The Symbol of the Deathly Hallows

• Type: Magical Symbol; Ideogram
• Owners: Adherents to the Quest for the Hallows, most notably Gellert Grindelwald and his followers; Xenophilius Lovegood; Albus Dumbledore; Harry Potter.
• Maker: The symbol's precise origin is unknown, but it is ancient and intrinsically linked to the legend of the Peverell brothers and the Deathly Hallows.

The symbol is a simple geometric construction that visually represents the three Deathly Hallows. It is composed of a vertical line enclosed within a circle, which are in turn enclosed within an equilateral triangle. Each component corresponds to one of the Hallows:

• The vertical line represents the Elder Wand, the most powerful wand ever made.
• The circle represents the Resurrection Stone, a stone capable of bringing back echoes of the dead.
• The triangle represents the Invisibility Cloak, which can hide the wearer from Death itself.

The symbol is typically drawn with a single, continuous line, implying the unity of the three objects.

The symbol itself does not appear to possess inherent magical power. Its primary function is as a form of communication and identification. Those who wear or draw the symbol are signaling to others their belief in the existence of the Deathly Hallows and, in most cases, their active participation in the quest to unite them. For Gellert Grindelwald and his followers, the symbol served as their mark, much like the Dark Mark would later serve the Death Eaters. Because of its association with the Dark Wizard Grindelwald, the symbol acquired a sinister reputation in certain parts of the magical world, particularly at the Durmstrang Institute, which Viktor Krum attended. For others, like Xenophilius Lovegood, displaying the symbol was a way to identify fellow “Questers” and open a dialogue about the Hallows. It was a code that allowed believers to recognize one another.

The symbol's origins are rooted in the legend of the three Peverell brothers, the original masters of the Deathly Hallows. The mark was discovered by Harry Potter on the grave of Ignotus Peverell in the Godric's Hollow graveyard. In his youth, Albus Dumbledore and his then-friend Gellert Grindelwald became obsessed with the Hallows and adopted the symbol. Grindelwald later used it as the mark of his army as he rose to power, carving it into the walls of Durmstrang. This caused the symbol to be widely misinterpreted as a mark of Dark Magic. Decades later, Harry Potter first encountered the symbol on a necklace worn by Xenophilius Lovegood at the wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour. Confused by its meaning, and warned by a furious Viktor Krum that it was Grindelwald's mark, Harry began to investigate. His quest led him to Godric's Hollow, where he saw the symbol on Ignotus Peverell's tombstone. The final piece of the puzzle fell into place when Hermione Granger recognized the symbol in a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard left to her by Dumbledore. The symbol was drawn above the title of “The Tale of the Three Brothers,” confirming its connection to the legendary artifacts.

The Symbol of the Deathly Hallows is a central narrative device in the final book of the series. It represents a critical ideological crossroads for Harry Potter. Its discovery initiates a new quest that momentarily distracts Harry from his mission to destroy Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes. The symbol encapsulates the temptation of ultimate power. It forces Harry to confront the same lure that captivated and nearly destroyed a young Dumbledore. His decision to pursue the Horcruxes rather than the Hallows demonstrates his maturity and marks him as the true “Master of Death”—not one who seeks to conquer it, but one who accepts it. The symbol acts as the primary clue that leads Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger to understand the full history of the Peverell family, the nature of the Hallows, and Dumbledore's complex past.

• J.K. Rowling has stated in interviews that she drew the symbol and it had a personal resonance for her, representing a theme of looking for answers and the signs that point the way. (J.K. Rowling interview)
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Hermione Granger tells the story of the Hallows through a distinctively animated sequence where the symbol is prominently featured and deconstructed. (film)
• Some fans have noted a resemblance between the symbol and Masonic or alchemical symbols, though there is no confirmed connection from the author.