Symbols

As a mystery comic, Gunnerkrigg Court uses heavily symbolism throughout the story. The most prominent is the use of symbols. Several characters, places and species in-comic have symbols associated with them.

Alchemical Symbols

Discussion thread on the forum; earlier discussion.

In rough order of appearance:

Symbol	Description	First appearance
	The alchemical symbol for Antimony. Found on Antimony's pendant, represents Antimony herself, and is used to mark the end of a chapter. It also appears on Reynardine's forehead while he's under Annie's control. Curiously, the symbol used in-comic is actually the modern spiritual symbol of Antimony. The original alchemical symbol is an upside down female symbol (♁). The comic's symbol is an inverted antimony crowned (meaning controlled) by the symbol for quicklime, which, in alchemical symbolism, represents man's control of nature through alchemy.	Chapter 3, Page 5
	The alchemical symbol for Lead. Found on Sir Eglamore's armor; represents the protector of the court. Also appears on one of the court's entrances.	Chapter 3, Page 11
	An alchemical symbol for Mercury, called Quicksilver by the ancient alchemists. The symbol in-comic is one of the older symbols, while the more modern symbol has a circle in the centre (☿). Appears on Rey's forehead when in spirit form and represents the ability to take over bodies. It appears on pages 52, 53, 54, 712, 713, 715 and 719.	Chapter 3, Page 20
	Symbol for bismuth; also the alchemical symbol for rock salt. The closed loop on Chapter 7, Page 2, Chapter 14, Page 10, Chapter 23, Page 20 and Chapter 25, Page 15 looks like another variation on Bismuth, but Tom has it as unity of the two worlds.	Chapter 7, Page 2
	Alchemical symbol for fire.	Chapter 49, Page 71
	Alchemical symbol for water.	Chapter 49, Page 71
☉	Alchemical symbol for gold. In alchemy, gold represented the perfection of all matter on any level, including that of the mind, spirit, and soul. The symbol for gold could also be used to represent the sun in astrology.	Chapter 49, Page 71
☽	The alchemical symbol for silver.	Chapter 49, Page 71
✡	Star of David, alchemical symbol for inhibition.
	Alchemical symbol for phosphorus. This is seen in-comic as Hetty's symbol and is combined with the symbol for Oil and Oil essence .	Chapter 43, Page 20
	Alchemical symbol for arsenic.	Chapter 53, Page 21

Symbols made for the comic

Symbol	Description
	The mark of the creator (comic). It was first associated with Diego, but then was passed onto Kat. (discussion)
	The symbol used by the Donlans to represent their etherically powered computer program.
	The symbol for Anja's binding program, seen (among other places) on a pendant around her neck. Donald and James both have a tattoo of this symbol, given to them by Anja, although neither is seen in the comic.
	Represents Fire Elementals, and by extension, Antimony. Suggestion on interpretation: the Crown represents stylized fire of the fire elemental, and also "royal succession", as in sense that "only one person can wear the crown at a time", referring to the fire elemental mothers' early death.
	A symbol that possibly represents humanity. Bears a resemblance to the eye symbol used for Anja's binding program.
	Symbol representing the Anwyn. Similar symbols have also been seen carried by individuals of other families.
	Jones' Wandering Eye symbol.
	Symbol representing the forest, used to summon the court to meetings. Seen here.
	Symbol representing the court, used to respond to the Gillite Forest's request for a meeting. Seen here.
	Symbol shown on some court employees. Shown on certain court workers here, including Jeanne here.

Other Symbols

• The Greek letters gamma "Γ" and Zeta "Ζ" appear on the cover of Chapter 5: Two Strange Girls
• The number 113 appears sporadically throughout the comic, though what it symbolizes specifically is unknown.
• Photoresistor

Unidentified Symbols

• Looks like a light: https://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=86, https://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=163
• Hologram room: https://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=169

Treatises

• The first treatise has the classical symbol for antimony (wrapped in a caduceus), water within mercury, fire and water and star of David, sun and moon. The sign language is discussed here (XF) and in the first alchemy thread.
• The second treatise (discussion) has mercury, sun and bismuth, fire and water, classical antimony, bismuth, and Kat and Annie's symbols.
• The third treatise (discussion) has Kat and Annie's symbols as well as bismuth.
• The fourth treatise (discussion) has Kat and Annie's symbols, mercury, and bismuth between sun and earth. Reynardine is marked with both Antimony and his variant of mercury.
• The fifth treatise (discussion) has Kat, Annie and Jones' symbols, photoresistors, and the sun.
• The sixth treatise (discussion) has a tree dividing the court - containing Kat, robots, Renard and the Moon - from the forest - containing Annie, Ysengrin and the Sun.
• The seventh treatise (discussion) marks the end of the sixth volume and approximately maps the characters to the Kabbalistic Tree of Life: immortality and incomprehensible primordial energy at the top, physical universe lower; left column as severity/Boaz, right as Mercy/Jachin; Jones as Understanding/Binah top left; Annie's fire elemental as Wisdom/Chokhmah top right; Anthony Carver as judgement/Gewurah mid-left; Coyote as loving-kindness/Chesed mid-right; Kat gesturing to Knowledge/Da'at upper centre, apparently leading Antimony towards Balance/Tiferet lower centre to mediate between severity (Court, her father) and mercy (Forest, Coyote); Ysengrim possibly as strength,victory/Netzach lower right; Robot and Shadow/Paz/Reynard at Intellect/Hod lower left; Court, Annan Waters chasm and Forest as a connection/Yesod with Jeanne at the bottom as some kind of vessel or filter/Malkuth. (adapted from https://gunnerkrigg.proboards.com/post/133466/thread)

Further Reading

• Astronomical symbols on Wikipedia
• Planets in astrology on Wikipedia
• https://www.symbols.com/
• List of GC forum threads discussing symbols