Rapacity, enterprise...
Baby, The future, Malleability, helplessness...
Compass, Measurement, Mathematics, science...
Lute, Poetry, Rhetoric, philosophy...
Tree, Firmness, Shelter, fertility...
Wild man, Wild man, The Masculine, lust...
Owl, Night, Winter, fear...

[edit] Trivia

A scholar who has mastered the art of reading the alethiometer is referred to as an alethiometrist.

The resemblance of the device to a large compass caused the American publishers of the first book, originally entitled Northern Lights, to retitle the book The Golden Compass. Philip Pullman later explained the mix-up in a quotation that can be found on this fan site.