The Symbol

The Symbol
The Symbol
First appearance:	Don't Look Back

A frequently appearing symbol is somehow linked to evolved humans.

Gallery of Appearances

The Symbol is found:

• 
  On the cover of 9th Wonders!, Issue #5, by Isaac Mendez.
• 
  In a notebook on a desk at Chandra's apartment in Brooklyn
  (from an unaired scene of Genesis).
• 
  Twice on the cover of 9th Wonders!, Issue #14.
  (Don't Look Back)
• 
  On Chandra's map, in his Brooklyn apartment.
  (Don't Look Back)
• 
  Portrayed on Peter Petrelli's precognitive picture.
  (Don't Look Back)
• 
  On one of Isaac Mendez's many paintings seen by Hiro in the future.
  (Don't Look Back)
• 
  As a recurring shape shown in a genetic profiling program created by Chandra Suresh.
  (Don't Look Back)
• 
  In the swimming pool at a crime scene that Matt Parkman was investigating.
  (Don't Look Back)
• 
  On the front cover of Activating Evolution by Chandra Suresh.
  (One Giant Leap)
• 
  Drawn on Claire Bennet's geometry textbook.
  (One Giant Leap)
• 
  Drawn on a newspaper clipping of Nathan Petrelli, found on the map in Sylar's apartment.
  (One Giant Leap)
• 
  Drawn on a photo pinned to the map in Sylar's apartment.
  (One Giant Leap)
• 
  Drawn on a photo pinned to the map in Sylar's apartment.
  (One Giant Leap)
• 
  Drawn on a photo pinned to the map in Sylar's apartment.
  (One Giant Leap)
• 
  On the necklace of The Haitian who works with Mr. Bennet.
  (One Giant Leap)
• 
  Designed on the hilt of Future Hiro's katana.
  (Hiros)
• 
  The tattoo on Jessica's shoulder, as captured on video.
  (Collision, Hiros, Fallout)
• 
  The tattoo In the underlayer of a painting that was thought to be of Niki Sanders, but revealed to be of her alter ego.
  (Better Halves)
• 
  On a Post-it note in Sanjog's file.
  (Seven Minutes to Midnight)
• 
  At a Greyhound bus stop in Utah at which Micah was waiting.
  (Homecoming)
• 
  On the hilt of the replica of Takezo Kensei's sword.
  (Godsend)
• 
  As a wood formation in the tank of the lizard named Mohinder.
  (Godsend)
• 
  In a plate of pasta being eaten by one of Claude's pickpocketing victims.
  (Godsend)
• 
  In the shards of glass from the broken display case when Sylar tossed Sandra Bennet into it. (closeup)
  (Distractions)
• 
  In Thompson's office.
  (Company Man)
• 
  On the front door of the Bennets' home as Ted Sprague bombards it with radiation.
  (Company Man)
• 
  In the arrangement of some stones on the curator's table in Linderman's archives.
  (Parasite)
• 
  In the wooden wreckage of the smashed bookcase.
  (.07%)
• 
  On a display of information about D.L. Hawkins and Niki Sanders in Linderman's archives.
  (The Hard Part)
• 
  On an ad for Jittetsu Arms in the Yellow Pages.
  (Landslide)
• 
  On a banner in Jittetsu Arms.
  (Landslide)
• 
  As one of Hana's earrings.
  (The Death of Hana Gitelman, Part 1)
• 
  On Hana's finger.
  (The Death of Hana Gitelman, Part 1)
• 
  On Takezo Kensei's sword.
  (How to Stop an Exploding Man)
• 
  On Takezo Kensei's banner.
  (How to Stop an Exploding Man)
• 
  On a necklace worn by Guillame.
  (It Takes a Village, Part 1)
• 
  In the sand, as drawn by Guillame.
  (It Takes a Village, Part 3)

Heroes 360

Additionally, the symbol has appeared during Heroes 360:

• 
  As the secret login link to the hidden Company files area on primatechpaper.com. Note that the "rungs" on the symbol are placed incorrectly.
• 
  In a painting by Isaac Mendez titled Godsend in the online archives on corinthianlasvegas.com.
• 
  In the arrangement of the black boxes in the crossword puzzle on Hiro's blog.

Various Explanations

Great Talent and Godsend

When Hiro locates his katana in a New York City museum, Ando believes that the Symbol is actually a combination of two Japanese characters — sai (which translates to great talent) and yo (which translates to godsend). (Godsend)

Later, when Ando sees the symbol in Jittetsu Arms, he calls the symbol "Godsend" again. (Landslide)

• 
  Ando notices this character, yo, in a symbol on the hilt of Takezo Kensei's sword.
• 
  The Japanese Kanji character yo translates to godsend.
• 
  The Japanese Kanji character sai translates to great talent.
• 
  The two characters may combine to resemble the Symbol.

The Kanji dictionary defines yo as "bestow; participate in; give; award; impart; provide; cause; gift; godsend" and sai as "genius; years old" leading to a broader definition of the symbol under Ando's explaination, possibly as "bestowing talent/genius" or "providing/imparting ability".

The Serpent and the Crane

While sketching the symbol in the sand, Guillame tells his son the story of the serpent and the crane. The serpent was a creature of ambition, tired of crawling on its belly and eating grubs and mice. One day, he spotted the crane. The crane was carefree and stupid, but could fly. The sun shown on her always; she slept in the clouds and drank from the rainbows. The serpent found the crane at her watering hole, swallowed her whole, and was able to fly using her wings. The serpent flew around the sun and to the moon; he ate the clouds and played in the rain. However, Guillame notes, "What good is it to fly, if you have nowhere to go?" He says that the serpent lost touch with the ground. Guillame then scratches through his sketch. (It Takes a Village, Part 3)

Notes

• An unaired scene of Genesis shows the symbol in a notebook on a desk at Chandra's apartment in Brooklyn.
• The Symbol strongly resembles a stylized RNA strand.
• In an interview, writers Joe Pokaski and Aron Coleite call Isaac's paintings of the symbol "helix paintings".
• In the Company Man episode commentary, the Symbol is referred to as the "single helix".
• In an interview concerning the Symbol, Tim Kring says, "I would just say that part of the fun of watching the show is seeing how certain things crop up. And if you look at that symbol carefully, you might be able to figure it out. By the way, the symbol also shows up in places viewers can't see: On the door of a room in the soundstage where Heroes shoots, the sign reads 'PROPS' — with that special S as the symbol."
• In an interview, Joe Kelly said he made up the story of the serpent and the crane (It Takes a Village, Part 3) so it would be "in the terms of the Haitian's culture, and since the symbol looks a little like a snake with wings or feet."

Trivia

• When the shot zooms in on the symbol on the hilt of the replica sword in the Museum, the symbol is reversed. (Godsend) This may be due to the reverse side of the hilt being a mirror image of the other side.
• Counting repeat appearances like Jessica's tattoo, the Haitian's necklace, the algorithm, and the covers of 9th Wonders! and Activating Evolution, the Symbol has appeared in every episode except Genesis. However, the symbol did appear on Chandra's desk in a promotional image for Genesis.

Fan Theories

Please refer to Theory:The Symbol for fan-created theories and other speculation.