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Signs & Symbols: An illustrated guide to their origins and meanings
Decode the secrets and uncover the origins and meanings of over 2,000 signs and symbols, from ancient hieroglyphs to modern-day logos.
Why is a heart pierced by an arrow a classic symbol of love? What are the ancient roots of fertility symbols? Why are scales a symbol of justice?
Delve into the meaning of each symbol and investigate how they have been interpreted in myth, religion, folklore, and art over time, with authoritative text from experts in the field and striking line drawings and photography that emphasize the visual strength and beauty of signs. Divided into six thematic sections - the cosmos, the natural world, human life, myths and religions, society and culture, and symbol systems - this guide to the secret language of signs and symbols is a must-have for those who want to understand the world around them.
Why is a heart pierced by an arrow a classic symbol of love? What are the ancient roots of fertility symbols? Why are scales a symbol of justice?
Delve into the meaning of each symbol and investigate how they have been interpreted in myth, religion, folklore, and art over time, with authoritative text from experts in the field and striking line drawings and photography that emphasize the visual strength and beauty of signs. Divided into six thematic sections - the cosmos, the natural world, human life, myths and religions, society and culture, and symbol systems - this guide to the secret language of signs and symbols is a must-have for those who want to understand the world around them.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2019
8 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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March 25, 2025I haven’t read much of this mammoth of a guide, however when I started going through I found this under ‘Sky-watching’ on page 23: “In primitive cultures sky-watching was an important part of life, and celestial phenomena were considered highly significant.”
I’m sorry, primitive?? What kind of racist connotation is that? Truly, I cannot envision another author other than a white westerner having written this book, and I too am white from the west. Throughout this I felt like, and maybe I am just noticing this more than it exists, but Christianity is referenced quite often in relation to a multitude of symbols. Which yes, may be true.
However when I was researching online about whether it is appropriate for someone like me, who is not Egyptian, to where the Ankh, I found a reddit post delving into this.
I also then recalled this book I owned, and in both dives I uncovered two things:
1, the reddit post mentioning how the Ankh is a symbol of Ancient Egyptian religious practices (modern day Kemetic Pagan), but additionally many modern day African spiritualists practices adopting this as well, as a symbol of African history and pride.
2, when i found Ankh mentioned on page 289 it states that: “Ankh, an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph (possibly combining the tau cross of Osiris and the oval of Isis) symbolising life. The ankh was later adopted by Coptic Christians as the crux ansate (“cross with a handle”)
Now although the Coptic Christians are not irrelevant and I am not ignorant enough to refuse that, I find it interesting that they are mentioned, but not the African or Pagan use of this symbol either. I understand the book cannot mention everything, but it is meant to be a guide, and I feel as though there is information missing in terms of what I personally could benefit from.
I would like to say that this was first published in 2008, then republished in 2019, so I might just need to research these things I mention elsewhere. Which means that this book would always be a stepping stone to further research, not a reference point.
Last thing. And I do acknowledge I have a certain, advantage, let’s say? Of being on the internet in 2025. I assume things must have been viewed and portrayed differently in the past, except for those who support or are from Palestine, but I do think that’s not entirely true and just something I’m saying because I have not been around in 2008, only witnessing the genocide occurring since 2023. But when I get to the flag page (page 328), I find a flag for Isreal and not for Palestine. Palestine has always had territory and a flag as recognised by Isreal and the west, so why is it not here? I understand as I said before, that not all flags could be used and I’m sure if I was aware of more events and such, there would be even more discrepancies with what I believe is right in terms of flags. Flags are political as fuck, can’t be set in stone. But this nails it on the head of the perspective of the authors, editors and publishers.
I will still use this as a “guide” to find things, but I have no faith and trust to use this as anything else, but a stepping stone.
I’m sorry, primitive?? What kind of racist connotation is that? Truly, I cannot envision another author other than a white westerner having written this book, and I too am white from the west. Throughout this I felt like, and maybe I am just noticing this more than it exists, but Christianity is referenced quite often in relation to a multitude of symbols. Which yes, may be true.
However when I was researching online about whether it is appropriate for someone like me, who is not Egyptian, to where the Ankh, I found a reddit post delving into this.
I also then recalled this book I owned, and in both dives I uncovered two things:
1, the reddit post mentioning how the Ankh is a symbol of Ancient Egyptian religious practices (modern day Kemetic Pagan), but additionally many modern day African spiritualists practices adopting this as well, as a symbol of African history and pride.
2, when i found Ankh mentioned on page 289 it states that: “Ankh, an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph (possibly combining the tau cross of Osiris and the oval of Isis) symbolising life. The ankh was later adopted by Coptic Christians as the crux ansate (“cross with a handle”)
Now although the Coptic Christians are not irrelevant and I am not ignorant enough to refuse that, I find it interesting that they are mentioned, but not the African or Pagan use of this symbol either. I understand the book cannot mention everything, but it is meant to be a guide, and I feel as though there is information missing in terms of what I personally could benefit from.
I would like to say that this was first published in 2008, then republished in 2019, so I might just need to research these things I mention elsewhere. Which means that this book would always be a stepping stone to further research, not a reference point.
Last thing. And I do acknowledge I have a certain, advantage, let’s say? Of being on the internet in 2025. I assume things must have been viewed and portrayed differently in the past, except for those who support or are from Palestine, but I do think that’s not entirely true and just something I’m saying because I have not been around in 2008, only witnessing the genocide occurring since 2023. But when I get to the flag page (page 328), I find a flag for Isreal and not for Palestine. Palestine has always had territory and a flag as recognised by Isreal and the west, so why is it not here? I understand as I said before, that not all flags could be used and I’m sure if I was aware of more events and such, there would be even more discrepancies with what I believe is right in terms of flags. Flags are political as fuck, can’t be set in stone. But this nails it on the head of the perspective of the authors, editors and publishers.
I will still use this as a “guide” to find things, but I have no faith and trust to use this as anything else, but a stepping stone.
June 8, 2024
Comprehensive information on many signs and symbols. Because of the sheer quantity, the author doesn’t provide complete details of each. There’s also some repetition. I still found it useful.
July 15, 2024
This is a kinda cool book visually, covering a wealth of meaning various cultures apply to the imagery of the world and the universe. What I was hoping for was a bit of a deeper dive on the analysis of the symbolism, but I think the focus was intended to lean into the graphics rather than the text. Still, a fun collection showing all the ways we try to layer deeper meanings onto our environment.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews