Poneglyphs are considered the final pieces in the journey to conquer the Grand Line for pirate crews, playing a crucial role that everyone covets. However, reading and understanding these stones is very difficult.
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Contents
What is a Poneglyph?
In One Piece, a Poneglyph is a large, mysterious stone tablet inscribed with ancient writings. These tablets are scattered across the world and hold crucial information about the history and secrets of the world. There are three main types of Poneglyphs:
- Historical Poneglyphs: These contain information about the Void Century, a 100-year period that the World Government has erased from history. Understanding these Poneglyphs is key to uncovering the true history of the world.
- Instructional Poneglyphs: These serve as guides to finding the Road Poneglyphs or provide information about the locations of Ancient Weapons, powerful tools capable of massive destruction.
- Road Poneglyphs: These are the most crucial type. There are four Road Poneglyphs, and together they provide the coordinates to the final island, Laugh Tale (also spelled Raftel), where the legendary One Piece treasure is said to be located.
Key characteristics of Poneglyphs include:
- They are made from an indestructible stone, making them immune to damage or destruction.
- They are written in an ancient script that very few characters can read, such as Nico Robin of the Straw Hat Pirates.
- They are often found in remote or hidden locations, guarded by powerful individuals or creatures.
The quest to find and decipher Poneglyphs is central to the overarching plot of One Piece, as it ties into the pursuit of the One Piece treasure and the unraveling of the world’s true history.
Who can read Poneglyphs One Piece?
Here are the individuals who possess the ability to read the Poneglyphs. However, their number is very small, and most are deceased, leaving only one person alive today.
5. Clover
Professor Clover was the head of the archaeologists of Ohara, working at the Tree of Knowledge—the Ohara Library and Archaeological Research Center.
As a scholar from Ohara, Professor Clover had the ability to read and decode the Poneglyphs and knew the precise locations of the ancient weapons. His extensive knowledge earned him high praise from even the “Dark King” Silvers Rayleigh.
He once mentioned that before the World Government was established, the world was ruled by a great kingdom that was obliterated by a group of people. However, before he could reveal their names, he was shot and mortally wounded. Like the other archaeologists, he perished at the Tree of Knowledge during the Buster Call on Ohara 25 years ago.
4. Nico Olvia
Nico Olvia, mother of Nico Robin, was an archaeologist and scholar from Ohara. She had the skills to read and understand the Poneglyphs, making her one of the few capable of uncovering the truth about the Void Century and the precise locations of the ancient weapons.
Setting sail to find the Rio Poneglyph and uncover the secrets of the Void Century when Robin was very young, many viewed Olvia as harsh. She even denied her blood relation to Robin. However, few knew that the Government deemed archaeologists researching Poneglyphs as criminals, branding them “demons wishing to destroy the world.” She did this to protect her daughter from being implicated.
Though she wanted to stay with Robin, Olvia had to let Saul take Robin to safety while she stayed behind to continue the fight. She sacrificed herself to protect the historical legacy during the government’s bloody onslaught.
3. Kozuki Oden
Kozuki Oden, former daimyo of Wano and a member of the Roger Pirates, also possessed this mysterious ability. He was a descendant of the Kozuki clan, which created the “books” inscribed on the Poneglyphs.
The ancestors of the Kozuki family carved the ancient script onto the stones, passing down the ability to read and write the script but not the content itself. Thus, Oden could read and transcribe the Poneglyphs.
Remarkably, he journeyed to the final island with Roger and learned critical secrets about hidden history and the One Piece treasure. However, due to the knowledge he possessed, he was killed by Kaido and the Shogun, severing the transmission of ancient language knowledge.
2. Gol D. Roger
Gol D. Roger, the legendary pirate known as the “Pirate King”, was the captain of the Roger Pirates and the possessor of the sought-after treasure “One Piece.”
Roger could understand and transcribe the Poneglyphs. Unlike the scholars of Ohara, who studied the stones, he couldn’t read them accurately but grasped their content.
As Rayleigh explained, Roger could read the Poneglyphs because he had the unique ability to “hear the voice of all things.” However, he has since died, taking many mysteries about the stones and his treasure with him.
1. Nico Robin
As a child, Robin was hunted with a bounty of 79,000,000 Berries for her ability to read the ancient Poneglyphs. She survived the massacre on Ohara years ago and has since lived a life on the run, protecting herself.
Robin is a skilled archaeologist with extensive knowledge of various histories and cultures worldwide. She is the only known person alive with the ability to read the historical texts inscribed on the Poneglyphs, documenting ancient cultures. All these skills and knowledge were self-taught from her early years in the Ohara library, without any assistance or practical research, showcasing her natural talent.
The ability to read Poneglyphs is a critical plot point in One Piece, and Nico Robin’s unique knowledge sets her apart as an essential member of any crew seeking the truth about the world’s history and the location of the One Piece treasure.
Can Zoro read Poneglyphs?
No, Roronoa Zoro-the swordsman of the Straw Hat Pirates, cannot read Poneglyphs. Reading Poneglyphs is a rare skill in the world of One Piece, and it requires knowledge of an ancient language that very few people possess.
Within the Straw Hat Pirates, Nico Robin is the only member who can read Poneglyphs. She is an archaeologist and the last survivor of the destroyed island of Ohara, where she learned to read the ancient script. Her ability to decipher the Poneglyphs is crucial to uncovering the secrets of the Void Century and locating the One Piece treasure.
Zoro, while incredibly skilled in combat and swordsmanship, does not have the scholarly background or training required to understand the ancient language inscribed on the Poneglyphs. His role in the crew is primarily as a fighter and protector, rather than a scholar or navigator.
Can Law read Poneglyphs?
No, Trafalgar D. Water Law, also known simply as Law, cannot read Poneglyphs. Like most characters in “One Piece,” Law lacks the ability to decipher the ancient script inscribed on the Poneglyphs. This skill is extremely rare and primarily associated with the scholars from Ohara, particularly Nico Robin of the Straw Hat Pirates.
Law is a skilled doctor and a powerful pirate, possessing the Ope Ope no Mi (Op-Op Fruit), which grants him extraordinary surgical abilities and control over a designated area. However, his expertise does not extend to the ancient language of the Poneglyphs.
NOTE: This is the personal opinion of One Piece Universe. If you have another answer, please comment below to discuss.
