ymbols and
ymbolism
General Bibliography of Print Sources, Annotated
(Alphabetical by entry)
Entry index::
- A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z - Title Index -Thematic index -
Legend: Text only unless otherwise indicated:
= Source has graphics and text;
= Source has only graphics, any text is limited to labels
General bibliography of major sources: The following is a bibliography of print sources used in this essay, with notations of some variations in editions, etc. Where various authors are cited from a collected work, the individual authors are cited with their chapters, plus the main work is also entered, with a note, "Bibliographically analyzed." [Being this is a work in its initial stages, some works listed here from time to time may later be deleted as irrelevant, even as others are being added.]
Thematic commentary index Citation format description Title Index


- Abraham, Lyndy. A Dictionary of Alchemical Imagery. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2001. 249 pp. PN56.A44A27 2001. §: 2, 7.
- ANNOTE
- Alexander, Hartley Burr. See: The Mythology of All Races, vol. 10, North American, and vol. 11, Latin-American.
- Ananian, Mardiros. See: The Mythology of All Races, vol. 7, Armenian.
- Andrews, Tamra. Legends of the Earth, Sea, and Sky: An Encyclopedia of Nature Myths. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 1998. 322pp., 0-87436-936-0.
BL435.A53 1998. §: 2, 5.
- This is a single-volume encyclopedia in dictionary format. Each entry has a source reference as well as cross-references at the end of the entry. The author has included topics as well as gods and mythical creatures related to natural forces, but not living creatures or plants. For instance, under "Earthquakes," there is mention (and illustration) of the Japanese catfish to whom earthquakes were attributed, but there is no listing under "Catfish" or "Fish." However, there is a listing for "Sheep and Cattle," because they are used to symbolize natural forces. (Curiously, there is no index entry for the catfish, either. There seems to be some inconsistency in the selection and indexing.) In addition to describing the myths, the author usually includes an interpretation of the meaning. After the text of the encyclopedia, there is a "Guide to Primary Sources" as an appendix, arranged by geographical regions. Then follows a broad 9-page bibliography, the illustrations credits, a 3-page Culture Index, and a 24-page Subject Index.
- Aneseki, Masaharu. See: The Mythology of All Races, vol. 8, Japanese.
- Ann, Martha, and Imel, Dorothy Myers. Goddesses in World Mythology. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 1993. 655pp., 0-87436-715-8. BL473.5.A66 1993. §: 2, 5.
- This encyclopedia of goddesses around the world attempts to cover some goddesses from every culture, but not every goddess or female deity in the major cultures (such as classical Greece and Rome, not to mention China.) Between the Preface and the Introduction is a Guide to Entry Format, with an enlarged entry, highlighting what sort of information may be found in the most extensive entries: After the main entry, there follows the region, people, attributes, translation of name and description, often followed by an icon (unique to each major region) and a concise story of the goddess. Following the story comes any equivalent names (synonymy), cross-references, alternate forms of the name, and bibliographic citations keyed to the 12-page bibliography. This makes for ease of interpretation. Following the bibliography are indexes of goddesses by name and by attribute. The text itself is arranged by these major regions: Central America and Mesoamerica; Eastern Europe; Egypt; Far East; Greek and Roman Empires; The Himalayas; Indian Subcontinent; Near East; North America; Northern Europe; Oceania; South America; Southeast Asia; and Western Europe.
- Apostolos-Cappadona, Diane. Dictionary of Christian Art. New York: Continuum, 1994. 376pp., 0-8264-0779-X.
BV150.A66 1994. §: 2, 6.
- This is a historian of religion's effort to interpret Christian art and its symbols within the historical context, with more emphasis on popular interpretation than official or doctrinal. The Introduction uses a medieval altarpiece to demonstrate how interpretation is done. The text of the dictionary then takes up most of the body of the book, with cross-references indicated within articles by asterisks. Following the dictionary entries are a 3-page bibliography, a list of illustrations with credits, and an 8-page index.
- The Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism and Moon, Beverly, ed. An Encyclopedia of Archetypal Symbolism, vol 1. Boston: Shambhala, 1991.
BL603.A72 1991. §: 2, 8.
- ARAS, an organization for collecting images related to analytical psychology (Jungian) and the interpretation thereof, produced this volume of images and their interpretations. The organization resulted from the Eranos meetings of scholars in the mid-twentieth century and developed into collections of thousands of images. Within each volume, each image includes a narrative description of the image, cultural context, archetypal commentary, bibliography, and glossary (usually 4 pages.) Contents: Cosmos and Creation; Center of the World; Sacred Animals; Monsters; Goddesses; Gods; Sacred Marriage; The Divine Child; Sacred Kingship; Saviors; Heroes and Heroines; Duality and Reconciliation; Revelation; Death; Transformation. There is a related membership (for $fee) website: http://aras.org/
- The Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism, and Elder, George R. An Encyclopedia of Archetypal Symbolism, vol 2. Boston: Shambhala, 1996.
BL603.A72 1991. §: 2, 8.
- The second volume in the series looks at representations of the human body. Similarly to the first volume, each image includes a narrative description of the image, cultural context, archetypal commentary, and bibliography; there are no glossaries. Contents: Primordial Body; Bones; Skin; Head and Hair; Eye; Ear; Hand and Arm; Respiratory and Digestive Systems; Heart and Blood; Sex Organs; Foot and Leg; Transformed Body. As in volume 1, the full-page photographs are magnificent in themselves; when the background and commentary are added, the encyclopedia becomes something very special. However, as all the commentaries were written by one individual, there is a greater sense of eccentricity as well as a more forced and focussed sense of psychological interpretation, even in the physical descriptions. There is a related membership (for $fee) website: http://aras.org/
- Arrowsmith, Nancy, with Moorse, George. A Field Guide to the Little People. New York: Hill and Wang, 1977. 296 pp.; 0-8090-4450-1. [HK083] GR549.A76. §: 2, 5.
- This book, with its nostalgic attitude, tries to describe in detail the "fair folk." It is organized in 3 broad categories, "Light Elves," "Dark Elves," and "Dusky Elves." The entries within each category seem randomly organized, so the index is suggested for people seeking information on a specific type of elf. Includes notes and a 6-page bibliography, as well as the detailed index and limited, full-page, b&w illustrations of some of the species.
- Ashkenazi, Michael. Handbook of Japanese Mythology. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, 2003; "Handbooks of World Mythology" series. 377pp., 1-57607-467-6.
BL2203.A86 2003. §: 5.
- Following the form of the other titles in ABC Clio's "Handbooks of World Mythology" series, this book begins with an Introduction to the main concepts and historical developments, then has chapters to cover the main story line, a dictionary of deities and concepts, and a complex bibliography of print, audio-visual, and online resources. The concluding matter includes a glossary, an 11-page appended bibliography of "primary sources," mainly in English, and a 45-page index, followed by a brief statement of the author's background. In addition to ethnic Japanese mythological material, Ashkenazi has included Ainu and Okinawan myths, as well. Most entries in the dictionary have both cross-references and source references/suggestions for reading.


Balfour-Paul, Jenny. Indigo in the Arab World. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon Press, 1997. 283pp., 0-7007-0373-X. TP923.B35 1997.
- While most of the book is concerned with the history and trade of the dyestuff, Chapter 8, "Substance or Colour? — The Versatility of Indigo" (pp. 155-174, deals with the meaning and significances of indigo and the blues and blacks that were associated with it. This final chapter also accounts for 8 full pages of notes. The book includes a 22-page bibliography, a glossary of various terms, an appendix of chemical ring formulae, and an 11-page index.
- Beane, Wendell C., ed. See: Eliade, Mircea. Myths, Rites, Symbols: A Mircea Eliade Reader, edited by Wendell C. Beane and William G. Doty.
- Bell, Robert E. Dictionary of Classical Mythology: Symbols, Attributes & Associations. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 1982. 390pp., 0-87436-305-5. BL715.B44. §: 2.
- A topical dictionary of classical mythology, where "mythology" is defined as non-historical, not even semi-historical. The main body of the work, "Symbols, Attributes, and Associations" has main entries arranged alphabetically, starting with "Abandonment", under each of which mythic individuals are listed with details and, occasionally, a bibliographic reference to the Loeb Classical Library series. A second alphabetical section follows the first: "Surnames, Epithets, and Patronymics," wherein individuals are listed with their various alternate names. The third section includes "Heroic Expeditions," divided into several sub-topics (expeditions), one of which, the Trojan War, is further divided into 3 additional subtopics. The volume is concluded with a "Guide to Persona," which lists the mythological persons in the first section with references to the entries under which they are included, but has no references to the other sections.
- ______________. Place-Names in Classical Mythology: Greece. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, 1989. 350pp., 0-87436-507-4. DF14.B45 1988. §: 2.
- This volume was originally intended to be part of Bell's Dictionary of Classical Mythology, above. Instead, it has been published separately and limited to the geographical boundaries of the modern state of Greece. While the author is correct in saying that no map could show all the places covered, a simple map showing the regions of classical Greece would be of great help. This is especially true for those persons just becoming familiar enough with classical mythology to want to know about places—which, given the detail of myths recounted for each location seems to be one of the intended audiences for this publication. After all, how many people who are not classical scholars remember the geographical relationships of Achaia, Arcadia, Thessaly, Boeotia, and other of the regions? Most entries in the text are followed by either the modern name/spelling or the nearest modern town to its site, so as to make the book useful for travellers. Thereafter follows the stories related to the site, including citations to the classical sources. Two appendices are included, one a list of modern names with related ancient names, the other an index of persons mentioned and the towns under which they are mentioned. The book concludes with a bibliography, divided between "Books" and "Maps and Gazetteers."
- ______________. Women of Classical Mythology: A Biographical Dictionary. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 1991. 462pp., 0-87436-581-3. BL715.B445 1991. §: 2.
- In a departure from the author's usual reliance only upon the Loeb Classical Library, this volume includes information from a number of additional sources. As for his purpose, Bell states that "...this book attempts to look at the eternal woman, who still seeks solutions to problems that have followed her down the ages." (p. xi.) The introduction concludes with a list of other sources in a discreet bibliography which range in date from mid-19th century to late 20th. The text of this biographical dictionary then proceeds alphabetically, including cross-references within entries and "see" references from alternate spellings or names to the preferred entry. There is also an appendix called "The Men in their Lives," for indexing the men, who traveled, with the women who, generally, did
not. In dealing with the myths, Bell says of himself in the Introduction, "I happen to belong to that persistent group that believes in a certain historical basis in certain of the epic accounts." (p. xi.) There are some inconsistencies in his accounts. For instance, under Electra (4), the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, Bell mentions the sacrifice of her sister, Iphigeneia, by Agamemnon (with no mention of the alternate accounts) and wonders why Electra did not hate her father, but later has Electra almost blinding an adult Iphigeneia before Orestes intervenes. (Under Iphigeneia, several alternative versions are mentioned, but, according to Bell, he sees it as critical to understanding Electra, as well.) As the author points out in the Introduction, many times there are inconsistencies in the myths and different layers; apparently some inconsistency is also true in this otherwise excellent dictionary.
- Bently, Peter, gen. ed. The Dictionary of World Myth. New York: Facts on File, 1995. 240pp., 0-8160-3300-5.
BL303.D46 1995. §: 2.
- A dictionary of mythology with a number of sidebars, which are listed in the Contents and interposed within the entries in the appropriate alphabetical position. The 2-page bibliography lists general sources, followed by geographic sources arranged by region. This is followed by an "Index of Themes," particularly useful when tracing a theme across myths or cultures. There is also a wonderful "Index of Supplementary Names, Pseudonyms, Titles and Places without main entries," which more dictionaries of myth and symbols should do. All cross-references from the entries are in the outside margins of the same page, rendering the articles easy to read or scan without interference. The limited illustrations, usually from contemporaneous sources, are well labelled.
- Bercovitch, Sacvan, ed. Typology and Early American Literature. S.l.: University of Massachusetts Press, 1972. 340pp. BS478.B47. §: 6, 9.
- This is a collection of 9 essays on the use and influence of typology in pre-Revolutionary New England, plus a 71-page annotated bibliography by the editor. Includes notes on the authors but no index. Contents: "The Traditions of Puritan Typology," Thomas M. Davis; "Scriptural Exegisis and the Literary Critic," Stephen Manning; "'With My Owne Eyses': William Bradford's of Plymouth Plantation," Jesper Rosenmeier; "The Separatist Background of Roger Williams' Argument for Religious Toleration," Richard Reinitz; "Cotton Mather's Magnalia and the Metaphors of Biblical History," Mason I. Lowance, Jr.; "Poetry and Doctrine in Edward Taylor's Preparatory Meditations, Series II, 1-30," Robert E. Reiter; "'The World Slickt Up in Types': Edward Taylor as a Version of Emerson," Karl Keller; "Edward Taylor and the Poetic Use of Religious Imagery," Ursula Brumm; "'Images or Shadows of Divine Things' in the Thought of Jonathan Edwards," Mason I. Lowance, Jr.
- Bhattacharyya, Narendra Nath. A Dictionary of Indian Mythology. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, 2001, 326pp., 81-215-0862-2. BL1105.B43 2001. §: 2.
- Dr. Bhattacharyya provides a broad but selective dictionary of the characters in the myths and legends of the Vedas and Puranas, including their inclusion in Buddhist and Jainist works. In the introduction, the author states a quite different perspective on the definitions of myth and legend (pp. i, vi-vii), or, at least, uses a distinct set of metaphors. Contents: Preface; Abbreviations; Introduction (a scholarly history of mythological studies and theories, with references); Dictionary; Bibliography (2 pages); Index (19 pages, including cross-references.) Each entry has the term/name, a definition in the form of whom and what the person was, and major sources of the information.
- Biedermann, Hans. Dictionary of Symbolism. New York: Facts on File, 1992. Translation by James Hulbert of Knaurs Lexikon der Symbole. 465 pp. 
AZ108.B5313 1992. §: 2.
- ____________. Knaurs Lexikon der Symbole. Munich: Droemer Knaur, 1989. 591pp., 3-426-26400-5.
AZ108.B53 1989. §: 2.
- This dicitonary of symbolism treats with the concept of symbolism and symbolic themes, not just graphic images, making this a superior dictionary of symbolism. Despite this, it also includes many graphic images among the alphabetical entries. In addition to the dictionary, the volume includes a multilingual bibliography, a graphic index, and a verbal index.
Geographically, it covers the whole world, with examples from many different cultures. Please, note, the English translation shortens a few entries, especially in the examples, and leaves out some illustrations. (Cf. "Robber" with "Räuber." In addition to leaving out the illustration (of Germanic relevance), curiously, the reference to the American robber, Jesse James, is left out of the English translation although it is in the German! The translator does add Shakespearean references.) Some entries also give the Greek and Latin equivalents. The German original is preferred, if you can read the language, over the sometimes loose English translation.
- Bierhorst, John, Ed. & trans. Black Rainbow: Legends of the Incas and Myths of Ancient Peru. New York: Farrar, Strauss, Giroux, 1976. 131 pp. [HJ339] F3429.3.F6B55. §: 5.
- Beginning with an introduction to the land and culture, this book contains the recounting of myths, legends, and folktales of the Peruvian native peoples. Following the stories are several addenda: Notes on Sources, Glossary of Indian Terms, Quechua Pronunciation, and a brief list of Suggestions for Further Reading.
- Birren, Faber. The Symbolism of Color. Secaucus, NJ: Citadel Press, 1988. 177 pp. BF1623.C6B53 1988. §: 4, 7.
- A multifaceted look at the way color and colors have been viewed across cultures and religions. While the author admits to being fascinated by the occult, he has also assisted Houdini in debunking many "occultists." In this book, Birren surveys the uses and perceptions of color throughout history from ancient usages to color therapy to LSD, while attempting to maintain a unprejudicial perspective.
- Bonnefoy, Yves, ed. Dictionnaire des Mythologies et des Religions des Sociétés Traditionnelles et du Monde Antique, 2 vols. Paris: Flammarion, 1981. Vol. I=681pp., II=585 pp.; 2-08-010945-6.
BL311D5 1981. §: 2.
- Although titled a "dictionary," the articles of these volumes are more encyclopedic in length and detail. The work is well illustrated, mainly with b&w photographs, but occassionally with line drawings. After Bonnefoy's introduction to the work, there is a world map keyed to an index (4 pages later) of the major articles with geographic focus. In between are a list of the article writers, with their abbreviation, affiliation, area of expertise, and/ or region of expertise. At the end of the second volume is 31-page index. An English translation, rearranged by Wendy Doniger and translated under her direction, is available as Mythologies, 2 vols. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991. 0-226-06453-0. In addition, there are regional versions extracted from the English translation.
- Bonnerjea, Biren (Virendra Vandyopadhyaya). A Dictionary of Superstitions and Mythology. Detroit: Singing Tree Press, 1969. Originally published: London: Folk Press, Ltd., 1927. 314 pp. BL303.B6 1969 (1927). §: 2.
- A basic dictionary of folk beliefs around the world and throughout history, arranged by individual topic. The country is indicated for each interpretation, except for Great Britain, which is to be taken for granted where no country is indicated. Includes a 15-page bibliography. Some entries include cross-references to other entries.
- Bruce-Mitford, Miranda. The Illustrated Book of Signs & Symbols. New York: DK Publishing, 1996. 128 pp.
AZ108.B78 1996. §: 2.
- The "Introduction" of this book presents a complete, if simplified, introduction to symbolism and the studies of symbols and signs. Arranged within 4 major categories (Mythologies & Religions; Nature; People; and Symbol Systems) are pages of signs and symbols with simple, brief descriptions of their significances. Many pages include cross-references to other pages, making the research of a specific topic easier. Heavily illustrated in full color; includes a glossary, index, and bibliography of "further reading" suggestions. Curiously, the bibliography seems biased against European culture compared with most. The sources in the bibliography are all from the last half of the century. It could also be that there is a greater balance of world mythology and symbolism here than evidenced by other sources.
- Brumm, Ursula. American Thought and Religious Typology, trans. John Hooglund. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1970. 265pp., SBN: 8135-0621-2. BS478.B7713. §: 6,9.
- In seeking the origins of the influences that inspired such American writers as Hawthorne and Melville and their use of symbolism, Brumm traces the use of symbolism to the Puritans and their extensive use of typology. Tracing the influences more to American than the traditional trans-Atlantic sources, she covers the Mathers, Edward Taylor, Jonathan Edwards and Ralph Waldo Emerson, before examining their influence specifically on Hawthorne and Melville. The final chapter examines the use of Christ and Adam as symbols in American literature. Concludes with a 10-page bibliography and 3-page index. The first chapter, "Definitions," has an excellent discussion on the distinction between "symbol" and "allegory," how they originate, and why allegory is currently in literary disfavor. Chapter 2, especially pp. 22-24, explain and distinguish "type" and "symbol."
- Burke, Kenneth. "On the First Three Chapters of Genesis." See: May, Rollo, ed. Symbolism in Religion and Literature. New York: George Braziller, 1960.


- Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces, 2nd ed. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1968 (First ed., 1949.) 416pp., 0-691-01784-0. (Limited illustrations) [PM278] BL313.C28 1968. §: 5.
- ANNOTE
- ______________. The Masks of God: Primitive Mythology, rev. ed.. New York: Penguin Books, 1976; Originally published by Viking press, 1959, rev. ed. 1969. 504pp., 0-14-004304-7 [PJ052] GN470.C33 1976. §: 5.
- ____________. The Masks of God: Oriental Mythology. New York: Penguin Books, 1976; Originally published by Viking Press, 1962. 561pp., 0-14-004305-5. [PJ053] GN470.C33 1976. §: 5.
- ____________. The Masks of God: Occidental Mythology. New York: Penguin Books, 1976; Originally published by Viking Press, 1964. 564pp., 0-14-004306-3. [PJ054] GN470.C33 1976. §: 5.
- ____________. The Masks of God: Creative Mythology. New York: Penguin Books, 1976; Originally published by Viking Press, 1968. 730pp., 0-14-004307-1. [PJ055] GN470.C33 1976. §: 5.
- ANNOTE:
- Campbell, Joseph, assisted by Abadie, M. J.. The Mythic Image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1974. 552pp., 0-691-09869-7.
BL311.C274. §: 5, 8.
- The preface to this large-format book could be summarized: "This is a picture book with text added to give it coherence." The idea behind the photos is that while we rush through text, graphics allow the eye to pause and consider the content. Indeed, the first section (and, to a degree, the idea behind the whole book) is about the world as dream. As Campbell says in the Preface, "This argument is, briefly, that through dreams a door is opened to mythology, since myths are of the nature of dream, and that, as dreams rise from an inward world unknown to waking consciousness, so do myths: so, indeed, does life." (p. xi) Contents (major sections): i. The Word as Dream, II. The Idea of a Cosmic Order, III. The Lotus and the Rose, IV. Transformations of the Inner Light, V. The Sacrifice, VI. The Waking. These sections are followed by notes, illustration credits, and a 12-page index.
- Carnoy, Albert J. See: The Mythology of All Races, vol. 6, Iranian.
- Cashdan, Sheldon. The Witch Must Die: How Fairy Tales Shape Our Lives. New York: Basic Books, 1999. 283pp., 0-465-09148-2. GR550.C39 1999. §: 8, 9.
- A psychologist's look at fairy tales. Using what he calls "the seven deadly sins of childhood," the author interprets the fairy tales for adults, giving them a mythological context. Contents: 1. Once Upon a Time; 2. The Witch Within: The Sleeping Beauties; 3. Vanity: Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall; 4. Gluttony: Where Bread Crumbs Lead; 5. Envy: If the Slipper Fits...; 6. Objects That Love; 7. Decit: Spinning Tales, Weaving Lies; 8. Lust: A Tail of the Sea; 9. Greed: The Beanstalk's Bounty; 10. Sloth: Geppetto's Dream; 11. Inside Oz: Off to See the Wizard; 12. Once Upon a Future. Two appendices follow the text to suggest ways to use fairy tales and where to find them (a narrative bibliography, including a limited list of published critiques from various perspectives.) The book concludes with a 7-page index.
- Chevalier, Jean, and Gheerbrant, Alain. A Dictionary of Symbols, Translated by John Buchanan-Brown from Dictionnaire des Symboles: Mythes, Rêves, Coutumes, Gestes, Formes, Figures, Couleurs, Nombres, second ed. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Reference, 1994. 1177pp., 0-631-18265-4. GR931.C413 1994. §: 2.
- ______________. Dictionnaire des Symboles: Mythes, Rêves, Coutumes, Gestes, Formes, Figures, Couleurs, Nombres, édition revue et augmentée. Paris: Robert Laffont/Jupiter, 1982. 1060pp., 2-221-50319-8. GR931.D52 1982b. §: 2.
- The most obvious difference between these two editions, other than language, is the English translation is larger is size, number of pages, and font. In its preface, the French original goes into detail about how to use the dictionary and then provides a lengthy introduction to symbolism by Jean Chevalier. In contrast, the English translator provides, as a brief introduction, a justification for Anglo-Saxons to give up their stubborn suspicions of symbolism, and little more. It is greatly to be regretted that the French introduction was not translated in addition to the translator's own "Introduction." The bibliographies appear to be identical, but the French (18 pages) is arranged by author whereas the English (25 pages) is arranged by the abbreviation used for source references within the text. Moreover, the English bibliography provides, where possible, English language versions of the sources, a great help to those researchers not bilingual. Despite the translator's description of the original as "supremely erudite, wide-ranging work of scholarship, lucidly organized, drawing heavily upon many different branches of learning...and mecifully free of the cranky dogmatism..." (p. vii), he felt free to edit out sentences, even whole paragraphs in many places. For instance, under "Hydra," the English states in two sentences that Hercules dipped his arrows in the blood of the Hydra, which is evidence for why the blood was seen as symbolic for vice being both corrupt and corrupting. This seeming nonsequitor results because the explanatory sentence in the original French has been left out. Although there are numerous cross-references within the text, a general index would have been a welcome addition. Most entries are quite lengthy, covering the concept through different epochs or across various cultures.
- Ciardi, John. How Does a Poem Mean? Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1959. 366pp., numbered 663-1028. PS586.C53.
- Originally published as a section of Introduction to Literature, this first separate publication retained the original pagination. The author of this work, as a poet, evinced more evidence of students learning to understand the fun of poetry than of learning the rigidity of poetical forms. And, despite statements seemingling to the contrary, understanding the meaning of the poem in its use of symbols and other literary forms and how the forms are effective, is the ultimate goal of the book. Thus this becomes an enjoyable exploration of how to express meaning. Concludes with a 6-page index of authors and titles.
- Cirlot, J. E. (Juan Eduardo). A Dictionary of Symbols, 2nd ed. Translated by Jack Sage from Diccionario de Símbolos Tradicionales. New York: Philosophical Library, 1971. 419 pp.; 0-8022-2083-5.
[HK252] BF1623.S9C513 1971b. §: 2, 4.
- In his 45 page "Introduction," Cirlot does an admirable job of covering the spectrum of symbolism, especially in the historical, psychological, and artistic aspects. The entries themselves, arranged in alphabetical order, range in length from a few lines to many pages. Unfortunately, the entries are without any attempt at cross-referencing. Within the entries, as well as the Introduction, all citations are by number (within parentheses) to the list in the "Bibliography of Principle sources," which is followed by a more extensive (12 pages) "Additional Bibliography." Both bibliographies are arranged by main entry; only the first is also numbered, albeit at the end of the bibliographic citation, so it does not interfere with perusal. The 19-page index is very valuable, and does include some cross-referencing; several of the index entries are complex and analytical, thus improving the value of the index and making it essential for the use of this source. Because of this latter, especially in light the lack of cross-referencing within the dictionary entries, this work should probably be considered an encyclopedia rather than dictionary. This work does include both b&w plates and smaller, individual graphics.
- Clift, Jean Dalby, and Clift, Wallace B. The Archetype of Pilgrimage: Outer Action with Inner Meaning. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 1996. 182pp., 0-8091-3599-X.
BL619.P5C57 1996. §: 5, 6, 8.
- A study of pilgrims and their pilgrimages, from ancient times to modern, both religious and secular. The two psychologists describe and analyze the meaning of a symbolic ritual for humans. Includes a number of photographs. Each chapter is preceded by a vignette, an excerpt of the record of a pilgrim. Contents: ONE, Pilgrimage as Archetype; TWO, At all Times and in all Places; THREE, Why People Go; FOUR, Some Common Motifs of Pilgrimage; FIVE, Secular and Patriotic Pilgrimages; SIX, The Shadow Side of Pilgrimage; SEVEN, Pilgrimage Motifs in Dreams; EIGHT, The Quest for Meaning. Includes a "Notes" section but no bibliography. Concludes with a 7-page index.
- Cooper, J. C. An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Traditional Symbols; London: Thames & Hudson, 1978. 208 pp.
BL603 .C66. §: 2.
- A straight-forward dictionary of symbols and related terms, with 210 illustrations. Includes a separate glossary and bibliography. The introduction in this book forms a splendid introduction to the study of symbolism in general and its application to life.
- Cotterell, Arthur. A Dictionary of World Mythology. New York: Perigee Books, 1982 (paperback); New York: Putnam, 1979. 256 pp.; 0-399-50619-5.
[PK106] BL303.C66 1980. §: 2.
- A small but very broad dictionary of world mythologies. After the introduction, "The Meaning of Myth," the dictionary entries are arranged geographically into seven categories, then alphabetically within each geographical category. Includes a limited bibliography separated by the same geographical categories and a very limited index, primarily by proper names, with no subject indexing, unfortunately.
- Craig, Robert D. Dictionary of Polynesian Mythology. New York: Greenwood Press, 1989. 409pp., 0-313-25890-2. BL2620.P6C7. §: 2.
- In creating his dictionary, Robert Craig provides a detailed "Introduction," including both linguistic and cultural information. His 19-page bibliography of sources precedes the actual dictionary. The dictionary contains mainly brief entries for the various gods and goddesses, with a few major figures requiring greater detail. There are also a limited number of subject entries, for instance, "Sharks" or "Cannibalism." Each entry concludes with citations to sources. After the body of the dictionary is a list of deities by category, followed by a 71-page index, with each entry including a brief description. This is an extremely thorough dictionary of the Pacific islanders' mythology.
- __________________. Handbook of Polynesian Mythology. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, 2004; "Handbooks of World Mythology" series. 353pp., 1-57607-894-9.
BL2620.P6C72 2004. §: 5.
- Published 20 years after his more complete and more scholarly (by the author's defintions) dictionary, this handbook generally follows the pattern of the other handbooks in ABC Clio's series. The "Introduction" provides the background for culture, language, and history of the region. The second chapter, "Creation and the Cosmos," concentrates on the creation stories of the individual islands/groups, followed by general characteristics of cosmology and deities for the region. Then follows, Chapter 3, titled, "Deities, Themes, and Concepts." This section tends more toward the encyclpedic in the approach of its articles, with each article having an entry, the cultural location, the text of the article, "see also" references, and concluded by sources for additional information. In this volume, the annotated print sources are in Chapter 4 and the web sites in Chapter 5. The volume is finished with a glossary, a 24-page index, and a brief background of the author.
- Csapo, Eric. Theories of Mythology. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2005. 338pp., 0-631-23248-6. BL304.C79 2995. §: 5.
- In his attempt to create a survey textbook for theories of mythology, Csapo brings a critical and, at times, biased perspective to the table. The chapters discuss most people who have contributed to the development of the theories of myth and/or mythology during the 20th century. Contents: 1. Introducing "Myth"; 2. Comparative Approaches; 3. Psychology; 4. Ritual Theories; 5. Structuralism; 6. Ideology; Epilogue. Following the text is a bibliographic essay, titled, "A Little Further Reading," which appears a bit broader and less biased than the text and keyed to the following 8-page general bibliography. An 8-page index concludes the book.


- Dallapiccola, Anna L. Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend. London: Thames & Hudson, 2002. 224pp., 0-500-51088-1.
BL1105.D34 2002. §: 2.
- ANNOTE
- Daniels, Cora Linn, and Stevans, C.M. Encyclopædia of Superstitions, Folklore, and the Occult Sciences of the World. Detroit: Gale Research Co, 1971; reprint of original edition, Chicago: J. H. Yewdale and Sons, 1903. 3 vols., 1751. pp. BF1407.D35 1903a. §: 2, 7.
- A peculiar compendium of materials organized into 27 chapters. Some of these chapters are arranged by alphabetical entries, while other chapters are literally compendiums of statements and anecdotes. It does include a number of reprinted plates, albeit limited. The 23 page index is probably the best approach to using this source, although it is far from complete.
For instance, look up "Tarot" and you find "Tarot's Fool," which directs the reader to a list of the character of days of the moon, related to various Tarot major arcana; to find the meanings of the cards, per se, you must look under "Card fortune telling," for the entry several hundred pages away from the former.
- Davidson, Gustav. A Dictionary of Angels. New York: Free Press, 1967. 387pp. 
BL477.D3. §: 2.
- A dictionary of angelic beings from Jewish, Christian, Islamic, and other Western sources, with some cross-references within the definitions. Includes in the appendices many different categories and which angels fit in with which. The book concludes with a 25-page bibliography, but no index.
- Dixon, Roland B. See: The Mythology of All Races, vol. 9, Oceanic.
- Dixon-Kennedy, Mike. Encyclopedia of Russian & Slavic Myth and Legend. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, 1998. 375pp., 1-57607-063-8.
BL930.D58 1998. §: 2, 5.
- This is a selective encyclopedia of myths and legends of the inhabitants of the Russian empire and related Slavic peoples, presented in dicitonary format. The book begins with a preface, a section titled "How to use this book," and "Brief Historical and Anthropological Details." Following the body of the encyclopedia is a 4-page bibliography, several appendices, a "Topic Finder," and a 23-page index. The articles in the encyclopedia each have an entry name, the culture/country, a narrative/description, "see also" references, and source references. The narratives do have some peculiarities: The author interprets fathoms as being 8 feet in length rather than the standard 6, yet does not mention this being a cultural translation of some Slavic term, including in his list of terms both in the prefatory materials and in the appendices. Then there is the presumption that any myth having similarity with a portion of the Arthurian legends must have been influenced thereby through the agency of the Romans. Nonetheless, the cross-referencing is extensive, yet, by being listed after the text of the article, does not interfere with reading. Some articles are detailed narratives, others are very abbreviated definitions. This unevenness is possibly the result of being, in the author's description, a pioneering volume (in English, at least.)
- Doty, William G., ed. See: Eliade, Mircea. Myths, Rites, Symbols: A Mircea Eliade Reader, edited by Wendell C. Beane and William G. Doty.
- Drury, Nevill. Dictionary of Mysticism and the Occult. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985. 281pp., 0-06-062093-5. BF1407.D78 1985. §: 2.
- A straightforward dictionary, with no introduction or foreward, neither bibliography nor index.
- Dyer, Donald R. Cross-Currents of Jungian Thought: An Annotated Bibliography. Boston: Shambhala, 1991. 491pp.; 0-87773-904-8. BF109.J8D93 1991. §: 8.
- Itself an annotated bibliography of Jungian literature, this work is mainly a categorized bibliography of writings. While section 7, "Symbolic Life and Dreams," is the most relevant to symbolism, given the nature of Jung's work and analytical psychology, there are also relevant titles in most other sections. Contents of Part One: 1. The Life of C. G. Jung; 2. Collections of Jung's Writings; 3. Jung's Psychology; 4. The Psyche; 5. Psychological Types; 6. Human Development and Individuation; 7. Symbolic Life and Dreams; 8. Feminine and Masculine Psychology; 9. Religion and Jung's Psychology; 10. Creativity and Jung's Psychology; 11. Jungian Analysis; 12. Civilization in Transition. Parts Two and Three are indexes to works in the above categories by Author and Title (or key words.)


- Edwards, Cyril, tranlator. See: Maier, Bernhard. Dictionary of Celtic Religion and Culture. Rochester, NY: Boydell Press, 1997.
- Eliade, Mircea. Images and Symbols: Studies in Religious Symbolism, translated by Philip Mairet. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1991; English translations originally published by Havrill Press, n.d.; originally published as Images et Symboles, 1952, by Libraírie Gallimard. 189 pp., 0-691-020068-X. [PP360] BL600.E413 1991. §: 5.
- ANNOTE
- ______________. Myths, Dreams, and Mysteries: The Encounter between Contemporary Faith and Archaic Realities, translated by Philip Mairet. New York: Harper & Row, 1967; English translation originally published by Havrill Press, 1960; Originally published as Mythes, Réves et Mystères by Libraírie Gallimard, 1957. 254 pp. [PG31] BL311.E413 1967. §: 5, 6.
- ANNOTE
- ______________. Myths, Rites, Symbols: A Mircea Eliade Reader, edited by Wendell C. Beane and William G. Doty. New York: Harper Colophon Books, 1976. 2 vols., 465pp., 0-06-131955-4 (vol 1), 0-06-090511-5 (vol. 2). [PK045; PK046] . §: 5, 6.
- ANNOTE
- _____________. Rites and Symbols of Initiation: The Mysteries of Birth and Rebirth. New York: Harper & Row, c1958, 1965. BL615 .E383 1965. §: 5, 6.
- Contents: Initiation mysteries in primitive religions; The initiatory ordeals; From tribal rites to secret cults; Individual initiations and secret societies; Heroic and shamanic initiations; Patterns of initiation in higher religions. For the "nonspecialist reader interested in the spiritual history of humanity."
- ______________. The Sacred & the Profane: The Nature of Religion, translated by Willard R. Task. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1959. 256pp., 0-15-679201-X. [PL076] BL48.E413 1959. §: 6
- ANNOTE
- ______________. Shamanism, Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy. New York: Pantheon Bks, 1964. BL2370.S5E413 1964. §: 5, 6
- Ellis, Peter Berresford. Celtic Myths and Legends. New York: Carroll & Graf, s.d. 629pp., 0-7394-3289-3. [HQ208]. §: 5.
- Contents (major sections): Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany. Text followed by 7 page bibliography of recommended reading and a 9 page index. Ellis basically retells the stories of the mythologies of the British isles.
- ______________. Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, 1992. 232pp., 0-87436-609-7. BL900.E45 1992. §: 2.
- Broader in scope than the author's A Dictionary of Irish Mythology, this work has an excellent Introduction, which covers the developments of Celtic culture and recorded literature, as represented by the 6 historic Celtic cultures: Irish, Manx, Scots, Welsh, Cornish, and Breton. Like the aforementioned work, this one is also intended for the lay reader, not the scholar. After the dictionary's body is an 8-page "Select Bibliography."
- ______________. A Dictionary of Irish Mythology. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, 1989; originally published, London: Constable and Co, 1987. 240pp., 0-87436-553-8. BL980.I7E45 1989. §: 2
- Intended for the "lay reader," not scholar, this dictionary of Irish mythology attempts to list the various persons, places, and things (as well as some general subjects) and define them. Entries are followed by alternate spellings or names, then the definition. The dictionary includes many cross-references, including from altenate spellings of names. Concludes with a 9-page "Select Bibliography."
- Endres, Franz Carl: see instead: Schimmel, Annemarie.
- Evans, Bergen. Dictionary of Mythology: Mainly Classical. New York: Laurel Editions, Dell, 1973; Originally published Lincoln, NE : Centennial Press, 1970. 333 pp. [PE003] BL303.E9. §: 2.
- A straight forward dictionary of classical mythology with some entries related to north European myth by a recognized authority in the field. Includes a 2-page bibliography and an extensive index. There are cross-references as well as some line drawings.
- Evans, Joan. Magical Jewels of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. New York: Dover Publications, 1976; originally published Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1922. 264pp., 0-486-23367-7. [PK255] §: 7.
- A discussion of lapidaries in Great Britain during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, with their history and applications. As the author states in the beginning of her introduction, the distinction between religion, magic, and science is not always so clear when looking at historical circumstances. Nonetheless, much of this book concerns the importance, symbolically, of gems.


- Fabiny, Tibor. The Lion and the Lamb: Figuralism and Fulfilment in the Bible, Art and Literature. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. 164pp., 0-312-07544-8. BS478.F28 1992.
- As the subtitle indicates, this is a study of figuralism (or, typology) in the context of the Bible and theology, as well as in the interpretations of art and literature. In this case, the art and literature is that of the late medieval era, early renaissance, plus T.S. Eliot. Concludes with a 9-page, categorized bibliography and a 6-page index.
- Farley, Edward. Deep Symbols: Their Postmodern Effacement and Reclamation. Valley Forge: Trinity Press, 1996. 145pp., 1-56338-185-0. P99.S62F37 1996. §: 6, 10.
- A study of symbolic words, to which the author often refers by the phrase, "words of power." He studies their lost meaning and suggests how they might be reestablished in the postmodern world, as well as examining how his selected symbols, "tradition," "obligation/duty," "reality," "law," and "hope," are interdependent and the effect of concepts upon each other.
- Ferber, Michael. A Dictionary of Literary Symbols. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999. 263 pp, 0-521-59128-7. PN56.S9F47 1999. §: 2, 8.
- A dictionary that states clearly in its title the intended limitations, this work includes symbols to be found in literature, not art, myth, or any other usage. Proper names are also excluded. Most definitions are lengthy and include quotations as well as having cross-references at the end. Again, the definitions relate the defined term to interpreting literary allusions and symbolism, rather than other usages. A further heavy usage of cross-references from unused terms to preferred terms eliminates the provision of an index. An "authors cited" section includes the authors, their known dates, and their language. The 5-page bibliography is arranged in broad categories, making it especially useful for those persons who need to do further research. With no proper name entries, an index by proper name to the entries within which persons and places are mentioned would have been a major boon.
- Ferguson, George. Signs & Symbols in Christian Art. New York: Oxford University Press, 1954; paperback, 1961. 192 pp. + 112 plates; 0-19-501432-4.
[PP219] N7830.F37 1961b. §: 2, 4, 6.
- Serving as an introduction to and a description of the use of signs and symbols, especially in Medieval Christian art, the book is arranged in 14 chapters, an introduction, a list of plates, and a selective 5 page index. (Selectively indexed, for example, in that "A and W" are indexed, but not "Alpha" nor "Omega," much less "Alpha and Omega," nor the Greek letters. Peculiar.) Contents: I. Animals, Birds, and Insects; II. Flowers, Trees, and Plants; III. Earth and Sky; IV. The Human Body; V. The Old Testament; VI. St. John the Baptist; VII. The Virgin Mary; VIII. Jesus Christ; IX. The Trinity, the Madonna, and Angels; X. The Saints; XI. Radiances, Letters, Colors, and Numbers; XII. Religious Dress; XIII. Religious Objects; XIV. Artifacts. Most items are complemented by graphics in the outside margins of the pages, with 112 full page plates of Medieval art works in the center of the book. All graphics are black & white. Entries within each of the 14 sections are arranged alphabetically.
- Ferguson, John C. See: The Mythology of All Races, vol. 8, Chinese.
- Fernando, Diana. The Dictionary of Alchemy: An A-Z of History, People and Definitions. London: Vega, 2002. 192pp., 1-84333-618-9.
QD23.5.F47 2002. §: 7.
- In the Introduction, the book is attributed to the convergence of modern alchemy and modern physics. Indeed, the author begins the Introduction by equating alchemy and witchcraft, then extends the definition to include Rosicrucians and Kaballists, and generally seems to use the term as an alternate to "occult." In the author's effort to give alchemy and modern alchemists scientific respectibility, most definitions are written as facts; even items most commonly considered symbolically are here often defined solely in terms of facts. The book's greatest value is its concise biographies of persons popularly related to alchemy and other "occult arts," keeping in mind its viewpoint. Concludes with 3-page bibliography but no index. Be wary of the illustrations: On one page is an illustration of a golem (which looks like a common illustration for Mandrake root); two pages later, its smaller, mirror image is used for "male herb," without explanation. While some cross-references occur, usually at the end of articles, more are needed, especially in the absence of an index. While the definition of "Golem" mentions homunculus as a type, there is no reference between it and the entry, "Homunculus." while the later makes neither mention nor reference to golems, either.
- Fontana, David. The Secret Language of Dreams: A Visual Key to Dreams and Their Meanings. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1994. 176 pp.; 0-8118-0791-6.
[PP261] BF175.5.D74F66 1994. §: 8.
- A lavishly illustrated book that begins with a brief history of dream research, then summarizes Freudian and Jungian psychology (with illustrative dreams by each of the two men.) The book continues by describing aspects of dream symbology and giving illustrative dreams with their interpretations. Concludes with a limited bibliography, notes on the text, dream index, and subject index. This book (of Fontana's pair) is organized more around ideas than concrete images. Therefore, for instance, "Masks" are discussed under "Direction and Identity." The "Dream Index" indexes the concrete images whereas the "Subject Index" indexes the broader categories.
- __________________. The Secret Language of Symbols: A Visual Key to Symbols and Their Meanings. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1993. 192pp.; also available in a standard sized paperback with 320 pp, 2003; 0-8118-0462-3.
[PO201/PQ301] BF458.F56 1994. §: 4, 8.
- Another heavily illustrated book, dealing with symbology and individual types of symbols. In addition to details about specific types of images, the author discusses types of symbolism, such as mazes, numbers, and colors, as well as describing specific symbol systems such as alchemy, the Kabbalah, Tantra, etc. The sections on astrology and the tarot go into more detail about specific symbols than do the others. The book concludes with a glossary, "further reading," and index. The pages within this book are more concerned with visual images whereas "Dreams," above, is organized around ideas.
- Foster, Mary LeCron. "14. Symbolism: The Foundation of Culture," (366-395); In: Ingold, Tim, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Anthropology. London: Routledge, 1994. 1127pp., 0-415-02137-5. GN25.C65 1994.
- ANNOTE
- Foster, Mary LeCron, and Botscharow, Lucy Jayne, eds. The Life of Symbols. Boulder: Westview Press, 1990. 318 pp.
P99.L53 1990. §: 4, 5.
- Contents: "The Ontogeny and Phylogeny of Symbolizing," Catherine M. Borchert and Adrienne L. Zihlman; "The Origin of counting: A Rethinking of Upright Posture," Maxine Sheets-Johnstone; "Paleolithic Semiotics: Behavioral Analogs to Speech in Acheuleuan Sites," Lucy Jayne Botscharow; "Red Ochre in the Paleolithic", Joseph Velo and Alice B. Kehoe; "Philosophy and the Corpse: Modes of Disposal and Their Cultural Correlates," Slawoy Szynkiewicz; "'Neolithic' Patterns of Face Representation: A Neuro-Evoilutionary Ecological Study," Anneliese A. Pontius; "Cognitive Cores and Flint Flakes," Robert L. Hall; "Corralling Life," Thomas F. Kehoe; "Representation of Movement in Upper Paleolithic Figurative Art," Germaine Prudhommeau; "Symbols and Sacred Images of Old Europe," Marija Gimbutas; "A Neolithic Sign System in Southeastern Europe," Shan M. M. Winn; 'The Birth and Life of Signs," Mary LeCron Foster. While this collection of essays cohere by the discipline of semiotics, several develop into excellent discussions of topics related directly to symbolism. In the introductory essay to the second section, "Persistence and Congruity," the editors' excessive use of the symbol of crossing the Rubicon (but they never capitalize), makes a reader wish Caesar had made his decision at the Po or Tiber instead. Using the concept of developmental stages would have presented the arguments more coherently, if less symbolically. Most of the essays are heavily dependent upon anthropological constructs and theory.
- Fox, William Sherwood. See: The Mythology of All Races, vol. 1, Greek and Roman.
- Franz, Marie-Louise von. Dreams. Boston: Shambhala, 1991. 197pp., 0-87773-901-3. BF1078.F6514 1991. §: 8.
- This collection of papers by von Franz presents her perspective on dreams, both theoretical and as interpretations of a number of historical figures. Contents: The Hidden Source of Self-Knowledge; How C. G. Jung Lived with His Dreams; The Dream of Socrates; The Dreams of Themistocles and Hannibal; The Dream of Monica, Mother of Saint Augustine; The Dreams f the Mother of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and the Mother of Saint Dominic; The Dream of Descartes. Includes a glossary of basic Jungian terms.
- ______________. Individuation in Fairy Tales, rev. ed. Boston: Shambhala, 1990. 230pp., 0-87773-525-5. GR550.F7 1990. §: 8, 9.
- In an interpretation of several fairy tales involving birds or gems, Marie-Louise von Franz shows how the tales relate to human individuation. Each interpretation is preceeded by a recounting of the tale. Contents: 1. The White Parrot (Spain); 2. The Bath Bädgerd (Persia); 3. Four Short Tales (Prince Hassan Pasha, The Bird Flower-Triller, The Nightingale Gisar, and The Bird Wehmus); 4. The Four Tales Considered; 5. The Bird Motif: Conclusion. Includes Notes plus an 8-page index.
- ______________. On Dreams and Death: A Jungian Interpretation, translation of Traum und Tod by Emmanuel Xipolitas Kennedy and Vernon Brooks. Boston: Shambhala, 1987. 193pp., 0-87773-405-4. BF1099.D4F7313 1987. §: 8.
- A study of dreams by persons anticipating death and those who died unexpectedly. Includes an extensive bibliography as well as an 11-page index. Chapters include topics such as the grave of Osiris, vegetation, death marriage, dark birth passage, the "Other," passage through fire and water, sacrifices, and Jung's new hypothesis. The latter chapter relates Jung's hypothesis to recent discoveries and paradigm changes within physics.
- ______________. Time: Rhythm and Repose. London: Thames & Hudson, 1978. 96pp., 0-500-81016-8.
[PJ128]. §: 8.
- A heavily-illustrated study of how time has been viewed, measured, and represented throughout history and across cultures, presented in a large-format book. The central focus is on how time and myth interact, and the archetypal experience of time--what is it? Includes a large, 1-page bibliography.
- Frazer, James. The Golden Bough. Macmillan, 1911-1915; (first edition published 1890) in 12 volumes plus "Aftermath." BL310 .F7 1911 Also, The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion, 1 volume, abridged ed. New York: Macmillan, 1922; paperback, 1963. [PI114]. §: 2, 5.
- This was one of the first efforts to collect and organize the range of primitive myths and folk beliefs across the world (although it focusses on Europe.) This standard of objective study relating similar beliefs has long been the source of choice when seeking similarities between cultures, and attempting to penetrate the meanings of those rites and symbols. It was originally intended to be a single volume on the relation of magic to kingship, but gradually developed into a far-flung examination of primitive beliefs, especially of European peasants, as a means of getting to the original beliefs of Indo-Europeans. (Please note that Sir James Frazer refers to Aryans, which was the term then used for the cultures we now categorize as Indo-Europeans.) Contents: The magic art; Taboo and the perils of the soul; The Dying god; Adonis, Attis, Osiris; Spirits of the corn and of the wild; The scapegoat; Balder the beautiful; Bibliography and general index; Aftermath/supplementary volume.
- Freud, Sigmund. The Interpretation of Dreams, revised. Die Traumdeutung, originally published 1899; translated by Joyce Crick. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. 458pp., 0-19-210049-1. BF1078.F72 1999.
- This centennial translation of the original edition of this classic work, minus all the modifications Freud later introduced, is intended for purists seeking the structure with which Freud started, rather than his developed theory. Indeed, those looking for a variorum edition are referred to James Strachey's translation of the eighth edition, which includes the expansion of chapter VI with a long section on symbolism. This translation includes a bibliography of works about Freud and his theories before the text, as well as a chronology of Freud's life. The text is followed by Freud's bibliography then the translator's copious "Explanatory Notes." A 3-page index of dreams by topic is followed by a 15-page general index.
- _______________. On Dreams. New York: Norton & Co, 1989. Translated and edited by James Strachey. 84 pp. BF1078.F7713 1989.
- A popularization of his more detailed The Interpretation of Dreams by Freud. This edition, based on a 1952 translation, includes a brief biography of Freud, as well as a brief bibliography and a 6-page index .
- Freud, Sigmund and Oppenheim, D. Ernst. Dreams in Folklore. New York: International Universities Press, 1958. Tranlated from the German by A. M. O. Richards. 111 pp. BF1079.F693. §: 5, 8.
- Based on a manuscript by Oppenheim and expanded by Freud around 1911, but never published, this is a look at how dreams are viewed by the "common man." The text repeats stories of dreams which include sexual interpretations. The book includes both the cover letter from Freud and the text in the original German as well as an English translation.
- Frutiger, Adrian. Signs and Symbols: Their Design and Meaning, translated by Andrew Bluhm. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1989. 360 pp.
P99F78 1989. §: 3, 4.
- A print designer's view of basic symbols, signs, and signals, and what their design means. Frutiger notes an interesting relationship between eras and symbols, signs, and signals. (Frutiger, 345) Frutiger, a master typographer, has put much effort and thought into what is involved in signs and symbolism; this book shows the results, not only in how designs change, but what combinations can signify. This is a great survey of how alphabets developed and spread; it contains many variations of basics signs and what the variations mean; it follows a developmental pattern and, probably, covers more ground than any one book should. Nonetheless, its examination should be considered one of the most essential by anyone studying typography, signs, or symbols. Contents: The three major "parts" (each of which could be a separate book) are: 1: "Sign Recognition, Sign Formation"; 2: "Speech-Fixing signs"; 3: "Sign, Symbol, Emblem, Signal." The latter part, most relevant for this essay, includes: "Introduction"; "From Illustration to Symbol"; "The Symbol"; "The Graphic Wealth of Figurative Symbols"; "Abstract Symbols"; "Signs of Pseudoscience and Magic"; "Signature Signs"; "Signs of Community"; "Trademarks"; "Technical and Scientific Signs". The volume ends with "Toward a Synthesis," "Epilogue," and a bibliography.


- Gibson, Clare. Signs & Symbols: An Illustrated Guide to Their Meaning and Origins. New York: Barnes & Nobles, s.d.; Originally published, Saraband Inc., 1996. 160 pp.; 0-7607-0217-9.
[HP086] AZ108.G52 1996. §: 2, 4.
- The Introduction to this work is wide-ranging in its brief coverage of the many aspects of symbols and the study of symbolism, from history and relgion to psychology, semiotics, linguistics and on to art movements and political usages. This book is heavily illustrated, both with original graphics and photographic reproductions of art works. Contents: Sacred Symbols; Symbols of identity; Symbols of Magic and the Occult and Symbol Systems; Nature Symbols; The Symbolism of Fantastic Creatures; The Symbolism of the Emotions and Inner Mind. Within each chapter are additional sections, with the entries arranged within the subsections. The bibliography is arranged by title, not main entry; it does include most of the basic works on symbolism. Like the bibliography, the 4 page index is printed in tiny print and is therefore more detailed than appears at first glance.
- Green, Roger Lancelyn. King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1953. 282 pp. [PI001]. §: 5.
- ANNOTE
- Greenfield, Amy Butler. A Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2005. 338pp., 0-06-052275-5. TP925.C63G74 2004.
- While much of the book is about the history of conflict and espionage over cochineal, the prologue, "The Color of Desire," provides an interesting overview of the meanings of the color, red. However, within each chapter there is often pages about colors and their meaning. For instance, Chapter Two begins with red's meanings then proceeds to purple before returning to red. Even the last chapter, "Cheap Color," deals with the meanings of various colors which became popular after the loss of importance of red. In general, this is a well-written, interesting book. Notes, a 26-page select bibliography, lengthy acknowledgements, and a 14-page index conclude the book.
- Grimal, Pierre, ed. The Dictionary of Classical Mythology, translated from Dictionnaire de la Mythologie Greque et Romaine (Paris: Presses Universitaire de France, 1951) by A. R. Maxwell-Hyslop. Oxford: Blackwell, 1986. 603pp., 0-631-13209-0.
BL715.G173 1986. §: 2.
- This is a major work which attempts to not only cover all the personae of classical mythology, but to represent the variations of the myths, which becames very important when reading modern derivative works. Although it is the translation of a 1951 French work, it is probably one of the best dictionaries of classical mythology. Not only does it cover the variations of each myth, but it also, immediately after each Greek entry, gives the entry in its original Greek language and alphabet. In a derivative of the current work, A Concise Dictionary of Mythology, edited by Stephen Kershaw and also published by Blackwell, the different entries occasionally have inconsistencies. For instance, the entries on Acacallis are similar in both editions. But look up her son, Miletus, and the Kershaw edition says he is the son of Deione (neither edition includes an entry for her) and "either fed by a wolf and taken in by shepherds, or taken in by Aria's father Cleochus." (p. 275) There is no mention of Acacallis. The original translation has the variations, including mention of both Deione and Acacallis, not to mention Aria as a third possible mother. Curiously, Kershaw does add some entries lacking in the original translation. Both include an irregular cross-reference system. Names in all capitals always have entries, but so do some names in normal capitalization. The 1986 translation also has 2 maps before the text. Following the text, it has a list of specific bibliographic references for each entry, a "Table of Sources," (with the source name used in the text followed by specific bibliographic information,) a collection of "Genealogical Tables," and an index, all of which are lacking in the Kershaw edition except for 8 of the 39 genealogical tables.
- ______________, ed. Larousse World Mythology. Translated by Patricia Beardworth from Mythologies de la Mediterranée au Gange and Mythologies des Steppes, des Illes et des Forêts, both published Paris: Augé, Gillon, Hollier-Larousse, Moreau et Cie, 1963. Secaucus, N.J.: Chartwell Books, Inc., 1973. 560pp., 0-89009-060-2. Original English edition, 1965.
BL311.G683 1973. §: 2.
- This single volume encyclopedia of world mythology, originally published in the U.S. by Putnam's Sons in 1965, contains heavily illustrated essays on the mythologies of various cultures around the world. Please note, the only indication of authorship of the various chapters is in the Contents table, but not anywhere within the essay, including initial page. The body of the text is followed by a 2-page, categorized "Suggestions for Further Reading." Then there is a 10-page general index followed by 2-page "Index to Illustrations." A list of color illustrations is found following the Contents.
- Guiley, Rosemary Ellen. The Encyclopedia of Dreams: Symbols and Interpretations. New York: Crossroad, 1993. 206pp., 0-8245-1240-5. BF1091.G84 1993. §: 2, 8.
- The author has written this book to help people use their dreams by interpretation. The first third of the book deals with how dreams may be viewed and how to interpret them, while the last 2/3 is a dictionary of symbols, with some illustrations. Contents: (I) 1-The Science of Dreams; 2-Cross-Cultural Beliefs About Dreams; 3-Nightmares; 4-Dreams and the Paranormal; 5-Dreams and Alchemy; 6-Working with Dreams; (II) Encyclopedia of Dream Symbols A-Z. Concluded by a 4-page bibliography and an explanation of the jacket art. The vast majority of the entries in the "encyclopedia" are brief, quick explanations of the standard interpretations of images.


- Hall, James A. Clinical Uses of Dreams: Jungian Interpretations and Enactments. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1977. 367pp., 0-8089-1053-1. BF1078. H26. §: 8.
- Beginning with a history of dream interpretation from ancient times to modern sleep studies, Hall then describes Jungian concepts, proceeds to cover clinical attention to dreams, ending with an explanation of "enactments," the external expression of the creative unconscious. Although there is no bibliography, each chapter has its references at the end of the chapter. A 17-page index concludes the book.
- Handbooks of World Mythology. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, 2001- , several titles are still pending publication:. See title list, below:
- This series follows an arrangement by which the culture and mythological concepts are introduced, the main stories or story-chains are recounted, a dictionary where deities, places, and concepts are defined, and a bibliography of basic sources provided. They also conclude with, among other things, a glossary, an index, and a brief vita of the author. An excellent series of high quality work by experts that, nonetheless, provide a valuable introduction for the beginner into the mythology within the context of its culture. In the following list, titles known to have been published include publication data; other titles are pending publication.
- Handbook of Arab Mythology. El-Shamy, Hasan.
- Handbook of Celtic Mythology. Nagy, Joseph Falaky.
- Handbook of Classical Mythology. Hansen, William. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, 2004.
- Handbook of Egyptian Mythology. Pinch, Geraldine. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, 2002.
- Handbook of Hindu Mythology. Williams, George M. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, 2003.
- Handbook of Inca Mythology. Allen, Catherine.
- Handbook of Japanese Mythology. Ashkenazi, Michael. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, 2003.
- Handbook of Mesoamerican Mythology. Read, Kay Almere, and González, Jason J.
- Handbook of Native American Mythology. Bastian, Dawn, and Mitchell, Judy.
- Handbook of Norse Mythology. Lindow, John. Santa Barabara, CA: ABC Clio, 2001.
- Handbook of Polynesian Mythology. Craig, Robert D. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, 2004.
- Hansen, William. Handbook of Classical Mythology. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, 2004; "Handbooks of World Mythology" series. 394pp., 1-57607-226-6.
BL723.H36 2004.
- This is another entry in the excellent series, "Handbooks of World Mythology." by ABC Clio. Following a similar organization to the other books in the series, this volume has an "Introduction," which explains the background in terms of cultural concepts. Chapter 2 is about Time and the functions of myth within Classical societies. Then follows Chapter 3, the dictionary of deities, demigods, and concepts. Each article in this section has an entry title, a brief definition, the text of the main article (with internal references to original sources) which finishes with epithets and attributes, followed by cross-references and suggested readings. Chapter 4 is the annotated bibliography of print and non-print sources (including websites.) In this volume there follows a list of abbreviations and selected bibliography, a glossary, a 25-page index, and a brief vita of the author.
- Hart, George. A Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1986. 229pp., 0-7102-0167-2, pbk, 0-7102-0965-7, hbk.
BL2450.G6H37 1986.
- For a small but in-depth dictionary of the deities of ancient Egypt, this one is hard to beat. Limited to the deities themselves, although including various categories such as cavern deities, this dictionary does exclude other aspects of the myths. On the other hand, it does include deities from outside Egypt who, nonetheless, had important influence or were accepted within the country. After a very brief "Preface," there are 2 maps of the nomes (districts) of Lower and Upper Egypt, followed by the text of the Dictionary. For each deity, not only is their known history/development described by the meanings of their name or titles are given, as well as how local or widespread their worship. Two special entries are included: Under "Gate deities" is are 3 lists of "gates" and their respective gods/goddesses and characteristics; Under "Nome gods," is a table showing the "ensign" (symbol/hieroglyph?) of the nome, its location and name, and the prinicple deities of the nome, for each of the 42 nomes (districts.) Following the text of the dictionary is a 1-page bibliography and a page of "Alternative renderings of divine names." All names within entries that are in italics are cross-references to their own entry.
- Hathaway, Nancy. The Friendly Guide to Mythology: A Mortal's Companion to the Fantastical Realm of Gods, Goddesses, Monsters, and Heroes. New York: Viking, 2001. 424pp.
BL311.H38 2000. §: 5.
- A very peculiar book, with a preface that incorporates all the major names related to mythology in the twentieth century except Mircea Eliade, but never tells the purpose or intent of the book. An asset of the Preface is that, in most cases, after mentioning the modern scholars, the author presents ancient, classical, or medieval precursors with their similar theories. The book is arranged topically, and recounts, with a critical eye at times, the basic myths related to the topic. While paying heavy attention to Greek mythology, the text is at the same time broadly multicultural. After the text, the book includes a 50-page "Glossary" (mainly personal names with brief descriptions); a 12-page bibliography; and 20-page index.
- Heisenberg, Werner. "The Representation of Nature in Contemporary Physics." See: May, Rollo, ed. Symbolism in Religion and Literature. New York: George Braziller, 1960.
- Holmberg, Uno. See: The Mythology of All Races, vol. 4, Finno-Ugric, Siberian.
- Hopper, Vincent Foster. Medieval Number Symbolism: Its Sources, Meaning, and Influence on Thought and Expression. New York: Cooper Square Publishers, 1969; originally pub. 1938. 241 pp. BF1623.P9H53 1969. §: 7.
- A detailed description of various number systems from the Gnostics and Kabbalah through medieval uses, religious and alchemical, to Dante. Includes an appendix on numerical symbols of "northern paganism".
- Hynes, William J., ed., and Doty, William G., ed. Mythical Trickster Figures: Contours, Contexts, and Criticisms. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Pr., 1993. 265pp., 0-8173-0599-8. GR524.M96 1993. §: 5.
- ANNOTE


- I Ching. Based on the translation of James Legge; edited with an introduction by Raymond van Over. New York: Mentor/New American Library, 1971. 444pp.,0-451-61842-4.
[PK132] PL2478.D47 1971. §: 7.
- Raymond van Over takes a classic translation of the I Ching and edits it to a more public-friendly edition. (Given the essential complexity of the work, one might ask "Why simplify when even the simplification is complex?") While the Wilhelm translation (below) puts more emphasis on the book as an entry into the Oriental wisdom and mental perspective, this editor, and the original translator, do not ignore those aspects, those values of this complex composition. Contents: I. Editor's Introduction (Psyched: East & West; The Book of Changes; Change in the I Ching); The Oracle; On the Use of the Oracle; Notes on This Edition); II. The Hexagrams; III. Legge's Preface and Introduction; IV. Legge's Appendixes [sic] III-VI (The Great Treatise; On the First and Second Hexagrams; Treatise of Remarks on the Trigrams; The Orderly Sequence of the Hexagrams; Treatise on the Hexagrams Taken Promiscuously.) In section II, the book includes Legge's notes on each hexagram following the formal translation of the text.
- I Ching: The Book of Changes, 3rd ed. Translated into German by Richard Wilhelm; the German translated into English by Cary F. Baynes. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1967. Preface by Hellmut Wilhelm. Foreword by C. G. Jung. 740pp.,0-691-09750-X.
[HK260] PL2478.D8 1967. §: 7.
- Sometimes criticized for not being a direct translation from Chinese to English, this two level translation is still recognized as a major improvement over other translations of its day. Indded, it is almost worth the price just for the Foreword by Carl Jung, especially for students of symbolism. In his Introduction, Wilhelm explains the use and history of the book. Then follows "Book I, The Text" where the text of each hexagram (along with the Chinese character and English names) is detailed in 4 sections: a description of the hexagram, "The Judgement," "The Image," and "The Lines." "Book II, The Material," contains several sections, including a discussion of the trigrams and "The Greater Treatise," "Underlying Principles,"Detailed Discussion," additional materials, and "The Structure of the Hexagrams." Book III, The Commentaries," where each hexagram is given additional discussion of its symbolism and significance. The book concludes with appendices that explain different means of "casting fortunes." Finally, there are trigram/hexagram and word indexes.
- Ingold, Tim, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Anthropology. London: Routledge, 1994. 1127pp., 0-415-02137-5. GN25.C65 1994.
- The following chapters have further analysis under their respective authors: 14. Foster, Mary LeCron. "Symbolism: The Foundation of Culture," (366-395); 15. Miller, Daniel. "Artefacts and the Meaning of Things," (396-419); 20. Lewis, Gilbert. "Magic, Religion and the Rationality of Belief," (563-590); 21. Weiner, James F. "Myth and Metaphor," (591-612); 22. Schechner, Richard. "Ritual and Performance," (613-647). Each chapter has its own bibliography.


- James, William. The Varieties of Religious Experience. London: Longmans Green, 1908. [HM140] BR110.J3 1908. §: 6.
- ANNOTE
- Johnson, Robert A. Lying with the Heavenly Woman: Understanding and Intergrating the Feminine Archetypes in Mens's Lives. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1994. 101pp. BF692.5.J64 1994.
- ANNOTE
- Jung, C. G. (Carl Gustav). Most, if not all, of Jung's writings should be considered to be a part of the study of symbols and symbolism. Perhaps no one in history has spent more effort to understand man's symbols and his use of them. After breaking with Freud, Jung took a broader perspective on symbols as well as psychology. Below, Jung's writings are listed in two categories: First, are two books that are most accessible to the lay reader; second, are the books more intricate and more demanding of the reader. Also, see above, Dyer, Donald R. Cross-Currents of Jungian Thought, for a guide to writings by and about Carl Jung. The introduction begins with an essay, "On Reading Jung," for those who wish to study in depth, as well as suggestions for with which publications to begin the study.
- ____________ , ed. Man and His Symbols. London: Aldus Books, 1964.
[PK310] BF173 .J735 1964b
- This is the last attempt Jung was willing to make to express his ideas in simplified terms, and then only with the help of selected "associates." Contents: 1. Approaching the Unconscious, Carl G. Jung; 2. Ancient Myths and Modern Man, Joseph L. Henderson; 3. The Process of Individuation, M.-L von Franz; 4. Symbolism in the Visual Arts, Aniela Jaffé; 5. Symbols in Individual Analysis, Jolande Jacobi; Conclusion: Science and the Unconscious, M.-L. von Franz. This heavily illustrated book attempts an introduction to various aspects of analytical psychology. There is also a small paperback edition commonly available, but I do not recommend it; with tiny illustrations and only black & white, much of the detail of illustrations is lost, limiting their significance in understanding the narratives.
- ____________. Memories, Dreams, Reflections. Recorded and edited by Aniela Jaffé. Translated from the German, Erinnerungen Träume Gedanken by Richard and Clara Winston. New York: Vintage Books, 1965; Random House, 1961. [PJ178] BF109.J8 A33
- In part an autobiography, in part a sharing of personal causes and reasonings. It is better to read Man and His Symbols first, because this book presumes some familiarity with basic concepts of analytical psychology, another name for Jungian psychology.
The following titles, referred to as "professional" writings, do require slow, careful reading, but are (usually) not beyond an educated reader's ability, regardless of background, so long as the mind is kept open to new ideas and evidence.
- ____________. Alchemical Studies, translated by R.F.C. Hull. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1967. Vol. 13 of The Collected Works of C. G. Jung; 444 pp.
BF23 .J763 1953 v.13. §: 7.
- A collection of 5 writings by Jung; Contents: I. Commentary on "The Secret of the Golden Flower'; II. The Visions of Zosimos; III. Paracelsus as a Spiritual Phenomenon; IV. The Spirit Mercurius; V. The Philosophical Tree.
- ____________. Flying Saucers: A Modern Myth, translated by R.F.C. Hull. New York: MJF Books, 1978. 138pp. 1-5673-121-0.
[HP093] TL789.J813 1978.
- In this book, Jung presents patients' dreams that include "flying saucers" and aliens, and analyzes how the images relate to mental health and modern symbolism, especially the mandalaic symbol of wholeness.
- ____________. Mandala Symbolism, extracted from The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious, vol. 9, pt. 1, of the Collected Works of C. G. Jung. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press/Bollingen, 1972. 121pp.; 0-691-01781-6.
[PJ288] BF458.J852.
- A collection of essays on mandalas and their relation to the human psyche, especially as related to individuation. Contents: Mandalas; A Study in the Process of Individuation; Concerning Mandala Symbolism. Includes many color and black and white illustrations. As a result, the book also deals with many of the symbols included in the various mandalas; for more specifics, see the index. Includes a 10-page bibliography and an index.
- ____________. Psychology and the East. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1978. 211pp. BF173.J6623 1978.
- Several selections from different volumes of the complete works, each related to Jung's analysis of Asian cultures, reprinted in paperback form. Contents: Commentary on "The Secret of the Golden Flower"; Psychological Commentary on "The Tibetan Book of the Dead"; Yoga and the West; The Dreamlike World of India; What India Can Teach Us; Psychological Commentary on "The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation"; Foreword to Suzuki's "Introduction to Zen Buddhism"; The Psychology of Eastern Meditation; The Holy Men of India' Foreword to Abegg, "Ostasien denkt anders"; Foreword to the "I Ching"; On the Discourses of the Buddha.
- ____________. Symbols of Transformation:: An Analysis of the Prelude to a Case of Schizophrenia, translated by R.F.C. Hull. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1967. Vol. 5 of The Collected Works of C. G. Jung; 557 pp.
BF23 .J763 1953 v.5 1967.
- An "extensive" revision of Wandlungen und Symbole der Libido (1912), including materials not included in the revised Swiss edition. Contents: Part One: I. Introduction; II. Two Kinds of Thinking; III. The Miller Fantasies: Anamnesis; IV. The Hymn of Creation; V. The Song of the Moth; Part Two: I. Introduction; II. The Concept of the Libido; III. The Transformation of the Libido; IV. The Origin of the Hero; V. Symbols of the Mother and of Rebirth; VI. The Battle for Deliverance from the Mother; VII. The Dual Mother; VIII. The Sacrifice; IX. Epilogue. In addition, this edition includes lists of plates and of text figures, forewords from several Swiss and German editions, as well as the author's note to the first English edition, all in the prefatory material. The text is followed by "The Miller Fantasies" in an appendix, as well as a bibliography, and an index.


- Kahler, Erich. "The Nature of the Symbol." See: May, Rollo, ed. Symbolism in Religion and Literature. New York: George Braziller, 1960.
- Kandinsky, Wassily. Concerning the Spiritual in Art. New York: Dover Publications, 1977. Originally published as The Art of Spiritual Harmony. London: Constable & Co., 1914. Translated by M.T.H. Sadler. 57pp., 0-486-23411-8.
[PM006] N68 .K33 1977. §: 4.
- Kaster, Joseph. Putnam's Concise Mythological Dictionary. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, a Perigee Book, 1963. Based upon Redfield, Bessie G. Gods, a Dictionary of the Deities of All Lands, Putnam, 1931. 180 pp. [PJ421] BL31.K3. §: 2.
- A straight-forward dictionary with brief entries and internal cross-references, no index.
- Keightley, Thomas. The World Guide to Gnomes, Fairies, Elves and Other Little People. New York: Avenel Books, 1978; previously published as The Fairy Mythology by G. Bell, London, 1878, presumably the 3rd edition, based on the author's
statement in his preface. Reproduced illustrations added to this edition. 560pp., 0-517-26313-0. [HJ129] GR550.K4 1978. §: 5.
- Primarily a retelling of the legends of various European countries, albeit beginning with some Persian and ending with some Jewish tales. Includes a brief, 4-page index. The book is arranged by region then country, starting (with the non-European exceptions already mentioned) with northern Europe and proceeding around the continent to finish in Greece. The work does include occasional line drawings.
- Keith, A. Berriedale. See: The Mythology of All Races, vol. 6, Indian.
- Kelsey, Morton T. Myth, History and Faith: The Remythologizing of Christianity. New York: Paulist Press, 1974. 185 pp.; 0-8091-1827-0.
[PL064] BL304.K38.
- ANNOTE
- Killinger, John. The Fragile Presence. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1973. 166pp., 0-8006-0165-3. [PH094] PN771.K54.
- ANNOTE
- Koch, Rudolf. The Book of Signs: Which Contains All Manner of Symbols Used from the Earliest Times to the Middle Ages by Primitive Peoples and Early Christians. New York: Dover Publications, 1955; reprint of publication of the First Edition Club of London, 1930. Translation by Vyvyan Holland. 104 pp.; 0-486-20162-7.
[PK254] AZ108.K62 1955. §: 3,4.
- The 493 signs included in this book are arranged in 14 chapters, but without a table of contents or index. According to the front material, the graphics were collected by Koch "and his friends" from various sources in Europe. The English version is, nonetheless, printed in the author's magere deutsche type, similar to the old German Blackfont, which can make the reading difficult for those not familiar with Medieval letter forms. Contents: (Inconsistent capitalization of the text is here followed): 1. General signs. (p. 1); 2. The Cross. (p. 14); 3. The Monogram of Christ or Chrismon. (p. 22); 4. Other Christian signs. (p. 30); 5. The Monogram. (p. 35); 6. Stonemasons' signs. (p. 43); 7. The four Elements. (p. 49); 8. Astronomical signs. (p. 51); 9. Astrological Signs. (p. 60); 10. Botanical Signs. (p. 63); 11. Chemical Signs. (p. 65); 12. House- and Holdings-Marks. (p. 76); 13. Signs from various sources. (p. 93); 14. Runes. (p. 99). Each chapter starts with a description and background of the topic. Many of the individual signs also have brief commentary.
- Kramer, Samuel, Noah, ed. Mythologies of the Ancient World. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1961. 480pp., 0-385-09567-8. [PJ440] BL311.K7. §: 5.
- This is a collection of studies in mythology, not just the tales of the relevant myths. Contents: "Introduction," Samuel Noah Kramer; "Mythology in Ancient Egypt," Rudolf Anthes; "Mythology of Sumer and Akkad," Samuel Noah Kramer; "Hittite Mythology," Hans G. Güterbock; "Canaanite Mythology," Cyrus H. Gordon; "Mythology of Ancient Greece," Michael H. Jameson; "Mythology of India," W. Norman Brown; "Mythology of Ancient Iran," M. J. Dresden; "Myths of Ancient China," Derk Bodde; "Japanese Mythology," E. Dale Saunders; "Mythology of Ancient Mexico," Miguel León-Portilla. Each section concludes with a bibliography. 8 page index.


- Lankford, George E., ed. Native American Legends: Southeastern Legends: Tales from the Natchez, Caddo, Biloxi, Chickasaw, and Other Nations. Little Rock: August House, 1987. 265pp., 0-87483-518-6. [PQ115] E78.S65L36 1987. §: 5.
- Beginning with an Introduction and 2 chapters (1. Preliminary Reflections; 2. The Native American Southeast) that reflect on the history and study of myths of American Indiansl, the book then recounts the stories of various "southeastern" tribes, arranged by two general topics with several chapters within each: The Ways of the World (3. The Above World; 4. The Under World; 5. The Middle World; 6. The Tribes of People; 7. The Plant World) and Adventures (8.The Twins; 9. The Wonderful Garments; 10. The Bead-Spiter/Marooned Hero; 11. Other Adventures; 12. Tricksters.) The book concludes with Notes and an 8-page bibliography. The book does include some drawings of various characters and implements, as well as several charts comparing the distribution of types of story among the various tribes. Both in the introductory material and in the brief Epilogue, the author discusses the various possible provenances of the stories: native, other tribes, African, or European.
- Leach, Marjorie. Guide to the Gods. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 1992. 995pp., 0-87436-591-0. BL473.L43 1993. §: 2.
- Of limited use in understanding the symbolism, yet probably the greatest accumulation of names of deities, especially from an anthropological perspective, along with the deities' most basic attributes. This book lists the gods and goddesses in 52 categories (4 and 5 have been combined) by major attribute. Following the text, there is a glossary of terms by country. There is a list of journals consulted as well as a substantial (42 page) bibliography. For access by a specific deity, it is necessary to use the 73-page index, especially because many deities are included under more than one category. Gods of major contemporary religions appear to be included only when the name/deity has also been written in anthropological literature for a localized tribe or culture.
- Leeming, David. A Dictionary of Asian Mythology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001. 232pp.,0-19-512053-1. BL1005.L46 2001.
- Defining the geographical coverage of the dictionary as covering Asia but not the Middle East and Trukey, this dictionary presents the often interrelated mythologies of India and those regions farther east and north. While defining his terms in the "Introduction," the author acknowledges that separating myth from religion is often not possible. (Curiously, while the author gives one definition of myth on page 2, the first two sentences on page 3 give a much more useful, and universal, definition.) While some older forms of transliteration have crossreferences to the preferred modern (I Ching to yijing), others do not (no reference from Shiva to Šiva.) Includes a 2-page bibliography and 18-page index.
- Leeming, David Adams and Drowne, Kathleen Morgan. Encyclopedia of Allegorical Literature. Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio, 1996. 326pp., 0-87436-781-6. PR56.A5L44 1996. §: 2, 8.
- ANNOTE
- Leeming, David Adams with Leeming, Margaret Adams. Encyclopedia of Creation Myths. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 1994. 330pp., 0-87436-739-5.
BL325.C7L44 1994. §: 2, 5.
- Organized in a dictionary format, this "encyclopedia" includes entries by culture/religion (for accounts of the creation story) and by major characters and concepts. Beginning in the introduction with a brief but excellent description and definition of what a creation story is, the Leemings have created a useful dictionary of creation stories and their affiliated concepts (including deluge/re-creation stories.) Within the introduction the authors define 5 types of creation story as well as 4 characters often included. In these is demonstrated how the creation stories are "the only story," (p. viii) in that they relate to how any creative person works. Very limited use of illustrations. Many cross-references, both within entries and from unused names/transliterations to the appropriate entries. Includes a 3-page bibliography, a list of illustrations credits (by page number), and a 14-page general index.
- Legrand, Francine Claire. Symbolism in Belgium, translated from Le Symbolisme en Belgique by Alistair Kennedy. Brussels: Laconti, n.d. 282pp.
N6067.5.S9L413.
- ANNOTE
- Lehner, Ernst. American Symbols. New York: William Penn Publishing, 1957. 96pp.
E178.5.L4.
- In his Introduction to this book, Roger Butterfield concludes with a simple definition of symbols: "Essentially a symbol is a short-cut to convey information at a glance,..." Following the Introduction are pages of symbols from the history of the United States, each page with a brief paragraph about the type of symbols displayed on the same, and occasionally, adjoining pages. Concludes with symbols of the 48 states (at the time) and 8 territories.
- ______________. Symbols, Signs, & Signets. New York: Dover Publications, 1969; reproduction of edition published by World Publishing Co., 1950. 221 pp.; 0-486-22241-1.
[PK131] AZ108.L4 1969.
- Major Contents: Introduction; Symbolic Gods and Deities; Astronomy and Astrology; Alchemy; Magic and Mystic; Church and Religion; Heraldry; Monsters and Imaginary Figures; Japanese Crests; Marks and Signets; Watermarks; Printer's Marks; Cattle Brands; Conclusion; Hobo Signs; Bibliography. In a curious arrangement, at the beginning of the above listed sections, Lehner lists the illustrations in the section by illustration number, then follows the pages of illustrations. There are also some curious categorizations, such as the "Seven Cardinal Sins" under "Monsters and Imaginary Figures" rather than "Church and Religion." Graphics vary from simple signs to sketches of major works of art. Bibliography includes mainly pre-twentieth century sources.
- Leick, Gwendolyn. A Dictionary of Ancient Near Eastern Mythology. London: Routledge, 1991. 226pp., 0-415-00762-3.
BL1060.L44 1991.
- Aimed at "students of religious studies, anthropology and oriental studies..." (p. xi), this work is a selective dictionary of the deities of the Near East. In addition to telling the story (myth) of the various gods and goddesses, the entries often relate developmental details, including published sources, listed in the bibliography. There are also topical entries, with references to the various other entries including the topical matter. Cross references are in bold. Before the body of the dictionary is a chronological chart of the various cultures, divided into four regions: Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Syria, and Elam. The text of the dictionary is followed by an 8-page Glossary, mainly of places with a few topical terms and historical personages included. Next is an alphabetical, 15-page bibliography, followed by the index. Readers have to use the 11-page index to find correct/preferred spellings of the entries within the dictionary. After page 200 is 26 pages of photographs and drawings of various artifacts; cylinders seals are often shown accompanied by reproductions of their impressions.
- LeMieux, David. The Ancient Tarot and Its Symbolism: A Guide to the Secret Keys of the Tarot Cards. Cranbury, NJ: Cornwall Books, 1985. 206pp., 0-8453-4714-4.
[HM147] BF1879.T2L42 1984. §: 5, 7.
- A peculiar attempt to make the Tarot symbolism socially acceptable, even scholarly, while promoting the accusations of Philip the Fair against the Templars and defending Aleister Crowley as "a poor, warped soul." Major Contents: Part I: The Basics of Tarot and Card Reading; Part II: A Preparation for the Deeper Symbolism of the Major Arcana; Part III: The Deeper Symbolism of the Major Arcana. Includes both b&w and color graphics of the major arcana from different packs. Has two bibliographies, a basic (for further reading) and bibliography of specialized subjects (but not arranged by subject, just main entry.) 3+ page index.
- Lenardon, Robert J. See: Morford, Mark P. O., and Lenardon, Robert J. Classical Mythology, 7th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.
- Levi-Strauss, Claude. Myth and Meaning. New York: Schocken Books, 1979. The 1977 Massey Lectures. 54pp., 0-8052-0622-1. [PJ269] GN362.L47. §: 5.
- ANNOTE
- Lewis, Gilbert. "Magic, Religion and the Rationality of Belief," (563-590); In: Ingold, Tim, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Anthropology. London: Routledge, 1994. 1127pp., 0-415-02137-5. GN25.C65 1994.
- ANNOTE
- Lindow, John. Handbook of Norse Mythology. Santa Barabara, CA: ABC Clio, 2001; "Handbooks of World Mythology" series; also published as a paperback under the title: Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. 365pp., hardback = 1576072177; paperback = 0-19-515382-0. BL860.L56 2001. §: 5.
- Although the work includes a dictionary as part 3, this is, indeed, a handbook that serves as an introduction to Norse mythology (both as a collection of myths and as the study of Norse mythology), a dictionary of the deities and concepts, and a research guide to the sources of myths. Contents: 1. Introduction (the history of Nordic poetry); 2. Time (the mythical concepts); 3. Deities, Themes, and Concepts (a dictionary); 4. Print and Nonprint Resources (a detailed bibliographic guide to research). The volume is finished with a 25-page index. There are scattered photographs throughout the book. All entries in the dictionary-form section 3 are listed in the "Contents."
- Liungman, Carl G. Dictionary of Symbols. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 1991. English translation of Symboler--västerländska ideogram. Malmo: Merkur International KB, 1974.
[HO160] BL603 .L5413 1991. §: 2, 6.
- A narrative dictionary of non-iconic signs in an organized structure, with several essays and a brief, categorized, annotated bibliography at the beginning before the "Ideographic Dictionary." Includes a Word Index, a Graphic Index, Definitions, and a Search Table. The Graphic Index is very useful when you remember a basic form but wish to study it in more detail, for this index guides the user to the appropriate category. (Liungman categorizes signs into 54 groups based on design factors.) This dictionary uses a reduced meaning of symbol: "Any object can be called a symbol as long as a group of people agrees that it means more than just itself." (Dictionary, 5) In his introduction, Liungman defines how he uses several terms in addition to "symbol": graph, sign, ideogram/ideograph, and icon/iconic sign. He also includes essays on the historical development of signs, relationship of visual, form, and thought, writing, and several specialized collections or systems, including astrology, alchemy, hobos, and "The ideographic struggle in Europe during the 1930s." The latter is not only a fascinating look at the way Nazi symbols were intentionally developed, but also how some of their opponents used their own symbolism to oppose the fascists.
- Lucie-Smith, Edward. Symbolist Art. London: Thames and Hudson, 1972. 216 pp.;0-500-20125-0.
[PO047]
- A history and critical examination of the Symbolist movement in art. Contents: Symbolic Art; Romanticism and Symbolism; Symbolist Currents in England; The Symbolist Movement in France; Gustave Moreau; Redon and Bresdin; Puvis de Chavannes and Carriére; Gauguin, Pont-Aven, and the Nabis; The Rose + Crois; The English 1890s; The Symbolist International; Robs and Ensor; Edvard Munch; Klimt and the Vienna Secession; The Young Picasso. Includes 185 plates, mostly b&w. 1 page bibliography in small type. Extensive credits. 2-page index of persons and movements.
- Lundquist, John M. The Temple: Meeting Place of Heaven and Earth. London: Thames & Hudson, 1993. 96pp.
BL586.L864 1993.
- A large format, heavily illustrated (photographs) book about temples, from shrine to temple complex to mountain. "The temple incorporates within itself most of the ideas that make up our concept of religion. . . . It was within the setting of the temple that these other symbols, rituals and sacred textual traditions arose, and it is within the temple that they still have their deepest and truest meaning." (p. 5) Thus, this book is about both the place of worship and the practices and symbols found therein.
- Lurker, Manfred. The Gods and Symbols of Ancient Egypt: An Illustrated Dictionary. New York: Thames & Hudson, 1980. Translated by Barbara Cummings from Götter und Symbole der Altern Ägypter. 142pp.,0500110182.
BL2421.L8713 1980.
- This is a small dictionary with concise definitions of the gods and other symbols of ancient Egypt. The prefatory material provides an introduction to Egyptian symbolism and the culture/religion of Egypt, including its influence throughout history. A map of the Nile valley is the final item before the text of the dictionary. The dicitonary itself uses 2 columns per page, although on most pages, the outer column is used for illustrations (photographs and line drawings) with captions. The entries on headdresses and Nome symbols are accompanied by a page of illustrations, augmenting the entry very well. Following the dictionary proper are a political and cultural chronology of Egypt, a "Select Bibliography" (2 pages), and a 3-page index.


- MacCulloch, John Arnott. See: The Mythology of All Races, vol. 2, Eddic, and vol. 3, Celtic.
- MacKenzie, Donald A. The Migration of Symbols and their Relations to Beliefs and Customs. New York: AMS Press, 1970; reprint of 1926 edition. 219pp., 0-404-04136-1.
BL603.M3 1970. §: 5.
- This early twentieth century, wide-ranging study of several basic symbols indicates both by the title and within the Foreword the author's perspective on the "diffusion" theory of culture and religion. Although not mentioning C. G. Jung by name, he does refer to the "psychological" and "independent origin" theories and points out their limited factual support at the date of original publication (1926) of this book. MacKenzie also denigrates those who see primitive symbols as "art for art's sake," claiming all such symbols that we know of resulted from a "magico-religious" origin, although they have developed since their origin (or introduction) differently in different cultures. Contents: I. The Swastika (which includes the cross and cardinal points); II. The Sprial (which includes whirlpools, whirlwinds, birth, and sacred circuits); III. Ear Symbols; IV. Tree Symbols (including the Tree of Life.) Heavily footnoted, albeit with basic citations (never a publisher), this publication is without bibliography. Concludes with a 36-page, detailed index. Illustrations are mainly line drawings but include a few b&w photoreproductions. The illustrations are often grouped such as to display a geocultural variety of similar signs and are near the text discussing them.
- MacKenzie, Michael; Prime, Richard; George, Lisa; Dunning, Ray. Mythologies of the World; The Illustrated Gudie to Mythological Beliefs & Customs. New York: Checkmark Books, 2001. 160pp., 0-8160-4480-5.
BL311.M945 2001. §: 5.
- A heavily illustrated guide to mythologies in the various regions around the world. Beginning with an Introduction that describes the current view of mythology and its contents, most of the book is then arranged by regions. Contents: Mesopotamia; Ancient Egypt; Greece; Rome; Northern Europe; Central and Eastern Europe; Africa; India; China and East Asia; North America; Central and South America; Oceania. The volume is concluded with a brief essay on "Mythology in the Future," a 1-page bibliography (categorized by chapter), a "Glossary of Mythological Terms," and a 3-page index.
- MacKillop, James. Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998. 402pp., 0-19-869157-2. BL900.M445 1998.
- In his Introduction, MacKillop gives a brief synopsis of the history of the development of Celtic literary language. Further, he defines myth in broad terms, including the comment that "an episode or story can become a myth even when there is no ambiguity about whether the root narrative actually took place" (p. xviii), although he limits the dictionary's coverage to "ancient" myths. He chooses as his guide to spelling the accepted scholarly spellings except where English forms are well known and commonly accepted. (There are also many "see" references from Anglicaztions to accepted spellings within the body of the dictionary.) Between the Introduction and the body is a section on generalized pronunciation, broken into the 6 different historical languages. There is also a "How to use this book" section including a few specialized term with their definitions. Following the dictionary entries are a 13-page categorized Select Bibliography and a 6-page Subject Index.
- Mack, Carol K. and Mack, Dinah. A Field Guide to Demons, Fairies, Fallen Angels, and Other Subversive Spirits. New York: Arcade Publishing, 1998. 282pp., 1-55970-447-1.
BF1531.M26 1998. §: 5.
- ANNOTE
- Maier, Bernhard. Dictionary of Celtic Religion and Culture. Rochester, NY: Boydell Press, 1997. Translated by Cyril Edwards from Lexikon der keltischen Religion und Kultur, Stuttgart: Alfred Kröner Verlag, 1994. 339pp., 0-85115-698-3. BL900.M4513 1997.
- This work is broader in its coverage than other dictionaries of Celtic mythology, both in time (through the early Middle Ages) and place (all Europe), not to mention adding the cultural aspects. The dictionary includes not only the source materials for each topic, but lists literature and other arts influenced by the entry. Further, the translator has added English language materials to both the dictionary entries and to the bibliographies, making this work more than just a translation. After the dictionary entries there follows an appendix of major museum collections of Celtic artifacts, followed by the "Select Bibliography," which consists of 6 sections: 1. Bibliographies; 2. Works of reference; 3. Editions and translations; 4. Archaelology, history of religion and culture until late antiquity; 5. Linguistic, literary and cultural history from the early Middle Ages to the beginning fo the modern period; and, 6. Survival and reception, history of scholarship, Celtic ideology. The greatest weakness of this work is the use of long arrows (&mdash>) to indicate references. It makes for difficult reading within entries, especially the longer, more general entries. Using bolding or small caps would have made for easier use. Of the dictionaries of Celtic myth, this appears the most skeptical, as shown in its entry on Ossian, which it labels a fictitious author, whereas other dicitonaries describe the works of Ossian as part original and part the creation of Macpherson (MacKillop) or as the possible translation of documents modified by folklore by Macpherson (Ellis, Dictionary of Celtic Mythology). (Ellis does describe the other views, as well.)
- March, Jenny. Cassell Dictionary of Classical Mythology. London: Cassell, 1998. 416pp., 0-304-34626-8.
BL715.M37 1998.
- This is a straight-forward dictionary of persons and some places. The articles not only recount the applicable myths related to the entries, but also mention major classical authors and more modern art works which include the person. Cross-references within entries are in small caps. At the end of each article is listed the classical sources in brackets. After the dictionary are 5 appendices: 2 maps (Mediterranean & Black Seas; Greece & Aegean Sea), several genealogical tables, a small, biographical dictionary of Greek and Latin authors, a 1-page select bibliography, and a list of illustrations and their sources.
- May, Rollo, ed. Symbolism in Religion and Literature. New York: George Braziller, 1960. 253pp. BL600.M35.
- This is a collection of 9 essays, some of which were previously published in Daedalus, with an introduction by the editor. Contents: Introduction: "The Significance of Symbols," Rollo May; 1. "The Nature of teh Symbol," Erich Kahler; 2. "The Religious Symbol," Paul Tillich; 3. "The Cross: Scoial Trauma or Redemption," Amos N. Wilder; 4. "On the First Three Chapters of Genesis," Kenneth Burke; 5. "The Pattern of Religious Organization in the United States," Talcott Parsons; 6. "The Broken Center: A Definition of the Crisis of Values in Modern Literature," Nathan A. Scott, Jr.; 7. "The Sense of Poetry: Shakespeare's 'The Phonenix and the Turtle," I. A. Richards; 8. "The Representation of Nature in Contemporary Physics," Werner Heisenberg; 9. "Uses of Symbolism," A. N. Whitehead. The nine essays are followed by "Notes on Contributors," brief vitas of the authors of the nine essays.
- Mercatante, Anthony S. The Facts on File Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend. New York: Facts On File, 1988. 807pp., 0-8160-1049-8.
BL303.M45 1988. §: 2.
- A large compendium of of information on myths, legends, folktales, and fables, with concise definitions of these four terms given in the Introduction. The entries are arranged by the best known English spelling, with an index to variant spellings near the end of the volume. Translation (meaning) of the entry name is often given in parentheses, followed by the known story or history of the person, place, or thing. The more substantial articles include references to art, music, and literature related to the entry. Variant spellings conclude appropriate entries. Many black & white illustrations are included within the text, some of full page size. A total lack of cross-references is a major weakness of this publication. Following the encyclopedia entries, there is an annotated bibliography arranged in topical categories, geographic, and other categories, but not alphabetically. In addition to the aforementioned "Key to Variant Spellings," there is a "Cultural and Ethnic Index" and a 67-page "General Index." All index entries are keyed to the entry number, not the page number, thus making sure the reader can find the appropriate entry of the many to be found on each page.
- __________________. Who's Who in Egyptian Mythology. New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., 1978. 231pp., 0-517-53445-2.
BL2428.M47 1978.
- Illustrated with line drawings by the author, this is a combination dictionary & story book. Before the "Introduction" and the dictionary proper, there is a list of Egyptian dynasties and their dates. Within the dictionary, alternate spellings of Egyptian names/words are included with references to the author's preferred spelling. In addition to the usual definitions in the dictionary, the author has included a number of stories from the Egyptian. The work concludes with a 13-page, annotated bibliography of sources and suggested readings.
- Merritt, Richard L. Symbols of American Community, 1735-1775. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1966. 279pp., 0-300-0769-8. E195.M4.
- An expansion of the author's doctoral dissertation, this is an analysis of the use of verbal symbols in newspapers in the American colonies during the period from 1735 to 1775, in an attempt to provide a new explanation of the success of the American Revolution, when earlier attempts to separate from Britain had received little popular support. Although much of the book deals with statistical analysis of newspapers' use of British versus American symbols (with concommitant tables and charts), one chapter, "Symbols of American Community: An Overview," and much of the material in the appendices, especially "The Symbol List," pp. 209-214, deal with the symbols themselves. The early part of the book justifies the use of symbol analysis in political studies; the first appendix is a "design for symbol analysis research.". Concludes with a 9-page index.
- Miller, Daniel. "Artefacts and the Meaning of Things," (396-419); In: Ingold, Tim, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Anthropology. London: Routledge, 1994. 1127pp., 0-415-02137-5. GN25.C65 1994.
- ANNOTE
- Miller, Gustavus Hindman. 10,000 Dreams Interpreted. Shaftesbury, Dorset: Element Books, 1996. 304pp., 1-85230-894-X.
BF1091.M6 1996. NOTE: There are several, varying editions of this work, some without graphics; also, some have a dictionary (alphabetical) arrangement of the whole.
- The Preface indicates that this is a reprint, although neither it nor the front matter indicate of what or when. Unfortunately, whoever wrote the preface (unsigned and uncredited) notes a seminar in 1928 as the start of Jung's interpretation of dreams, giving Miller (without a stated date) the primacy. The fact that both Freud and Jung had been interpreting and training analysts in dream interpretations for decades is ignored. Instead, Miller is given credit with an "alternative" method of dream interpretation based on "instinct." Images and their interpretations in this book are arranged into 40 categories, each of which are subdivided into further categories, and then the individual images are listed and interpreted. The 21-page "Dream Directory" is the essential index to the individual images. Most of the graphics appear to have been created for this edition.
- Morford, Mark P. O., and Lenardon, Robert J. Classical Mythology, 7th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. 808pp., 0-19-515344-8.
BL723.M67 2003. Affiliated website: http://www.classicalmythology.org. §: 5.
- This textbook on classical myths tells their stories, accompanied by maps and many illustrations. Contents: Part One: The Myths of Creation: The Gods; Part Two: The Greek Sagas: Greek Local Legends; Part Three: The Nature of Roman Mythology; Part Four: The Survival of Classical Mythology. Includes a "Select Bibliography," a glossary, and indexes.
- Müller, W. Max. See: The Mythology of All Races, vol. 12, Egyptian.
- Munz, Peter. When the Golden Bough Breaks: Structuralism or Typology? London: Routledge & Keegan Paul, 1973. 143pp., 0-7100-7650-9. BL311.M83. §: 5.
- In a criticism of Levi-Strauss' structualism, Prof. Munz describes structuralism as "deficient" and limited, not wrong. His definitions/distinctions of sign and symbol (pp. xi-xii) in the Preface approaches their meanings and importance from a unique and pragmatic perspective. He uses the Introduction to survey the problems of the approaches to understanding myth by Frazer, Malinowski/Radcliffe-Brown, Bultmann, and C.G. Jung.
Concludes with 8-page, categorized bibliography and a 5-page index.
- Murphy, Patrick D., ed. Literature of Nature: An International Sourcebook. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1998. 490pp., 1-57958-010-6. PN48.L58 1998. §: 8.
- Although not quite an encyclopedia, yet Murphy's scholarly handbook provides essays concerning the approaches to nature in the literature of many nations and cultures. This book is arranged by geographic regions then countries. While many of the essays view nature from a more scientific, or descriptive, perspective than symbolic, others specifically deal with nature's symbolism within a culture's literature and a few deal with specific images or aspects of nature, as used by the culture's writers. The book is concluded with "Notes on Contributors," as well as title and general indexes.
- The Mythology of All Races. Gray, Louis Herbert, and MacCulloch, John Arnott, eds.; Moore, George Foot, consulting ed. New York: Cooper Square Publishers, 1964. 13 vols. BL25.M8 1964.
- A set, originally produced between 1916 and 1932 by the Marshall Jones Company, recounting the mythologies of most cultures. Although the editors did not attempt to impose a single theory on the writers, given the time and place, mythology is generally presumed to be "proto-science," a rational explanation for why things were the way they were. Some cultures received more detailed attention than others. Contents, by volume:
- 1. Greek and Roman. Fox, William Sherwood. 1916, 1964.
- 2. Eddic. MacCulloch, John Arnott. 1930, 1964.
- 3. Celtic. MacCullloch, John Arnott. Slavic. Máchal, Jan. 1918, 1964.
- 4. Finno-Ugric, Siberian. Holmberg, Uno. 1964.
- 5. Semitic. Langdon, Stephen Herbert. 1931-1964.
- 6. Indian. Keith, A. Berriedale. Iranian. Carnoy, Albert J. 1917, 1964.
- 7. Armenian. Ananikian, Mardiros. African. Werner, Alice. 1925, 1964.
- 8. Chinese. Ferguson, John C. Japanese. Aneseki, Masaharu. 1928, 1964.
- 9. Oceanic. Dixon, Roland B. 1916, 1964.
- 10. North American. Alexander, Hartley Burr. 1916, 1964.
- 11. Latin-American. Alexander, Hartley Burr. 1920, 1964.
- 12. Egyptian. Müller, W. Max. Indo-Chinese. Scott, James George. 1918, 1964.
- 13. Complete Index. 1932, 1964.


- Neville, Robert Cummings. The Truth of Broken Symbols. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1996. BL600 .N48 1996.
- An analysis of religious symbolism, especially in a Christian context, and how symbols can be "broken" yet provide usefulness. Contents: What religious symbols do; Symbols break on the infinte; Finite meaning infinite; Taking symbols in context; Symbols for transformation; Judging religious symbols by consequences; Truth in religious symbols.


- Olderr, Steven, comp. Symbolism: A Comprehensive Dictionary. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 1986. 153 pp.; 0-89950-187-7 (hdbk); 0-7864-2127-4 (pbk). CB475.O38 1986. §: 2,4.
- From the Foreword, the author acknowledges his intent that this dictionary be used by those interpreting literature and the arts. It is a strict, alphabetical dictionary--look up a word and it will be there with a definition or cross-reference to the preferred term. Or, in fact, most terms will have several definitions: "...symbols commonly have contradictory meanings, and it is only the context in which a symbol is used that will tell you which definition is appropriate for your uses." (p. v.) The Foreword also presents definitions of 5 critical terms the compiler uses in his definitions: Allusion, Association, Attribute, Emblem, Symbol, each with examples to clarify the definition. The subtitle of "a comprehensive dictionary" may be an exaggeration--on checking in response to a researcher's need, neither "ether," "philosopher's stone," nor "elements" are included as entry or cross-reference. As indicated by the absence of a graphic indicator in the entry, there are no graphics. However, its coverage of more than 6,000 entries makes it a valuable source when seeking the meaning of a symbol, especially within the symbol's context. Look up "stone" and find a general paragraph about the meaning of stone, in general, which is then followed by 21 contextual definitions. For instance, "black stone," which is defined as "sin; defeat; restraint" (p. 130) then gives a further context of "Greece" and what it signified in that particular culture.
- ____________, comp. Reverse Symbolism Dicitonary: Symbols Listed by Subject. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 1992. 181 pp.; 0-89950-561-9. [HO159] CB475 .O37 1992. §: 2,4.
- This very basic work seems, nonetheless, to be unique in that it allows a person to look up in dictionary format an idea and find listed symbols, allusions, etc. related to the idea. Many entries include cross-references. The Foreword includes a brief list of defined terms as well as a very brief list of the best books for finding background information on the symbols.
- Olson, Alan M., ed. Myth, Symbol, and Reality. Nortre Dame: University of Notre Dame Pr., 1980. 189pp., 0-268-01346-2. [HN079] BL304.M87. §: 2,5.
- A collection of 10 essays discussing the relations of symbolism and reality. Contents: 1. Myth as an "Ambush of Reality," Herbert Mason; 2. Myth and History, Elie Wiesel; 3. Reality, Myth, Symbol, Bernard J. F. Lonergan, S.J.; 4. Symbolic Aspect of Myth, Jacques Waardenburg; 5. Relational Ontology and Hermeneutics, Harold H. Oliver; 6. Religious and Poetical Speaking, Hans-Georg Gadamer; 7. Myth, Symbol, and Metaphorical Truth, Alan. M. Olson; 8. The Spoken Word and the Work of Interpretation in American Indian Religion, Dennis Tedlock; 9. Myth and Miracle: Isis, Wisdom, and the Logos of John, Howard Clark Kee; 10. The Myths of Plato, J. N. Findlay. Also includes author and subject indices.
- Opie, Iona, & Tatem, Moira, eds. A Dictionary of Superstitions. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989. 494pp., 0-19-211597-9. BF1775.D53 1989. §: 2, 7.
- This dictionary gives quotations from sources, mainly from Britain and Ireland, rather than definitions, per se. As a result, it is quite entertaining but also provides some documentation of the development for many of the superstitions in those islands, as well as derivative cultures. As a result, it thereby provides documentation of the origins (in some cases) of the superstition and its meaning, thus also furnishing hints to the origin of the symbolism in the acts and objects involved. Although many of the entries do include cross-references at the end of the entry, the editors urge the use of their "Analytical Index" to discover common motifs as well as all related superstitions. This index is also a good place to start when examining symbols included in the superstitions. A selective bibliography is included between the main dictionary and the index.
- Orchard, Andy. Cassell's Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. London: Cassell, 2002; original edition published in UK in 1997. 494pp., 0-304-36385-5. BL860.O73 2002.
- Following a Preface and an Introduction dealing with the difficulties of studying Norse mythology, the author then provides a strict dictionary of Norse myths, gods, heroes, and concepts. Each entry term is followed by an English translation of the term in parentheses (when appropriate), a definition or story, and ends with codes referring to sources in the bibliography. Within each entry, cross-references are by means of small caps. Following the text of the dictionary are several appendices dealing with various categories of names, a bibliography (divided into "Reference Books and General Surveys," "Primary Sources," "Translations of Primary Sources," and "Secondary Works,") and a concluding "Index of Passages and Authors Cited in the Text."
- Over, Raymond van, ed. Sun Songs: Creation Myths from Around the World. New York: Mentor Book, NAL, 1980. 402pp., 0-451-61810-6 [PJ321] BL325.C7 S94. §: 5.
- Basing his concept of "myth" on Levi-Strauss' ideas, that myths are stories created to explain the unknown, Raymond Van Over has collected creation stories from around the world, then ordered them by eleven regions, each with its own introduction: North America, South America, Norther Europe and Central Asia, Mesopotamia, Greece, Africa, Judeo-Christian, Egypt, Near East, Far East, and Oceania and South Sea Island Peoples. Includes an 8 page "selected bibliography."


- Packer, Sharon. Dreams in Myth, Medicine, and Movies. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2002. 235pp., 0-275-97243-7. BF1078.P28 2002. §: 4.
- ANNOTE
- Parsons, Talcott. "The Pattern of Religious Organization in the United States." See: May, Rollo, ed. Symbolism in Religion and Literature. New York: George Braziller, 1960.
- Pinch, Geraldine. Handbook of Egyptian Mythology. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, 2002; "Handbooks of World Mythology" series. 257pp., 1-57607-242-8.
BL2441.3.P56 2002.
- Beginning with a basic dynastic chronology and maps of Egypt and the Middle East, then following the form of the other titles in ABC Clio's "Handbooks of World Mythology" series, this book includes an Introduction to the main concepts and historical developments of Egyptian mythology, then has chapters to cover the main story line, a dictionary of deities and concepts, and a complex bibliography of print, audio-visual, and online resources (14 pages.) The concluding matter includes a glossary, an appended bibliography/abbreviation list of main sources, and a 17-page index. The volume concludes with a brief background of the author. The dictionary entries often conclude with cross-references, source bibliography/further reading, andr primary sources reference.
- Powell, James N. The Tao of Symbols. New York: William Morrow & Co., 1982.  256 pp.
P99.P64 1982
- Begun with a Prelude by Anne Dillard, this book attempts to find a unity among symbols, examining Eastern and Western symbols and myths.




- Ramsey, Ian, ed. Words About God: The Philosophy of Religion. New York: Harper & Row, 1971. 245pp. [PH174] BL65.L2 R34 1971.
- Taking excerpts from writings about God from Clement of Alexandria and Plotinus up to the 1950's, Ramsey presents the difficulties of talking about God, the Creator, Lord of All, or whatever term or name we assign the center of our worship. Other writers include Moses Maimonides, Thomas Aquinas, George Berkeley, H. L. Mansel, H. Lotze & F. H. Bradley, Rudolf Otto, Bertrand Russell, G. E. Moore, Ludwig Wittgenstein, A. J. Ayer, F. Waismann, Gilbert Ryle, P. F. Strawson, J. L. Austin, R. M. Hare, C. K. Ogden & I. A. Richards, Max Black, R. W. Hepburn, Ian T. Ramsey, Donald D. Eveans, and E. E. Evans-Prichard. The book is concluded by a 14-term topical index.
- Redfield, Bessie G. Gods, a Dictionary of the Deities of All Lands, Putnam, 1931. 180 pp. See: Kaster, Joseph. Putnam's Concise Mythological Dictionary.
- Rees, Elizabeth. Chistian Symbols, Ancient Roots. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 1992; paperback, 1997. 165pp., 1-85302-179-2.
[PR007] BV150.R--- 1992. §: 6.
- Roman Catholic nun Elizabeth Rees has written this book explaining Christian symbols in their meaninful, developmental contexts. In the initial chapter, "Introduction: The Ancient Roots of Christian Symbols," she explains the general development of symbols from pre-Christian usage into everyday symbols and/or myths of Christians and the Church. In doing this, she includes defining "symbol" and "myth," as well as related terms, reflecting 20th century deveopments in the process. The remaining 9 chapters deal with symbols by specific themes: 2. Corn, the Bread of Life; 3. Water and Blood; The Ark of Safety; 4. The Snake in Paradise Lost and Regained; 5. The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Cross; 6. Sun and Moon; Fire and Light; 7. Symbols of Jesus and Mary in Art; 8. Priest and Shaman: Holy Leaders; 9. Chant and Incantation: Sacred Songs; 10. The Dance of Heaven and Earth. The concluding material includes an appendix with suggestions for teachers on how to get students to play with the symbols of each chapter, a 4-page bibliography, and an 8-page index. This volume presents a more informed approach to understanding symbololgy within the Church than do most books.
- Richards, I. A. "The Sense of Poetry: Shakespeare's 'The Phonenix and the Turtle.'" See: May, Rollo, ed. Symbolism in Religion and Literature. New York: George Braziller, 1960.
- Robinson, L. J. A Dictionary of Graphical Symbols. London: F. C. Avis, 1972. 360pp.
AZ108.R6. §: 2.
- Published without an introduction or explanation, this is a simple dictionary of graphics, from the printer's/typographer's viewpoint. Each alphabetical entry has a graphic, a definition, or both. The first entry under each letter is the letter itself, with examples given in upper and lower case in four different fonts. At the end of the volume is a "Graphical Guide," to help those looking for a graphic for which they do not know the name.
- Room, Adrian. Who's Who in Classical Mythology. Lincolnwood, IL: NTC Publishing Group, 1997; originally published as NTC's Classical Dictionary in 1990. 343pp., 0-8442-5469-X. BL715.R66 1997.
- More an interesting dictionary of names than a "who's who," this volume gives the etymologies of the names found in classical myths, fanciful, historic, and modern interpretations inclusive. Thus, it can provide the symbolism of the names (and characters?) of the mythological persons, although the author warns that not all name meanings are applicable to the individuals bearing them. The lengthy Introduction provides both an excellent explanation of the field as well as defining what the book is about. Prior to the dictionary, Room has 4 pages of definitions for "technical terms," including for each of the 5 Greek dialects. Within each article, the definitions from history through current scholarship are given for the entry, often with crossreferences to names related by meaning or myth. After the dictionary are 7 appendices, four of which include the "by-names" or 4 deities: Aphrodite/Venus; Apollo; Athena/Minerva; and Zeus/Jupiter. The other 3 appendices are "Common Elements in Greek Mythological Names," "The Hounds of Actaeon" (defining the individual names of 40 out of 50 hounds,) and "Corresponding Names of Characters" (giving the Greek and Roman equilavents.) The volume concludes with a 3-page bibliography. The author states plainly that the dictionary is intended for the non-expert as well as the expert, although the classicists may be exasperated by his inclusion of meanings long dismissed by scholars. Includes reproduction of some historic artwork, mainly vase paintings.


- Santillana, Giorgio de, and Dechend, Hertha von. Hamlet's Mill: An Essay on Myth and the Frame of Time. Boston: David R. Godine, 1977. 505pp., 0-87923-215-3. [PJ386] BL304 .D43. §: 5.
- ANNOTE
- Schechner, Richard. "Ritual and Performance," (613-647). In: Ingold, Tim, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Anthropology. London: Routledge, 1994. 1127pp., 0-415-02137-5. GN25.C65 1994.
- ANNOTE
- Scheub, Harond. A Dictionary of African Mythology: The Mythmaker as Storyteller. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. 368pp., 0-19-512456-1. BL2400.S24 2000.
- More a compilation of story synopses than a dictionary, yet even more complex than that, this is more a small encyclopedia, with African stories, themes, and, occassionally, analysis. The stories are arranged alphabetically by the main character, with the culture and country in parentheses after the entry. Then follows the story or its synopsis. Before the start of each new letter is a page with either a thematic discussion or proverbs. After the "dictionary" are several sections: Sources (an index of where the tales are to be found), Bibliography (27 pages), 3 appendices, and a 16-page index.
- Schimmel, Annemarie. The Mystery of Numbers. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. (Originally published as: Endres, Franz Carl and Schimmel, Annemarie. Das Mysterium der Zahl. Munich: Eugen Diederichs Verlag, 1984.) 314pp., 0-19-605303-1.
BF1623.P9E55. §: 7.
- This work is an attempt to cover the use of numbers and numerical systems for mystical and symbolic purposes. In the introduction, Schimmel covers number systems, Pythagorean approaches, brief mention of Gnostic use with somewhat better description of kabbalah, the Islamic mystical uses, medieval European and Islamic approaches, superstitions, and, finally, a description of basic number games and magic squares. The second section of the book, "A Little Dictionary of Numbers," which provides most of the text, has individual chapters for numbers 1-22, then chapters for 24-39, 40, 42-66, 70 & 72, and "Up to Ten Thousand." Seeing as these are chapters, the entries are more on the order of encyclopedic than dictionary, with heavy illustrations and wide-ranging examples of the numbers and their uses. These chapters are followed by a categorized and partially annotated bibliography of 15 pages. This excellent bibliography is very broad in both its topical coverage and in the languages of the sources included. Then comes a narrative "illustration credits" which is followed by a 16-page index.
- Scott, James George. See: The Mythology of All Races, vol. 12, Indo-Chinese.
- Scott, Nathan A, Jr. "The Broken Center: A Definition of the Crisis of Values in Modern Literature." See: May, Rollo, ed. Symbolism in Religion and Literature. New York: George Braziller, 1960.
- Seife, Charles. Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea. New York: Viking, 2000. 248pp., 0-670-88457-X. QA141.S45.
- This book, perhaps, does not really belong with Symbols or even signs by the author's own definition of purpose. Nonetheless, it provides an interesting history of the concept of zero, nothing, the void, as well as its opposite, infinity. Beginning, more or less, with the execution of Hippasus of Metapontum by the "cult" of Pythagoras for betrayal, the author takes the idea of "zero" through its mathematical and scientific history to the discovery of the Big Bang creation, and prediction of the ice death, of the universe. Includes an 8-page bibliography (with web sites) and an 8-page index.
- Shepherd, Walter, comp. Shepherd's Glossary of Graphic Signs and Symbols. London: J. M. Dent & Sons, 1971. 596pp.; 0-460-03818-4.
AZ108.S53. §: 2.
- In a complex attempt to simplify the categorization of graphic signs, Walter Shepherd has produced this glossary of graphics. Using the "Key," (but only after reading the Introduction,) a person may find most any graphical sign and its meanings and usages. At least, in theory. The fact that two different forms of Omega (printed versus handwritten) are included without cross-references within the text, leaves a bit of doubt in respect as to the true effectiveness of this glossary. The book and its "definitions" are concerned with the significance of signs in charts, maps, etc., not with the symbolic significances. In addition to technical signs, this work includes many alphabets plus the Japanese kana. The alphabets themselves are included in an appendix, with references to the glossary tables; at this point there are listings for both printed and cursive forms. The alphabets included are Roman, German, Greek, Russian (Cyrillic), Hebrew, Arabic, Morse code, and Braille. A second appendix contains a list of signs by general category, starting with "Astronomy" and running through "Standard Shading Tints." The other appendices are: 3. Proof Corrections; and, 4. Typefaces and Flowers. The 5-page bibliography is followed by a 7-page "Index of Signs with Names."
- Sienkewicz, Thomas J. World Mythology: An Annotated Guide to Collections and Anthologies. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press, 1996. 469pp., 0-8108-3154-6. BL311.S54 1996.
- This is an annotated bibliography of published myths, solely or in collections, and intended for the general, English language reader. Although excluding "books dealing with modern economic or political myths," urban legends and other contemporary myths are included. For Sienkewicz, "myths are essentially traditional stories, narratives handed down from generation to generation within a community." (p.1) Within his introduction, he divides and defines myths into 4 categories: myths proper, legends & sagas, Folktales (or Märchen), and fairy tales. (p.2) Throughout his introduction, the author uses the myth of Sisyphus as an analogy to his task, and uses it well in an enlightening, entertaining manner. Contents: 1: General Collections and Anthologies; 2: Africa; 3: The Americas; 4: Oceania; 5: Asia; 6: Europe; Indexes. There are 3 indexes: Author and Editor Index (12 pages), Illustrator Index (3 pages), and Subject Index (46 pages.) The author does admit to selectivity in European myths and the same limitations are obvious in the collections of North America. For instance, there are only 2 works by Katherine Briggs (British isles) and 1 of Benjamin Botkin's numerous tomes (American) included.
- Silberer, Herbert. Hidden Symbolism of Alchemy and the Occult Arts. New York: Dover, 1971. Translation originally titled Problems of Mysticism and Its Symbolism, New York: Moffat, Yard and Co., 1917. Translated by Smith Ely Jelliffe. 451pp., 0-486-20972-5. [PM207] §: 7.
- An early attempt to reconcile psychoanalysis and the mysticism represented by alchemy, Rosicrucianism, and Freemasonry. Dr. Silberer's work is referenced in several places in Jung's Symbols of Transformation, which was translated into English shortly before Silberer. Contents: Part I: I. The Parable; II. Dream and Myth Interpretation. Part II: I. Psychoanalytic Interpretation of the Parable; II. Alchemy; III. The Hermetic Art; IV. Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry; V. The Problem of Multiple Interpretation. Part III: I. Introversion and Regeneration; II. The Goal of the work; III. The Royal Art. Includes notes, a 17-page bibliography, and 7-page index.
- Sill, Gertrude Grace. A Handbook of Symbols in Christian Art New York: Collier Bks, 1975. 241pp.; 0-02-000850-3.
[PO206] N8010.S54. §: 2,4.
- Arranged in dictionary format, but with encyclopedia-length and organized articles, with a 9-page index (which is inadequate. For instance, if I am looking up something related to Judith, I have to know to look under "Apocrypha," for there is no entry in the text nor in the index.) This work is, indeed, intended as a handbook to be read and used by those seeking to understand historical works of church-related art. Most, though not all, illustrations are b&w reproductions of artworks. Most entries end with parenthetical cross-references. Most entries are too broad for the uninformed reader. Includes a select bibliography of useful sources as well as a detailed credit section for illustrations.
- Snodgrass, Mary Ellen. Voyages in Classical Mythology. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, 1994. 478pp., 0-87436-734-4.
BL727.S66 1994.
- This encyclopedia of classical voyages begins with an "Author's Note," followed by an "Introduction," neither of which truly introduces the book nor the methodology/format of the book. Basically, both of the prefatory writings say that viewing classical myths is a voyage just as the myths themselves are usually tales of voyages. Then follows the 44 articles, arranged by person's name, of the "voyages," which, in fact, are the tales of individuals. Each article begins with an illustration and the person's name with the pronunciation of the name in brackets. The body of the article has four sections: Genealogy and Background; Journey; Alternate Versions; and Symbolism. It is augmented by a genealogical chart and a map of the regions covered by the journey marked with principle sites relevant. Each article is completed by a "See Also" list of interrelated articles and "Ancient Sources," a bibliography. After the articles, the book itself has a glossary of terms, a list of ancient sources by author, a chronology of the sources, a 6-page bibliography of 19th and 20th century sources, 16-page general index, and a 6-page geographic index. The author's storytelling ability is quite good, although the "Symbolism" sections vary in quality. The sites are numbered on the map of each article in the order in which they occur within the voyage, which makes following the journey easy and thus more informative.
- Speltz, Alexander. The Styles of Ornament. New York: Dover Publications, 1959. Translation by David O'Connor. 647pp.; 0-486-20557-6.
[PQ438] NK1530 .S72 1959. §: 3,4.
- Drawn copies of architectural and furniture designs, including some mythological, from around the world, from antiquity to recent eras.
- Sproul, Barbara C. Primal Myths: Creation Myths Around the World. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1991; c1979. 373pp., 0-06-067501-2. BL325.C7S68 1991.
- This is a collection of creation myths, each with its own introduction, from around the world. Following a lengthy Introduction, the myths are arranged by regions: African Myths; Near Eastern Myths; European Myths; Myths of India; Myths of China and Japan; Siberian and Eskimo Myths; North American Myths; Central and South American Myths; Myths of Australia and the Pacific. A 2-page index terminates the book. Each individual myth is followed by a citation to its source publication.
- Squire, Charles. Mythology of the Celtic People. London: Bracken Books, 1996; reprint of Celtic Myth & Legend; Poetry and Romance, 1912, Gresham Publishing Co., London; Bell also published an edition (hardback) under the original title in 1976. 450pp., 0-09-185043-6. [HJ117; PP069] BL900 .S6.
- An account of British and Irish myths as reflections of the pre-Roman Celtic religion, which reflects pretty much the attitude of the early twentieth century, including Arthur as a Celtic god without historic base. Some full-page, b&w illustrations.
- Stapleton, Michael. A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Mythology. New York: Bell Publishing, 1978; originally published by The Manlyn Publishing Group, Ltd., 1978. 224pp., 0-517-26281-9. [HK110] BL715.S7 1978b. §: 2.
- ANNOTE
- Stewart, William. Dictionary of Images and Symbols in Counselling. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 1998. 430pp; 1-85302-412-0.
BF637.C6S7675. §: 2, 8.
- While designed by an experienced psychological counsellor for use by counsellors, this dictionary is valuable for anyone interested in symbols, although especially in terms of their psychological implications. Designed originally as part of the author's book, Imagery and Symbolism in Counselling (1996), it is equally valuable as a separate publication. In the beginning of the book, Stewart lists all the entries, followed by a list arranged by 8 themes (nature, animals, humans, man-made, religious, mythological, abstract, and Individual or spontaneous.) Each entry follows the sign of infinity (
). The entry name is followed by a description of the symbol or image, which is then followed by the "possible psychological interpretation." Some entries include graphics, but not most. Cross-references are bolded, and are frequent throughout the entries. Some categories lead to great lists and further "interpretation." For instance, "Flowers" has several subtopics within the main description, then a list of specific flowers and their possible meanings that runs for more than 5 additional pages. There is a brief bibliography that is Western in orientation, followed by a lengthy index.
- ____________. Imagery and Symbolism in Counselling. London: Kingsley, 1996. 293 pp, 1-85302-350-7. BF458.S78 1996. §: 8.
- The author uses the image of "journeys" to explore symbols and their use in counseling. Includes few graphics itself, but is intended to be used with the companion volume, Dictionary of Images and Symbols in Counselling, 1998. The first half of the book uses 12 "journeys" to explore the use of specific symbols and symbolism in an "active imagining" process, then the second half looks at sessions with 15 clients and how the imagery was used. The book is intended to aid cousellors using "active Imagination" techniques. The brief bibliography is a combination of related works and original writings. 15 page index.
- Stokstad, Marilyn. Medieval Castles. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2005. 193pp, 0-313-32525-1.
UG429.G7S76 2005.
- This publication, a title in the "Greenwood Guides to Historic Events of the Medieval World," has two sections dealing with the castle and its environs as symbols. Pages liv-lvi in the "Overview" as well as Chapter 4, "The Castle as Symbol and Palace," cover and comment on the symbolic values and meanings of the castle and its components. Some of the details are simplified.
- Stoneman, Richard. Greek Mythology: An Encyclopedia of Myth and Legend. London: Aquarian Press, 1991. 192pp., 0-850030. BL715.S76 1991.
- A straightforward encyclopedia of Greek myths, brief, concise, and selective. Cross references (except for the gods) are in italics. The Introduction does more than introduce the book, it gives an example of the scholarly conflict still alive today and presents an excellent survey of the history of views about Greek mythology from the 6th centruy, B.C., to recent times. Because the volume is selective, many entries included in other dictionaries and encyclopedias of classical mythology are not included, thus creating a weakness. Facing the start of the Introduction is a page with 2 maps, one showing the major areas and towns of the Greek world (including the Aegean and Asia Minor), the other showing the Mediterranean area with major features mentioned in the myths. After the Introduction is "The Guide to Greek Mythology" in a dictionary format. A 6-page bibliography concludes the volume. An index of all names included within entries, including those without individual entries themselves, would have been a major improvement. The lack of this index, so essential to a true encyclopedia, in effect, makes this a dictionary.
- Sykes, Egerton; Kendall, Alan, rev. Who's Who in Non-Classical Mythology, revised ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. 235pp., 0-19-521032-8. BL303.S9 1993. §: 2.
- Essentially a dictionary of personages in myths from outside the Classical world, this source takes the approach that "When we approach a myth....We are being given access to the world view of a people, of its understanding of itself, its society and its god or gods." (p. ix.) The entries follow a strict alphabetical order, with cross-references indicated by a following dagger (†). The 11-page bibliography is arranged by region or culture, with some regions further divided by country. Being a dictionary, there is no index, but many entries in the body of the dictionary consist entirely of cross-references to appropriate entries, thus minimizing the need of an index.


- Taylor, Richard. How to Read a Church. An Illustrated Guide to Images, Symbols and Meanings in Churches and Cathedrals. London: Rider Books, 2004, 2003. 272pp., 1-8441-3238-2.
[HQ562] BV150.T39 2004.
- This book has been published in 3 editions in 3 years: The original edition in 2003, an "illustrated edition" in 2004 (described here), and an American edition in 2005. After a note on terminology, the work begins with "Reading a Church: Preliminaries," which is a broad introduction to understanding the use of symbols within a church building and the significance of certain broad categories, such as colors, numbers, and shapes. Following this initial chapter there are 11 chapters on specific topics: 1. Church building and furniture; 2. Crosses and crucifixes; 3. God; 4. Jesus; 5. The Virgin Mary; 6. Saints; 7. The Old Testament; 8. Doctors, angels, and abstracts; 9. Animals, birds, and fish; 10. Plants; 11. Letters and words. The twelth chapter is "How to read a priest," concerning the clothing and equipment of the priest. As an appendix, there is a listing of various apostles and their Latin and English equivalent parts of the Apostles' Creed. Taylor ends the book with 2 bibliographies on one page, a 5-page index, and credits.
- Thompson, Philip, and Davenport, Peter. The Dictionary of Graphic Images. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1980. 263pp., 0-312-20108-7.
BF458.T45 1980. §: 2.
- This is a collection of modern graphics, mainly advertisements and magazine covers, that the authors/editors present as an extension of historical graphic symbols. In addition to displaying the images, arranged by topic, the authors analyze each in a symbolic context. The "Index and Credits" section is simply a credits section arranged by the person's name. The text includes some peculiar cross-references as well as lacks thereof. This volume provides one of the few attempts to collect current and recent graphic images as illustrations of symbolism.
- Tillich, Paul. The Dynamics of Faith. New York: Harper Torchbooks, 1958. 134 pp.
- Although oriented toward the question, "What is Faith?" and focussed on what this means for the Christian, it does have a broader application than to just one organized religion. But, in seeking to answer his question, Tillich is forced to define the subject of faith: in what is the faith invested? Thus he comes to define the "ultimate concern," his broader-than-theistic term, allowing for the qualities of faith to be understood in all conditions. Part of that required recognizing the difference between that which only points and that which points to but also participates in that to which it points, the difference between Sign and Symbol.
- ______________. "The Religious Symbol." See: May, Rollo, ed. Symbolism in Religion and Literature. New York: George Braziller, 1960.
- Tripp, Edward. Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Co., 1970. 631pp., 0-690-22608-X. BL303.T75 1970. §: 2, 5.
- Edward Tripp recounts, in very abbreviated form and in dictionary order, the stories of the various persons, places, and things from Classical mythology. By "classical," the author is referring mainly to Greek myths, because of the limited amount of information and detail in the Roman. The main characters in a myth have the greater entries, while minor characters have lesser information, sometimes no more than one line. There are a number of cross-references, especially from Greek transliterations to the more common Latinized forms of names. There is also a "pronouncing index" at the end of the book with both Latin and Greek names and their pronunciations. The main purpose for this book is providing background to readers of other works when they run across an allusion.




- Vandyopadhyaya, Virendra: See instead: Bonnerjea, Biren.


- Walker, Barbara. The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1988. 563 pp.; 0-06-250992-5.
CB475.W45 1988. §: 2.
- Arranged by 21 "motifs," then arranged alphabetically, many of the entries have graphics at the top of the page. Almost all symbols are eventually traced back to "goddess" worship. At times, as in the entry for "Urim and Thummim," most of the entry is spent attacking a "patriarchal" religion, rather than dealing directly with the symbol or its significance. Each entry is followed by note references which link the text to the substantial bibliography after the main section of the book. This is followed by a limited index.
- Weiner, James F. "Myth and Metaphor," (591-612); In: Ingold, Tim, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Anthropology. London: Routledge, 1994. 1127pp., 0-415-02137-5. GN25.C65 1994.
- ANNOTE
- Werner, Alice. See: The Mythology of All Races, vol. 7, African.
- Whitehead, Alfred North. "Uses of Symbolism." See: May, Rollo, ed. Symbolism in Religion and Literature. New York: George Braziller, 1960.
- Whittick, Arnold. Symbols, Signs and Their Meaning and Uses in Design, 2nd ed. Newton, MA: Charles T. Branford, 1971. 1st ed., London: Leonard Hill Books, 1960.
AZ108.W45 1971a. §: 2.
- This work is an examination of visual signs and focuses primarily on Western symbolism. Twenty-two chapters are separated into 4 parts. Contents: I. Introduction; II. Symbolism in its precise and applied forms, and its practical uses--identification, authentication, exchange, guarantee and propaganda; III. Individual and collective expression--instinctive, creative and imaginative symbolism; IV. Encyclopaedic dictionary. A 25-page index concludes the book, but no separate bibliography is included. Instead, each chapter, and each entry within the "encyclopaedia," has its own bibliographical references. A collection of photographic plates, located between pp. 208 and 209, make up most of the illustrations. The author's perspective seems determined by the causal (learned) theory of symbolism, as espoused by Alfred North Whitehead, to whom there are copious references in the introductory essay. As a result, there are, of course, few references to Jungian studies (only 1 publication) and only a few more to Freud and the exponents of psychoanalysis. The Introduction, despite its failings in understanding the psychological perspectives on symbols (or is it distaste for psychology?), does cover many of the philosophical perspectives, including early twentieth century theoretical physics. The dicitonary usually gives the intentional significance of the signs it covers, as should be expected from the foregoing.
- Wilder, Amos N. "The Cross: Social Trauma or Redemption." See: May, Rollo, ed. Symbolism in Religion and Literature. New York: George Braziller, 1960.
- Wilkinson, Philip. Illustrated Dictionary of Mythology: Heroes, heroine, Gods, and Goddesses from around the World. New York: DK Publishing, 1998. 128pp., 0-7894-3413-X. BL303.W55 1998. §: 2.
- ANNOTE
- Williams, George M. Handbook of Hindu Mythology. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio, 2003; "Handbooks of World Mythology" series. 373pp., 1-57607-106-5.
BL1111.4.W55 2003.
- Following the form of the other entries in ABC Clio's "Handbooks of World Mythology" series, this book begins with an Introduction to the main concepts and developments, then has chapters to cover the main story line, a dictionary of deities and concepts, and a complex bibliography of print, audio-visual, and online resources. The concluding matter includes a glossary and a 30-page index. The volume concludes with a full-page background of the author. Most entries in the dictionary have cross-references at the end of the article, with occassional source references/suggestions for additional reading..
- Willis, Roy, General Ed. World Mythology. New York: Henry Holt & Co., 1993. 320pp., 0-8050-2701-7.
BL311.W66 1993.
- Beginning with a Preface and an Introduction, the text begins with "Great Themes of Myth" as the first chapter, following which are chapters arranged in 19 regional areas, each by different authors. In the Introduction, Dr. Willis describes the various views of myth, as well as attempting to define "myth," "legend," "folktale," and "fairytale." Willis concludes the Introduction with his reasoning for why myth is so gripping—its anti-authoritarian sense of play. Contents: Great Themes of Myth; Egypt; The Middle East; India; China; Tibet and Mongolia; Japan; Greece; Rome; The Celtic World; Northern Europe; Central and Eastern Europe; The Artic Regions; North America; Mesoamerica; South America; Africa; Australia; Oceania; Southeast Asia. Authors of each chapter are listed only in the table of contents. Each chapter describes its own milieu and conditions, as well as descibing the mythology of the region and recounting some of the more important myths in brief. The text is well illustrated and makes good use of maps. The body of the text is followed by a 2-page categorized bibliography titled "For Further Reading"; most of the titles included are in-depth works by scholars. Indeed, the "General" category includes major titles by many of the persons mentioned in the Introduction. There is also a 10-page index.





- Zimbaro, Valerie P. Encyclopedia of Apocalyptic Literature. Santa Barabar, CA: ABC-Clio, 1996. 400pp., 0-87436-823-5. PN56.A69Z56 1996. §: 2, 9.
- ANNOTE
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