How did you imagine the Wheel?

The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan.

Nice bold lettering on the front of the book.

The synopsis includes stuff like, "The Dark One is trying to escape from his prison and break the Wheel" etc....

Before I started the books, I imagine the Wheel to be an actual solid object. MY first thought was a huge chamber with pillars all around and the gigantic wheel at the far end that stand up vertically with its axle driven into the wall. It was nicely carved with all sorts of typical fantasy stuff with magic swirls and lights all around etc.. and it was turning slowly.

This idea was reinforced by some comments during the first book about the Wheel grinding too hard over the ages and allowing the Forsaken to escape, or something like that.

After reachin book 2 I realized how stupid I had been and how very much more complex the world in WOT was.

Did anyone else, imagine the wheel to be an actually solid item in Randlan? Just curious.