There is a comprehensive explanation on wikipedia: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Led_Zeppelin_IV) Each member of the band chose a personal emblem for the cover. Left to right, their members and meanings: * Jimmy Page's symbol is generally referred to as "zoso", though its symbols have nonalphabetic connotations. It was designed by Page himself.[3] The four symbols on the label and inside sleeve of Led Zeppelin IV, representing Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, and Robert Plant (from left to right) respectively. Although the symbols are sometimes referred to as "Runes", only the middle two are runes; the other two are sigils. The four symbols on the label and inside sleeve of Led Zeppelin IV, representing Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, and Robert Plant (from left to right) respectively. Although the symbols are sometimes referred to as "Runes", only the middle two are runes; the other two are sigils. The source of the ZoSo symbol itself is no longer a mystery but the meaning of it still is; it originated in 'Ars Magica Arteficii' (1557) by Gerolamo Cardano (also known as J. Cardan), an old alchemical grimoire, where it has been identified as a sigil consisting of zodiac signs. The sigil is reproduced in "Dictionary of Occult, Hermetic and Alchemical Sigils" by Fred Gettings, published in 1982 by Routledge & Kegan Paul (see here). The symbol used to represent the planet Saturn for purposes of magic. Page is a Capricorn, a sign ruled by Saturn, and the Z-like symbol is distinctive as a common astrological mark for Saturn. The oSo portion is similar to the alchemic symbol for mercury, also associated with Saturn. In cabalistic or hermetic study, knowledge seekers look to the god Mercury (Hermes, see Hermes Trismegistus and the Hermetica) for guidance and light, more or less the scene that unfolds in the drawing on the inside cover of the album and later acted out by Page in the concert film The Song Remains the Same. This part of the symbol is also strikingly similar to the Lucifer script ciphered by Aleister Crowley in his book The Equinox; and the symbol as a whole strongly resembles characters of the "alphabet of the Magi", a seventeenth century text used for fashioning magical talismans. What it means personally to Page is unknown, as he has never publicly revealed its meaning. His interest in Aleister Crowley, however, is widely known. The guitarist owns many of Crowley's original manuscripts and other effects, including (until the mid-1980s) Crowley's former home on Loch Ness, Boleskine House. In the 1970s Page owned the occult bookshop The Equinox in London, also an enterprise for publishing rare manuscripts. * John Paul Jones' symbol is a single circle intersecting 3 vesica pisces (a triquetra). Taken from The Book of Signs by Rudolf Koch, it symbolises a person with confidence and competence.[4] * John Bonham's symbol, the three interlocking rings, represents the trinity of mother, father and child. It could also depict an aerial view of a drum kit. It does in fact represent the idea of trilogies and trios, and, more commonly, is a Christian symbol for the Trinity. In the 1990 Bonham tribute radio special, "It's Been A Long Time", son Jason Bonham stated that the symbol was chosen as a representation of man, woman, and child. Jones's and Bonham's symbols fitting together -- one to the other inside out, inverse images -- is no accident. In any band, the bassist and drummer form interlocking parts of a rhythm section. The symbol also happens to be the logo for Ballantine beer.[3] * The symbol for Robert Plant is the feather of the Egyptian goddess Ma'at, representing truth, justice, fairness and writing, encapsulated by an unbroken circle representing life. According to Egyptian mythology, Anubis, the god of judgment and death, would take the heart of those who died and put it on a balance with the feather of Ma'at. If the heart outweighed the feather, the person's soul would go to hell, but on the other hand, if the heart was lighter than the feather, the soul would go to heaven[3] There is also a fifth, smaller symbol chosen by guest vocalist Sandy Denny representing her contribution to "The Battle of Evermore"; it appears in the credits list on the inner sleeve of the LP, serving as an asterisk and is shaped like three triangles touching at their points. During Led Zeppelin's tour of the United Kingdom in Winter 1971, which took place shortly following the release of the album, the band visually projected the four symbols on their stage equipment. Jimmy Page's "Zoso" symbol was put onto one of his Marshall amplifiers, John Bonham's three interlinked circles adorned the outer face of his bass drum, John Paul Jones had his symbol stenciled onto material which was draped across his Fender Rhodes keyboard and Robert Plant's feather symbol was painted onto a side speaker PA cabinet. Only Page's and Bonham's symbols were retained for subsequent Led Zeppelin concert tours.[5]

the symbols represent each member of the band, and this is off the topic the question " when did gram parsons join the flying burito brothers" this was originally my question and it was taken off of my quetion board as an already asked question and i inadvertantly found the same question by you in the music category? huh who is gram parsons to you?