The Complete Dictionary of Symbols
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Book Overview
The Complete Dictionary of Symbols is an engaging and accessible guide to more than 2,000 major themes, figures, and symbols that are commonly found in myth, art, and literature. Drawing on classical mythologies, Biblical themes, and traditional symbols from cultures worldwide, this user-friendly, attractively priced reference has comprehensive entries on everything from individual animals, plants, and objects to gods, goddesses, supernatural creatures, heroes, heroines, mythical episodes, prophets, saints, miracles, and myriad other subjects. Whether the topic at hand is Mercury or Merlin, the Egyptian ankh or the humble ant, engaging text reveals the origins and meaning of each symbol. Interspersed with the main entries are short articles on themes of special interest, such as the Sun, Moon, and stars, or common vices. Three hundred illustrations, an intuitive system of cross-referencing, and authoritative research make The Complete Dictionary of Symbols a reliable resource for school, home, or library.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0811847675
ISBN13:9780811847674
Release Date:March 2005
Publisher:Chronicle Books
Length:544 Pages
Weight:2.78 lbs.
Dimensions:1.5" x 6.3" x 9.3"
Age Range:13 years and up
Grade Range:Grade 8 to Postsecondary
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
Accessible, up-to-date, thorough, fun to read--What more to ask?
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
I have bought several books on symbols recently and this is by far the best. It is well laid out with featured articles, good cross-references and, esp. impressive, footnoting of sources. While no book, especially of the encyclopeidic kind, can be "Complete" -- an admittedly pretentious title -- this book comes close. That's just marketing (like all the new cars and shaving cream advertised as the "ultimate" this or that . . .) The illustrations in this book, mostly line drawings, are attractive and well chosen. Whereas, the illustrations in other symbols books (such as Biedermann's "Dictionary of Symbolism") seem arbitrarily chosen, perhaps for their lack of copyright (!) or just for dramatic effect. For what it is, unless you've got your own private Wikipedia, I don't see how anyone could be disappointed by this book.
Thorough and informative
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
The layout of the book and the information it includes is well put together. It reads like an encyclopedia with diagrams and is quite thorough with explaining the significance of the symbols throughout the world's history and in mythology. I refer to the book more often than I anticipated that I would. I use it for referencing symbol origins and their meanings of course, and surprisingly I find that using the book for dream interpretation works excellently. For anyone who regards symbolism as important, I give the book my highest recommendation.
Find That Symbol
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
"This accessible reference guide presents more than 2,000 themes, figures, and symbols that appear in the arts, literature, and religion. It draws on classical mythologies, Biblical themes, and traditional symbols from cultures worldwide. The Complete Dictionary of Symbols has entries on plants and animals, gods and goddesses, supernatural creatures, heroes, saints, and hundreds of other subjects." (summary by South TX Library System)
fun book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
one of my favorites on symbols. Not exactly encyclopedic, but extremely palatable, useful and written in a fun style.Very cool.
symbols for brotherly love or brotherhood or family
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
symbols of brotherhoo
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