First Age

From A Wheel of Time Wiki

The Age before the Age of Legends, which ended many thousands of years before the time of the novels. Little is known of this period of history, save that the portal stones come from this epoch. There are stories of this time which gleemen still tell, although they are no doubt heavily corrupted from the original events. Some fans believe this to be the time in which the readers live, based upon several legends mentioned throughout the series as well as certain artifacts in the Panarch's Palace.

[edit] Legends

The story of Lenn, who flew to the moon in the belly of an eagle made of fire, and his daughter Salya who walked among the stars. Jordan has confirmed these to be references to John Glenn and Sally Ride. Among the first words uttered by Neil Armstrong on the first moon landing were "The eagle has landed."

Mosk the Giant, who wielded a lance of fire which could reach around the world, and his wars with Elsbet, the Queen of All. Mosk may refer to Moscow, and the Cold War.

Materese the Healer, Mother of the Wondrous Ind, most likely refers to Mother Teresa.

[edit] Artifacts

The portal stones found in random locations across the world are said to be older than the Age of Legends, and even the Aes Sedai of the Second Age were uncertain of their precise origin and operation.

The museum of the Panarch's Palace in Tanchico holds several items said to date from this age, including a freize depicting animals unknown in the Third Age (including what is recognisably a giraffe) and a strange symbol representing hubris, which resembles a three-pronged star (this is reminiscent of the hood ornament from a Mercedes-Benz car).