Article summary:
Poneglyphs are indestructible stone cubes scattered throughout the world. They contain the forbidden history of the Void Century and the location of Laugh Tale. Only Nico Robin is capable of deciphering them today. In 2026, let’s take a look at these mysterious artifacts.
These monoliths, engraved in an ancient language, are the World Government’s nightmare. They cannot be destroyed by explosives or eroded by time. They are guardians of the truth left behind by a vanished civilization. But did you know that there are several types?
An indestructible stele bearing the secrets of history.
The 3 Types of Poneglyphs
It is crucial not to confuse them. There are approximately 30 Poneglyphs in the world, divided into three categories:
- Historical Poneglyphs (Dark Blue): They recount fragments of ancient history, information about the Ancient Weapons, or an apology letter from Joy Boy.
- Instruction Poneglyphs (Dark Blue): They do not contain history, but indicate the location of other Historical Poneglyphs.
- Road Poneglyphs (Red): There are only 4. They are the most valuable because they indicate the route to Laugh Tale.
Nico Robin is the crew’s cornerstone because she alone can transform these symbols into words. To learn more about her ambition, read our analysis: Robin’s Dream and the Rio Poneglyph.
Who Created Them? The Kozuki Clan
These stones were not created by magic. They were carved and engraved 800 years ago by the ancestors of the Kozuki clan, the famous stonecutters of the land of Wa (Wano Kuni).
This is why the Kozuki family is connected to the history of the world and the giant elephant Zunesha. Unfortunately, the technique of reading and writing the language was lost with the death of Oden Kozuki, making Robin the last surviving person from Ohara capable of reading them.
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The Voice of All Things
There is another way to “understand” the stones without knowing how to read them: the Voice of All Things. Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Luffy possess this rare gift.
It does not allow them to translate the text word for word, but to sense the essence of the message or locate the stones. It is a mystical power connected to Conqueror’s Haki (see our guide: Everything You Need to Know About Haki).
To learn more about this strange auditory phenomenon, read our article: Who Can Hear the Voice of All Things?
Conclusion: The Final Puzzle
The Poneglyphs are pieces of a giant puzzle. Once assembled (the Rio Poneglyph), they will reveal the true history of the world and trigger the final war against the Government.
To fully understand the complex chronology of the series, feel free to visit our cornerstone page, One Piece Arcs: Chronological Order, or discover the ultimate secrets on our page dedicated to the mysteries.
The journey continues at our One Piece store!