1000 Symbols: What Shapes Mean in Art & Myth

By Rowena Shepherd

Book Overview

1000 Symbols offers a comprehensive directory of symbols in clear, detailed artworks, each accompanied by a definition of the symbol's history and its cross-cultural meanings.

Beginning with an alphabetical, cross-referenced index, the book is then organized into groupings of related symbols:

Geometrical Shapes-circle, square, triangle, pentagram, crescent, and spiral are just a few of the entries.

The Universe and the Elements includes all the symbols for the world around us-earth, air, fire, and water, as well as times of day or month, and the planets.

Characters and People details the symbolism attached to specific characters or to people and their general attributes.

Living Creatures denotes the symbolism of animals, birds, fish, and insects.

Flowers, Plants, and Trees highlights the symbolism of growing things, from the oak to the lotus.

Mythical Beasts contains beasts from the myths and legends of all cultures, including hybrids such as the centaur.

Objects and Artifacts includes made or manufactured objects of symbolism, from knot to labyrinth.

Numbers and Colors outlines their symbolic attributes in different cultures and contexts.

Whether you are baffled by the relevance of the winged staff held by Mercury in a classical painting or wonder about the number of branches on the Hebrew menorah, this comprehensive directory will give you the information you are looking for, and place the explanation in its historical and cultural context.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0500283516
• ISBN13: 9780500283516
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 2.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.7" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

1000 Symbols

1000 Symbols came highly recommended to me from one of my professors in one of my classes on symbols. It was billed as one of the most extensive collection of symbols ever published. Given my interest in archetypes, mythology, and dream symbolism, I was intrigued so I put this book on my wish list. 1000 Symbols takes a slightly different take on symbols than other reference books on my shelf. All of the symbols included are actually illustrated, which is extremely useful when looking up a particular image. Moreover, each of the entries is presented detailing the historical usage of each item. For easy reference, the book is divided into categories and subcategories such as Characters and then various parts of the world or Living Creatures and then various types of animals. It really is a must have resource for anyone wanting more information about symbols.

symbols

This book has great explanations and meanings for almost every symbol you can think of. The explanations transcend through many cultures and religions to show you what things mean to different peoples. It talks about signs and symbols as well as the symbology of certain animals, plants, colors, numbers, etc. This book does not give many exapmples (pictures) of symbols, but that is not completely necessary for the purpose this book serves. This book is an amazing reference for artists in all mediums. I strongly recommend this book.

Exce;ent symbol book

This book contains symbols that no other book contains. If you are a artist you can draw them. It contais biblical, and mythical people, flowers, and herbes, and their meaning. I thought think this book is wonderful and beautifully illustrated.

Complete Guide to Symbols and Their Meaning

"1000 Symbols" is an extensive compendium of symbols from around the world. What makes this book unique from other books on symbols is the worldwide approach. A specific symbol can mean widely differing things in different cultural contexts and the authors do a wonderful job of examining each interpretation. Each symbol has a number that is cross-referenced to the index at the beginning of the book making them easy to find. In addition, the symbols are categorized into eight general categories for easy browsing. The categories are Heaven and Earth, Characters and People, Body and Actions, Living Creatures, Mythical Beasts, Flowers, Plants and Trees, Objects and Artefacts, and Abstracts. Each of these categories is also subdivided.Each of the symbols discussed has a line drawing of the symbol along with a detailed description of what the symbol meant to different groups, how it is used today, various ways it was drawn, etc. If you want to know about the various symbols that surround us this is an excellent place to find out. A highly recommended reference for anyone interested in symbols.

A fascinating, revealing reference, highly recommended

1000 Symbols could as easily have been featured in an art books section but deserves mention for Metaphysical Studies for its extensive inclusion of spiritual symbols as well. The symbols are grouped into defined categories and groups of related symbols, from Body and Actions to Egyptian and European. A fascinating, revealing reference, highly recommended.