ITS INVENTED HISTORY
In Pullman’s alternate universe to our own, the alethiometer was invented by Pavel Khunrath in Prague in the seventeenth century. Originally intending to develop a device to be used for astrological purposes, the first alethiometer had astrological symbols set around the perimeter and a single clock-hand-like needle. His later improvements to the device had him drawing on a wider variety of symbols from the ‘memory theatre’ then discovering these symbols had pre-existing meanings. Somewhere along in his work on the alethiometer, he discovered a special alloy which ‘Dust’ could influence the movements of, and the final form of the alethiometer features a single compass needle made from this alloy.
When Emperor Rudolf II died in 1612 and was succeeded by Emperor Frederick, all research deemed ‘occult’ was outlawed. Khunrath was arrested, tried, sentenced, and burnt at the stake for heresy by The Magisterium, Pullman’s thinly-veiled stand-in for the Catholic Church. But some of Khunrath’s instruments and notes did survive him, and scholars in more-tolerant countries continued his work, giving the device he created its name. Within the ‘Dark Materials’ universe, only six alethiometers are known to exist, and The Magisterium made it a point to collect (confiscate?) as many of the devices as possible.
HOW THE ALETHIOMETER WORKS IN FICTION
As stated before, three of the alethiometer’s four needles are used to form the question, and the fourth needle, manipulated by Dust, formulates the reply. This needle swings freely around the circle, stopping at various symbols, sometimes, briefly, sometimes a little more prolonged, sometimes it will stop at the same symbol more than once. The alethiometrist is supposed to note, in order, the symbols as the fourth needle lands on them, because when the alethiometer is finished traveling around the watch-face, the symbols it has landed-on must be translated into a coherent sentence or message, and the same symbol can be landed-on multiple times in the course of the Dust’s reply.
For example, a result of Compass-Compass-Serpent could be translated as ‘Weighed, measured, found Evil.’ A result of Ant-Hourglass-Cornucopia could be translated as ‘diligent, if tedious work will, in time, bring prosperity.’ A result of Thunderbolt-Lute-Globe could be translated as the prediction: ‘inspired literary, artistic, or performed works will bring you global recognition and fame.’ A result of Owl-Helmet-Baby-Griffin-Hourglass could translate as ‘There are fears of war in the offing, but this isn’t set in stone; watchfulness and courage could bring about a change in this possibility.’