In this article, I cover:
- Joy Boy’s alliance 800 years ago
- Road Poneglyphs and Big Mom
- Road Poneglyphs and the Ancient Weapons
- Summary of other Poneglyph locations
What Are Poneglyphs?
Poneglyphs are said to be indestructible stones created by the “Certain Great Kingdom” — the losing side of a great war during the “Void Century” 800 years ago — to pass the “True History” to future generations.
About 30 of them exist in total.
The ancient script on them can only be read by the Kozuki Clan of Wano. The apology letter Joy Boy left for the Mermaid Princess of Fish-Man Island was written in the same script.
From this, we can almost certainly conclude:
- The “Certain Great Kingdom” and the Kozuki Clan were allies
- The Kozuki Clan and Joy Boy were allies
- Joy Boy and Fish-Man Island were on friendly terms
- Joy Boy is anyone whose heartbeat resonates with the sound “Dondottotto”
- The Kozuki and the Mink Tribe have been “brother nations” since ancient times — so Minks were allies too
- The Shandians, who guarded the Poneglyphs, were also allies
In other words, the great war 800 years ago was:
“Alliance of 20 Kings” VS “Great Kingdom + Samurai + Joy Boy + Fish-Men + Minks + Shandians”
Let’s confirm where Joy Boy placed his important items to further support this theory.
The 4 Road Poneglyphs
These 4 red stones are needed to reach Laugh Tale — essentially a treasure map to the final island.
If you were Joy Boy, where would you place them? → In nations you trust, of course.
Indeed, one each went to Wano (the Kozuki homeland) and Zou (its brother nation).
Fish-Man Island, where Joy Boy sent his apology to the Mermaid Princess, also has one.
These three locations are as expected.
The mystery is the fourth one. Finding its origin would reveal yet another race that Joy Boy trusted.
Big Mom has possessed the 4th Road Poneglyph since before 26 years ago — before Oden and Roger’s meeting.
The God Valley Incident destroyed the Rocks Pirates 38 years ago — that was likely when Big Mom went independent.
So Big Mom must have obtained the Road Poneglyph between 38 and 26 years ago.
She either found it on her adventures or acquired it through a political marriage.
Since our goal is to find which race Joy Boy trusted enough to entrust a Road Poneglyph to, let’s go with the political marriage theory. That means one of Big Mom’s children between ages 26 and 38 would be from that race.
Big Mom has 85 children from 43 husbands — 24 of whom fall in that age range. However, with 7 pairs of twins and 2 sets of triplets, that’s only 13 races. Since not all races are confirmed, let’s set aside identification from this clue for now.
Stones That Mark Ancient Weapon Locations
The stones recording the locations of the “Ancient Weapons” are equally dangerous and important. Just like Road Poneglyphs, you’d want them guarded in a trusted ally’s nation.
Let’s see where they ended up.
Shandians Guarding Poseidon
The Shandians have protected the stone recording Poseidon’s location for generations.
But did Joy Boy explain the stone’s significance to them when he entrusted it? After all, it was meant to be passed down to the future.
Yet the Shandians spent centuries proclaiming “All outsiders shall be eliminated!” — letting no one near the stone.
That means no one outside the Shandians ever had a chance to read it.
Regardless, the Shandians who kept Poseidon’s secret for so long were clearly friends of the Fish-Men.
Alabasta Guarding Pluton
The Alabasta royal family has protected the stone recording Pluton’s location for generations. Chapter 1053 revealed that Pluton itself is in Wano.
Based on our theory, important Poneglyphs should be placed in trusted ally nations. But the Nefeltari family was one of the 20 kings — the enemy side. So why does Alabasta have one?
Did the Nefeltari family develop a friendship with Joy Boy mid-battle and switch sides?
Can you really trust someone who betrays their own allies?
Actually… yes, you can.
The ancient Nefeltari family was like Bon Clay — someone who betrays their original side out of friendship and loyalty to others. That’s why Joy Boy trusted them, which is why the important Poneglyph ended up in Alabasta.
That’s one possible interpretation.
If this theory holds, then this scene may be foreshadowing a “Nefeltari family = Bon Clay” parallel.
…Well, probably not.
The True Identity of Pluton
Pluton’s true identity is definitively a “flying ship.”
In every arc connected to an Ancient Weapon, there’s a scene of Luffy’s crew’s ship flying through the sky (in Alabasta, young Vivi flew on Pell; in Skypiea, they rode the Ark Maxim; in Fish-Man Island, the Sunny flew up).
- Alabasta: Vivi and Pell fly
- Skypiea: Ark Maxim
- Fish-Man Island: Sunny flies up
- Wano: Sunny will definitely fly
In the Wano arc too, the Thousand Sunny will certainly fly.
Where the Ancient Weapons Are
Poseidon’s location was Fish-Man Island — which also had a Road Poneglyph.
In Chapter 1053, Pluton’s location in Wano was revealed — and Wano also has a Road Poneglyph.
Is Zunesha Actually Uranus?
This pattern suggests: “Wherever there’s a Road Poneglyph, there’s an Ancient Weapon.” So does that make Zunesha the Ancient Weapon Uranus?
But Poseidon is a person who can “control” Sea Kings. Applied to this pattern, Momonosuke — who can control Zunesha — would be Uranus. But then both an Ancient Weapon and a Road Poneglyph would be in Wano…
Let’s wait for more info.
Summary: Other Poneglyph Locations
From everything above, it seems safe to say: “The races of nations holding important Poneglyphs and Ancient Weapons were all Joy Boy’s allies.”
Here are the other Poneglyph locations mentioned in the story, in order of appearance:
Ohara
West Blue, Ohara — the basement of the “Tree of Knowledge.”
Robin’s Flashback
Young Robin is visible, so this predates her meeting with Crocodile — likely in East Blue before entering the Grand Line.
Sunken Ruins in the Sea
Located between Fish-Man Island and Whole Cake Island on the Grand Line. It was presented to Big Mom as a gift and placed in her treasure room.
Oden’s Flashback
Grand Line — a lush, nature-rich island.
Wano
Wano — inside Onigashima.
What Does “Poneglyph” Mean?
In Spanish, “pone” means “place” and “glyph” means “written character.”
So it literally means “map” — a fitting name for the stones that point the way to Laugh Tale.