Cyberglyphics
From Transformers Wiki
The ancient and all-but-forgotten language of the Dynasty of Primes, the symbols known as Cyberglyphics offer a link to the heritage of the Transformers. Much of the language is poorly understood, relegated to the studies of scholars such as the Cybertronian who would one day be known as Optimus Prime. In archaeological digs on the planet Cybertron, he slowly began to piece together its rudiments. Many of its symbols are present in the whorls of the AllSpark.
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Fiction
Live-action film series
Transformers film
The AllSpark was covered in Cyberglyphics and another angular writing. The angular writing that was also written on Megatron, lead Sector Seven to conclude a connection between the AllSpark and Megatron. Additionally, cometary forms were also covered in these angular Cybertronian "tribal tattoos".[1]
When Decepticons communicated in their own native language, Cyberglyphic subtitles are briefly displayed before being replaced with English. Transformers
Revenge of the Fallen film
After getting a violent jolt by touching a fragment of the seemingly destroyed All Spark, Sam Witwicky started to have visions of Cyberglyphic symbols, scribbling them in his notebooks, on chalkboards, and eventually all over his room at Hamilton Hall. This earned him the attention of Alice, who was secretly a Decepticon spy.
After a Decepticon attack killed Optimus Prime, Sam resolved to figure out what the symbols in his visions meant. However, the Autobots identified them as an ancient form of Cybertronian which they could not read. Leo Spitz led Sam to Seymour Simmons, who showed Sam evidence from his trove of pilfered Sector Seven files. Through this, Sam learned that his ancestor Archibald Witwicky drew similar ones after his encounter with the frozen Megatron.
Seeking more answers he questioned the captive Decepticon Wheelie, who was able to identify them as the language of the Primes but was unable to decipher them. He did however reveal that Seekers had an understanding of them, and led Sam and his friends to the decrepit Jetfire in the Smithsonian Institute. The turncoat Seeker was indeed able to translate, and opened a space bridge to transport the group to Egypt, where the translated prophecy led him to the Tomb of the Primes. Revenge of the Fallen
IDW movie comics
STARSCREAM
OPTIMUS
EN ROUTE
During their excavations, the crew serving under Optimus came across one symbol repeatedly on the unearthed sarcophagi. They believed it to denote the Dynasty of Primes. They also cover the mysterious artifact that Megatron took. Finally, a shot from Frenzy's POV includes Cyberglyphics.Defiance issue 3
Much later, Starscream honored his heritage by carving Cyberglyphics into his exo-structure to mark his quest for vengeance and righteous battle. Alliance issue 1
A shadowy figure on the moon examined the detritus left over from Starscream's abortive reign, with Cyberglyphics prominently displayed in his POV shot. Alliance issue 2
Battle for the Allspark v2
Numerals to denote zero through nine were shown. Battle for the Allspark v2
Animated cartoon
Cyberglyphics is the oldest surviving written language on Cybertron, dating back seven billion stellar cycles.Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II
Notes
- Several Transformers (notably Optimus Prime, Ironhide and Megatron) have symbols etched onto their heads, near the cheek area. These are not Cyberglyphics, which were created by Martin Charles and Karen Teneyck, but rather characters from the alphabet designed by Ben Procter for the live-action franchise.
- An advertisement for Destiny in The Reign of Starscream #5 featured Cyberglyphic writing.
- Revenge of the Fallen RPM Cyber Hunt Series Bumblebee has the toy's name "BUMBLEBEE" on his packaging written in Cyberglyphics. The toy itself features "PROTECT" on the left and right sides of the vehicle.
- The Speed Stars version however, has "ISK" and "KSI" on the left and right sides of the vehicle ("3S6"/"6S3" if some of the symbols are used as numerals instead.)
- Dark of the Moon: The Junior Novel has color pictures of several of the featured characters with their names in both English lettering and Cyberglyphics.
- Titan's Transformers comic regularly makes use of Cyberglyphics as a substitution cypher for puzzles inside. This continued despite the magazine being rebranded to Prime style.
- The 2005 IDW continuity uses Cyberglyphics to represent Old Cybertronian.
Files
- Cyberglyphics reference file (PDF format)
