Mircea Eliade--one of the most renowned expositors of the psychology of religion, mythology, and magic--shows that myth and symbol constitute a mode of thought that not only came before that of discursive and logical reasoning, but is still an essential function of human consciousness. He describes and analyzes some of the most powerful and ubiquitous symbols that have ruled the mythological thinking of East and West in many times and at many levels of cultural development.

Offers photograph illustrations and essays on numerous symbols and symbolic imagery, exploring their archetypal meanings as well as cultural and historical context for how different groups have interpreted them.

Mircea Eliade--one of the most renowned expositors of the psychology of religion, mythology, and magic--shows that myth and symbol constitute a mode of thought that not only came before that of discursive and logical reasoning, but is still an essential function of human consciousness. He describes and analyzes some of the most powerful and ubiquitous symbols that have ruled the mythological thinking of East and West in many times and at many levels of cultural development.

"The Guide to Imagery series introduces readers to important visual vocabulary of Western art."--Back cover.

"The purpose of this volume is to provide today's readers and museum-goers with a tool for orienting themselves in the world of images and learning to read the hidden meanings of certain famous paintings."--Introduction.

This book breaks new ground. Building upon the very best that is currently available in the fields of interpretation and imagery, it contains more than 2,500 dream images and symbols plus 10,000 interpretations. Includes creative imagery, personal visualization, self-discovery exercises, and personal, cultural, and archetypal symbols. Regardless of your level of expertise or previous knowledge, this book provides to individuals from all walks of life an exciting excursion into the world of symbolism.

This wide-ranging compendium traces symbolism to its ancient roots, examining a vast variety of symbolic images.