Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. (Campbell)
Symbols and their meanings
Symbols can be representative of an individual as well as a culture. Similar to music, symbols can express the abstract, stimulate deep emotions, or provide an ability to put a name to the abstract. In using symbols as a way to identify the meaning of both the band members and the music they created it stimulated the listener’s fascination to understand the “what.” From Led Zeppelin’s perspective they wanted their album to be representative of the music they created not have the focus of the album be the name of the band.
"We decided the album couldn't be called Led Zeppelin IV. Each of us decided to choose a metaphysical symbol which represented us individually."
Robert Plant
John Bonham's Symbol
Several guesses have been made as to the meaning of John Bonham's symbol, the three interlocking circles. The most accepted interpretation is that it symbolizes the relationship of the man, woman, and child. Other suggestions have been presented, some are more interesting than others. It has been said that sometimes while John Bonham was having a drink, he would make interlocking rings from water that dripped off of the bottle. Also, it has been suggested that Bonham just liked the way the three rings reminded him of a drum set. Robert Plant observed that it was the emblem of Ballantine Beer.
John Paul Jones's Symbol
John Paul Jones' symbol is a single circle intersecting 3 vesica pisces (a triquetra). Taken from The Book of Signs by Rudolf Koch, it symbolises a person with confidence and competence.
Robert Plant's Symbol
Plant's symbol is the feather of the Egyptian goddess Ma'at, representing truth, justice, fairness and writing, encapsulated by an unbroken circle representing life. According to Egyptian mythology, Anubis, the god of judgment and death, would take the heart of those who died and put it on a balance with the feather of Ma'at. If the heart outweighed the feather, the person's soul would go to hell, but on the other hand, if the heart was lighter than the feather, the soul would go to heaven.
Jimmy Page's Symbol
The source of the ZoSo symbol it originated in 'Ars Magica Arteficii' (1557) by Gerolamo Cardano (also known as J. Cardan), an old alchemical grimoire, where it has been identified as a sigil consisting of zodiac signs. Page is a Capricorn, a sign ruled by Saturn, and the Z-like symbol is distinctive as a common astrological mark for Saturn. The oSo portion is similar to the alchemic symbol for mercury, also associated with Saturn. What it means personally to Page is unknown, as he has never publicly revealed its meaning.
"We decided the album couldn't be called Led Zeppelin IV. Each of us decided to choose a metaphysical symbol which represented us individually."
Robert Plant
John Bonham's Symbol
Several guesses have been made as to the meaning of John Bonham's symbol, the three interlocking circles. The most accepted interpretation is that it symbolizes the relationship of the man, woman, and child. Other suggestions have been presented, some are more interesting than others. It has been said that sometimes while John Bonham was having a drink, he would make interlocking rings from water that dripped off of the bottle. Also, it has been suggested that Bonham just liked the way the three rings reminded him of a drum set. Robert Plant observed that it was the emblem of Ballantine Beer.
John Paul Jones's Symbol
John Paul Jones' symbol is a single circle intersecting 3 vesica pisces (a triquetra). Taken from The Book of Signs by Rudolf Koch, it symbolises a person with confidence and competence.
Robert Plant's Symbol
Plant's symbol is the feather of the Egyptian goddess Ma'at, representing truth, justice, fairness and writing, encapsulated by an unbroken circle representing life. According to Egyptian mythology, Anubis, the god of judgment and death, would take the heart of those who died and put it on a balance with the feather of Ma'at. If the heart outweighed the feather, the person's soul would go to hell, but on the other hand, if the heart was lighter than the feather, the soul would go to heaven.
Jimmy Page's Symbol
The source of the ZoSo symbol it originated in 'Ars Magica Arteficii' (1557) by Gerolamo Cardano (also known as J. Cardan), an old alchemical grimoire, where it has been identified as a sigil consisting of zodiac signs. Page is a Capricorn, a sign ruled by Saturn, and the Z-like symbol is distinctive as a common astrological mark for Saturn. The oSo portion is similar to the alchemic symbol for mercury, also associated with Saturn. What it means personally to Page is unknown, as he has never publicly revealed its meaning.