FMA:B Episode 12 Reaction Early Access!

Ed, Al, and Izumi's symbol is called the Flamel. It's associated with Nicholas Flamel, who was a real life Alchemist who reported searched for the Philosophers Stone. He was a character in Harry Potter, the one who created the sorcerors stone from the 1st book. The show will never address it or explain it's significance to the characters.

Brendan Horn

Only two more episodes until the recap episodes are finally over.

Kevin Echeverria

Lust and Gluttony have a slightly different tattoo, it will be explained. Ed, Al, and Teachers is just a symbol of their teachings. It represents them.

The snake and a cross is a common symbol that Flamel would use.

Episode Two stated that the mom died of a sudden sickness that was sweeping the country.

Anyone can learn the science and theory behind alchemy, but you need to help that talent / special something to perform alchemy.

Jackie

I think that is a symbol of Nicholas Flamel. Or that might just be a head canon I've had for so long that I have internalized it. Anyway its more a symbol of their "teaching" lineage.

I'm pretty sure the symbol of the country is the dragon-thing on the pocket watches. The teacher's symbol is something like a staff of Caduceus.

Jill S.

The teacher's tattoo is of the symbol of the country they live in. not the ouroboros.

OTSojourner

Can't wait till next episode.

calaha717

Calvin's right that they're related, though. The Flamel cross is a serpent twining around a cross while the Ouroboros is a serpent eating its own tail, and IRL both are associated with death and rebirth and the philosopher's stone.

Jen A. Blue

The teacher's tattoo and the Ouroboros tattoo are two different things. The teacher's one is the symbol of her sort of school thing.

Gezno

The teacher's tattoo is not the same as that of the sins. The sins have an Ouroboros tattoo, which is a circle of a serpent eating its own tail. The teacher has a flamel, which is the same design as on the back of Ed's coat.

Arnold Kim

Mentioned in the 2nd episode that an epidemic swept the country and their mom was an unfortunate fatality of that epidemic

god this episode is heartbreaking . it definitely establishes izumi as one of my favorite characters in this series

Zane

One of my favorite episodes! You get to finally meet Izumi! I love her and Sig!

AnnoyingRanter

FIRST!

Daga Luv