The Illustrated Book of Signs and Symbols_ 1000s of Signs and Symbols From Around the World ( PDFDrive )

Centaur oThe Illustrated Book of Horseshoe uellect vs. Instinct Symbol of Good Luck y Tortoise Symbol of Long Life TAROT ^S lard of Decision Freemasonry Thousands of Signs Compass and Square and Symbols from Around the World Miranda Bruce-Mitford CADUCEUS Tiblem of Medicine

The Illustrated Book of Symbols The essential reference for decoding signs and symbols The world around us is filled with signs and symbols. Those we have chosen to create, such as alphabets and flags, are universally recognizable, but others, of uncertain and ancient origin, mean different things to different peoples. Why, for example, is a red rose the flower of love, or a snake a symbol of evil in the West and a sign of wisdom in China? Find the answers to these questions and thousands of others in this comprehensive and stimulating visual guide of signs and symbols. Specially commissioned illustrations and photographs, including artifacts, famous paintings, and sculptures, provide a much-needed visual key to this mysterious language. The ultimate visual catalog Showing thousands of signs and symbols from East and West, The Illustrated &Book ofSigns Symbols not only gives the meanings of each, but also explores the symbols' origins in art, religion, literature, psychology, and folklore. For ease of reference the signs and symbols are grouped by category, from flowers and religious symbols to shapes and numbers, and a clear cross-referencing system directs the reader to related signs and symbols. Designed to appeal to waders of all ages, this book is a rich source of into ir>n and an indispensable reference book for interpreting and understanding signs and symbols in everyday life. Do eaded Serpent Azt re Associated with -ivingRain $24.95





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~^S%S*^^S%S%S%S%s%*^S*^S%S%S%S*^S%S%S%S%S%S%S%S%S+'+S%S*^^+^S%S%S%S%S%S%s+.'%. >««««««.%«•% The Illustrated Book of Miranda Bruce-Mitford ALLSTON BRANCH LIBRARY n

AL BR A DK PUBLISHING BOOK REF Senior Editor Emma Foa Shamrock AZ108 B78 US Editor Camela Decaire 1996x Senior Art Editor Sarah Ponder Managing Editor Anna Kruger iJREDTODK Managing Art Editor Peter Bailey Art Editors Joanna Pocock, Martin Wilson I Editor Shirin Pahi Assistant Designer Ali Cobb DTP Designer Nicola Studdart Picture Research Sharon Southren Production Katy Holmes &Index Glossary Joanna Lane First American Edition, I I'M M1STR1 468 10^75 mPublished the I nited States b) DK Publishing in. Vk York 1001(1 it us on the Wot Id Wide Web Imp //www ilk com ©Copyright 1996 Dorling Kinderslej I muted, London All rights reserved under International and Pan American Copyright Egyptun funerary stela (detail) Conventions. No pan ublication ma) be reproduced, stored in a retnc, transmitted in any form 01 b) an) means, electronic, mechanical, phot> rding, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of tl pyright ownei Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersle) I imited. A CIP catalog record for this bi liable from the Librar I Congress. ISBN 0-7894-1000-1 Islamic Colour reproduction by Colourscan, Singapore Pnnted and bound in Spain by Artes Graficas Toledo, S.A. Shiva, 1 1 >rd 01 mi dani i 1)1. TO 1192- 1999

Contents Introduction 6 Sea Creatures Tools iSr Weapons Mythologies 54 90 & Religions 12 &Insects Others Death & Mourning Ancient Deities 56 92 H &Reptiles Amphibians Architecture Judaism 58 94 l:\\er\\da\\ Objects 16 Mammals 96 Christianity 60 Symbol Systems 18 Birds Picture Writing Hinduism 64 J 00 20 People 68 Numbers Buddhism 22 &Sex Fertility 102 Islam 70 &Shapes Patterns 24 Human Body 104 Color &Ancestor Nature Spirits 72 106 26 &Dance Theater Alchemy Mythical Beasts 76 108 28 Magic & Charms Freemason r\\ Nature 32 78 109 Sun & Moon Musical Instruments Divination 34 80 no &Earth Sk\\ &Love Marriage ^strolog) 36 82 \\\\2 Precious Matter Clothing Heraldic Emblems 84 38 114 Jewelr) International Signs Precious Stones 86 116 40 Symbolic Gestures Gardens Royalt) 118 42 88 ( rloSSCU \\ Trees 120 44 Index Plants 111 4d I urthei Reading 117 Natures Foods 48 \\ ( bicw ledgments l IS I lowers 50

Signs & Symbols Introduction T IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF HUMAN\" NATURE not Onlv tO nTTTBTTTTl SMTUGQ / J <SM^ |JX. survive and reproduce, but also to seek explanations for the mysteries of life. Because these mysteries are in fact beyond explanation, we use the language of i symbolism to represent them. Whether we live in commercialized societies or communities relatively unchanged by time, we are surrounded by signs, images, and ideas that are often highly symbolic. Most of us are largely unaware of the meaning and significance - even the presence - of much of this symbolism, and an area of great richness is closed to us. This book sets out to examine the nature of symbolism and to present, in simple terms, both familiar and unfamiliar symbols. Signs or symbols? A sign is an object or idea that represents or points to something else Alcfo i kowing the in a fairly straightforward \\rabia, the tuple sun. way. An advertisement, for and the m example, reminds us of the product it is promoting; a road sign indicates conditions ahead; and a gesture expresses a mood, the modem world challenges our sense ol identity we often adopt signs to define ourselves, for example by donning badges or brand-name clothing. A symbol is clearly linked in function to a sign, and the two words are often used interchangeably, but symbol generally has a deeper meaning. A symbol is something that through its nature or appearance reflects or represents another thing more profound than itself. A fire, for instance, may symbolize the flames of the sun. which itself has qualities of warmth, light, and creative power, and is thus equated with life force and masculine creative strength. The creator gods of mythology, who possess these very qualities, are usually linked to the sun. On a small scale, objects such as the candle or lamp can be also related to the imager)- of the sun A symbolic image is thus linked to many interpretations. Paul Dehaux's surreal painting seems to be a hymn to the goddess within her temple. The moon, night sea, flowers, and statue-head are all nine i realm, and the lamp signifies the divine spark

[NTRODl ( %*%«-< A\\( \\II I SYMBOLS Symbols grow in meaning and complexity over hundreds ol years, changing according to their cultural context. But the subjects that have preoccupied mankind from the earliest times haw- remained relatively constant: fertility, both of the soi and oi the human race, birth, life, and death. Like the sun. the symbol ol the moon has also always been recognized as significant because of qualities it possesses that relate in some way to deeper truths. The moon controls the tidal waters and passes through stages from new moon to lull moon. It is thus symbolic of water, pregnane), and the cycle of death and birth. Women, sea creatures, the dark, and things of the night all belong to the hrist's sacrifice bears fruit of redemption fo) the laithlul sphere ol the moon. The Temple, by Delvaux, combines much of this lunar imagery, with the lull moon shining down on a mysterious goddess figure. Animals, birds, and trees all have their individual associations, as well. A tree may represent life and growth, for example, and the Tree ol Life is a S) mbol the world over. In the I6th-centun j engraving above, Christ is seen crucified on the Tree ol Life, and his crucifixion can be viewed as a s\\ mbol ol sac rifice. The death or sac rifice ol a god or king is a common theme - the shedding ol divine blood ensures the well-being ol mankind OMBLO< Kl 1) l\\ ( \\l [mages ol two < reatures used ' represenl opposing for widespread One form, found almost universally, shows a hud ol pre) doing battle wiih a serpent perhaps the most symbolic ol all creatures i [ere the bird represents the sun and the heavens while the serpent, whic h w rithes on the nd mk\\ m the water symbolizes the earth and

Signs & Symbols -%s%s%sA HomageIn Henri Pierre Picou s summeito Nature » _ «/«» s di/-v theii />Ic'iimuc'-> ct( the feel <>/ die i^ulili-ss »\\ i lie life-giving waters. The two together represent creation and fertility and die precariously balanced forces of nature. Universal symbols The theme ol die Goddess, or Earth Mother, permeates world mythology and dates back thousands of years. Clay figurines depicting large- breasted women in their nurturing, procreative role have been found dating from as early as 20,000 he . All human Life sprang from this symbolic mother figure and depended on her. The earth itself is regarded as feminine and nurturing because it is fertilized by rain, and life springs from its soil. 1 5th-century cherub with \\kull Perplexed by the random, often cruel, nature of fate, some cultures chose to personify fate in the form of a woman. She is sometimes shown blindfolded to symbolize the arbitrary nature of her decisions. Along with the randomness of life, the inevitability ol death turns up in common symbolic images. These take many forms, from paintings showing a cherub juxtaposed with a human skull, to the more familiar image of sand ebbing out of an hourglass - all stark reminders ol the fate 1 thewhee! I hat must befall us all. *rtuna, pit*

NI However, although certain images are recognized as symbolic by main societies, the symbolism ol a particular image may vary From place to place and over time. The forest, for example, is symbolic of retreat and meditation to many Indians, a place in which the soul may draw nearer tc> Brahman, the one true totality However, in the West, the forest tends to be a sinister place, harboring dangerous animals and robbers, us shadows representing the dark places of the unconscious. C \\h l\\ MYTHOLOGY AND ITU l\\l U.l\\ \\l [ON In The Cat thai Walked The cat has captured our imaginations from ancient to human) Egyptian times to the present day, although, like the forest, its symbolism has varied enormously. In farming communities the cat has always been a working animal, used to kill rats and mice, and there has been little mystique surrounding it: however something in the cats nature and appearance has given it associations with the night, mystery, .Ailutu Egyptiai Tiu and aloofness. Black cats, now considered luck) in main places, were once associated with witchcraft, and ^ats feature prominently in children's stories. Both the c heshire cal horn Alice's Adventures m Wonderland and Kipling's Cat thai Walked h\\ Himselj emanate mockery and enigma In ancient Egypt cats were worshiped and the cull o\\ Bastel centered around a cat goddess Images ol ^ats were revered, and domestic ^ats were mummified at death so that, like people, they could enter an afterlife I III SYMBOl ISM ol DR1 SMS In main parts ol the world dream symbolism is treated with respect Wise men interpret dream images, often thought to be sent In the gods, and people act on tin interpretations In the West however dreams are nowadays thought to be relativel) unimportant, and the urgings ol the unconscious mind go largel) ignored In most people I he psyc hologist Sigmund I reud studied the s\\ mbolism ol dreams and found

Signs & Symbols much of it to be related to wish- fulfillment. He believed that dreams reflected our deepest desires, often rooted in infancy, and thought many had sexual or erotic overtones. His pupil Carl Jung believed that the symbolism went deeper than the purely sexual to include a spiritual dimension. Jung was fascinated by the way in which ordinary objects or people appear in strange, often distressing, contexts in peoples dreams and sought to understand why. Many images, he Goya's The Sleep of Reason Produces believed, appear in our dreams as a Monsters shows how daytime fears direct product of the individual can produce night-time terrors unconscious, which is a highly personal amalgam of memories and In this Indian miniature, men grapple with a giant trapped emotions buried deep within us. Often we are not conscious of in a well, representing \"the shadow,\" or base desires we try these impulses and they can only surface in dreams. A hairbrush, mto bury the unconscious. for instance, might tngger memories of ones hair being brushed by ones mother in childhood, so symbolizing a caring mother; however another individual might have been struck with a hairbrush in childhood, triggering very different associations. In Magritte's painting The Restless Sleeper, a figure dreams about a series of mundane and apparently unrelated objects, but they are all somehow linked meaningfully in his unconscious. Universal subconscious After analyzing the dreams of many patients, Jung concluded that certain images appear as symbols universally and are therefore part of what he called the collective unconscious, built on the cultural experiences and memories of our ancestors. Images of being pursued by a huge monster, of yearning for safety, or of dangers lurking in the dark, are very commonly experienced in dreams in all parts of the world. Jung termed these universal images \"archetypes.\" There is the \"anima,\" or female principle, which can manifest as the goddess, queen, princess, or witch; and an \"animus,\" or male principle, which could be a god, king, prince, wizard, or demon character. These figures symbolize for us our image of male and female and could represent either an aspect of ourselves, a parent, or a loved one. Other archetypes include the shadow, embodiment of feelings of guilt or fear, particularly about our hidden and unacknowledged feelings or desires. The images in Magritte's Restless Sleeper seem disconcertingly simple Modern symbolism In todays world, symbols retain their power to affect us, although we are perhaps less aware of their effects 10

INTRODI %^%s%^%sm than in the past. Some symbols have remained constant for centuries, some have evolved new meanings, and yet others are entirely new. One dramatic symbol to have emerged during the course of the twentieth century is the mushrooming cloud of the atomic bomb. This surely is the ultimate image of the great V shadow ot \"a giant leap for mankind\" destruction that humankind has brought upon itself by opening the Pandoras box of knowledge. A more positive image is the American film star is often literally largei than life moon landing from 1969. Witnessed by 600 million people throughout the world. it has become the ultimate symbol of mans indomitable spirit and urge for conquest. Today's gods, goddesses, and superheroes * Some modern fictitious characters assume semi-godlike status similar to that of the ancient Greek heroes. Creations such as Superman are not thought of as real, yet they embody the classic male archetype o( the powerful and heroic force for good. In righting the wrongs of the world, such figures appeal to an innate need in all of us. Also appealing to this need are the pop, sports, and film stars who, for some, have largely supplanted the gods ol old. Since the death ol \"the King Elvis Presley, for example, his home, Graceland, has become a shrine and place ol pilgrimage for millions ol devoted men followers Sports heroes, too attraci a huge following, espec iall) among men I he sense ol group identity - <\\\\u\\ passion - tru nspire is evident at any football stadium as hordes ol Luis cheer their heroes on in moments ol shared admiration Similai instinctual urges can be seen ai rock concerts \\\\ hen members ol the audience strike matches, light lighters, and hold up candles to express aupl their devotion to then idols I he resultani sea ol flickei h lit(lames harks back to the symbolism ol fire in religions and cultures throughoui histoi II

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Mythologies f & Religions Our search to explain what lies beyond our understanding is expressed in the many myths and religions that have evolved over the centuries. This quest has resulted in the complex web of myth, legend, and faith that is our inheritance - from nature religions and the almost human gods of ancient Greece to today's multiplicity of faiths.

Mythologies & Religions Ancient Deities Greek The classical religions of Europe and Egypt no longer exist as belief In the second millennium bc, Aegean systems, but their mythology survives. Like modern-day Hinduism, these religion revolved around the cult of the mother goddess, but later the center of religions were centered around groups of gods who more or less controlled the lives of humans - and much of human activity involved the worship civilization moved to the mainland, where and placation of those gods. Many of these ancient gods live on in our the Greeks worshiped divinities who fought, squabbled, and loved, just like humans. imagination, and their symbolism has been absorbed into our language, our music, poetry, and art. It is hardly unusual to hear Zeus's I songwriters pay tribute to Venus, symbol of feminine thunderbolt beauty, or to Cupids arrow piercing a lovers heart. symbol of his powet Egyptian Zeus Eg\\puan gods developed from the merging Zeus was king of the gods and god of the skies. of two earlier cultures, one with gods in His well-known amorous conquests reflect the Greek conquest of many outlying regions, and human form, and one with animal-shaped the absorption of their mother goddess cults gods. Gradually a remarkable religion evolved that centered around the cult of the dead. ISIS AND HORLS Thoth Osiris Ami n-re Apollo Athena as the mother Depicted variously as Originally a powerful The creator god, .Apollo, twin brother ol The daughter of Zeus, goddess, a queen, and fertility god, Osiris was Athena was the the sister of Osins. She an ibis-headed man Amun, was merged Artemis and son of goddess of wisdom is shown here suckling drowned in the Nile Zeus, was the sun god, her son, Horus. Her and a baboon uhe two River. His body was with Re. the sun god, and caused the fruits and learning, but crown is in the form of animals sacred to dismembered and to form Amun-Re. also of warfare (hence a throne, suggesting him), Thoth is lord of of the earth to ripen. her helmet). Often that she was originally the moon, lord of scattered over the Nile Known as \"the hidden depicted with an owl, time, and reckoner of valley, ensuring the \\mun-Re was His arrows were the she was the patron of a personification of the years. He is the growth of crops, which Athens - her owl is the the throne of the helper of the dead and sprang from his flesh. the power ol the sun's rays. He was also emblem of that city. pharaohs. invisible wind and god of shepherds and protector of Osiris, He was later restored ruler of the underworld. to life and became a the soul of all things. music. symbol of resurrection, as well as the god of the Even the other gods underworld. He is often were unable to depicted in a penetrate his mysterious nature. mummylike posture. ? rr 2 £ £ ^ ****O ^/* * -* flF\\ jL £.-3. r*r * > ' « * * * * 'A * ' -^ -» / mI * * Eros Known to the Romans 2SS 9S> JLl Anubis POSl I DON as Cupid, Eros was a T Originally the jackal- symbol ol earthly love. Brother ol Zeus and He was the son of god ol the sea, Poseidon Sky Goddess, Ni i headed god of the Aphrodite, and carried uhe Roman NeptUl dead. Anubis was was symbolic ol the Nut was the sky goddess of Egyptian mythology and she is often depicted supplanted by Osiris a bow and arrows with power of the waters. He touching the earth with her toes and fingers. The arch of her body carried a trident, symbol represents the arc of heaven. The stars on her body denote the Milky Way, He was nevertheless which he pierced the of creation, and could and she is sometimes surrounded by astrological signs. protect i hose at sea. the protector of the hearts of his victims, dead , and was often causing them to fall carved on rock lombs. passionately in love 14

s Roman Celtic The Romans absorbed elements ol all the Although the pre-Roman Europe cultures they came into contact with. They adopted the Greek gods as well as those I of other peoples they conquered, and had hundreds of different gods, goddesses, and the British Isles adopted some of the demigods, and spirits - each ol which gods ol the conquering Remans they had related to virtually every aspect of life. their own beliefs in a creatoi They honored and worshiped the gods in order to safeguard themselves - in this mother goddess, and nature trio hie and the next . ol mothei 01 fertility godd< s» - are sometimes presented together Mini r\\ \\ M \\Ks I he warlike Minerva The son ol |up Mars was often wears am much-respected god ol I ike her Greek war He is usually counterpart Athena, depicted with a spear in one hand and a she represents the arts shield in the other The month ol March ci wisdom, and teaming. Irom his name. Merc i ry. Jt im m r. Jl no. Apoi lo Flora Bacc in Cerm nnos Mercury was the god ol commerce He appeared Flora was the goddess l sualh depicted as a The horned god ( emunnos is found throughout late in the pantheon, at a time when trade beautiful south. the ( eltk lands Mere he is shown with antl flourished He is sometimes equated with the of spring, the vine, fruit, surrounded by animals In his [eft hand he holds Greek god Hermes, messenger of the gods Here nis was '' he weighs Trojan against creek to decide the flowers, and grain, and wine, and his worship a ram-headed serpent, symbol ol fertility she symbolized fertilit) i the Trojan War With him are i estivals in her honor leatured much Norse were otten wild events Jupiter i the Greek Zeus); |uno, wife drunken revelry I he Nordic people, who lived in a harsh ol lupiter and goddess of light, marriage, and climate, worshiped gods ol the elements childbirth, and Apollo, and nature B) respecting and honoring son of Jupiter the gods, they hoped to exert some control over the fierceness ol the weather The birth of Aphroditi /Venus The name Aphrodite means bom from the loam, and in Creek myth the goddess was said to have appeared from the em ni a scallop shell. The image captured the imagination ets and painters through the ages English poel Alfred Tennyson wrote ol Aphrodite beautiful hesh a- hen. \\phrodite symbolized love and beaut) Hei Roman I equivalent, Venus, is equalh famous Below in Bottieelli s painting, the god ol the West \\\\ ind is gently blowing the beautiful Venus toward the shore, where a nymph awaits read) to cloak her Odin, l hor, I un Si i \\LSO i Oon i ght: I HOI > binh »»*»%.»%.%,%

Mythologies & Religions Judaism Judaism emerged in about the 14th century bc and has evolved into a strongly monotheistic religion based on a dialogue between God, or Yahweh, and his chosen people, the Jews. The patriarchs of Judaism are the ancient leaders Abraham, his son M 11Isaac, and grandson Jacob, whose Jk deeds are ii in ,- recorded Genesis, the first book of the Bible. Today Jews are scattered throughout the world, but all are inked by a culture centered on Jewish history, law, and family life. Star of David d to light the Jerusai i \\i A. Allied to Jewish \\\\o\\\\ to |udaism, Islam. mysticism, the star and ( hristianit) of David is made up Jerusalem was the ol two triangles, the capital ol the ancient upward-pointing being the sun, fire, and Jewish kingdom and site masculine energy; the ol the second temple, downward-pointing buih > 000 years ago the moon, water, and To Jew- the c ii female energy. ie to symbolizi [ewish nation Aspects of pram r H Wl KKAH pari in [udaism both in Pram R BOOK Tin- 8-armed menorah the - and at home I In- silvei prayei is used to celebrate Hanukkah, the festival More ferveni |ews pray three book was of light- Candles are probably a Bar lit on 8 consecutive time ill lews say Mitzvah gift, nights to mark the rs on the sabbath celebrating a miracle of a da supply of sacramci which starts boy s ollu 1,1 coming o oil lasting 8 days, when at sunset on Frida) I he age at the eternal light in the sabbath marks the Israelites thirteen. temple of Jerusalem liberation from slavi r) and was relit in 164 u a Jewish i BOO! I nation. SlIOl \\K Boy at prayer Mezuzah The shofar horn si{ I Ins bo) has the Rosh Hashanah, the Traditionally the i Jewish New Year, and mezuzah is positioned ritual telillm strapped by the front door. It calls on the Jews to around his arm and contains a tiny scroll, repent their sins bi on his forehead I he >:cma, with words the Day ol Atonement. from the Bible. This The shofar is made of &KlPPAH TEFILLIN wearingol God's calls on God's people a ram's horn as a to love him totally, reminder of the animal Male lews wear a skull- words\" m this way is and sums up the heart God gave to Abraham of the Jewnsh faith cap, or kippah, as a sign thought to foster to sacrifice in ol respect tor God The humility I he boy place of Isaac \\\\ l s| i<\\ \\\\ \\| | small leather boxes, or also wears a tallit, or | /('lillni contain passages From the rorah and are This is the onl) wall that survives from the prayei -haw which also worn while praying. I Temple ol Jerusalem, destroyed by the Romans lias a tassel at ea< h 70 It is a symbol both ol the temple cornei symbolizing , itself and of the Jewish nation, and is the the lour comers ol most hoi) place ol pilgrimage and worship the earth. In

[• JI I^» rORAH The Tor.i: commandments - God s insti ol Isra nt the word ol God they are ( d thai ___ no one may toueh them They may be unrolled only bv means of the handles ^fter Dor /hi wThe birth of Jewish i Torah because the /i>uh is i/i During the Jewish people's long journey Irom ToKAIl MANTL1 where they had been slaves, God spoke Torah -.re often heir leader, and made a pact, or traditionally t an covenant, with them His Ten Commandments embroidered mantle, which both to the Jews were written in lire on tablets ol stone and set out a moral and religious code protects them and reinforo duct for his chosen people their aura ol p Passover Sukkot The Passover : >mmemorates the meah eaten in da ' lamb Si KKOl The ' Jus ol the |ews Irom Egypt, when the I at the commem angel ol death the Israelites sparing their lives At thi ler, or koi ritual meal, all the foods symbolic of that journey in the wilderness on S\\l IU VII k A dish of saltwater shed by th- :mg their in captn Hou \\kk Si/ \\/M> I I 1 V* \\|l\\Mi/VII flat, Passovi k n \\ii I ned Hill III HI 1 1 WISH | <VS •• th. ;h which the un in the l

Mythologies & Religions *-%s%-*s%^s%s%^s** Christianity mChristianity has its roots the Jewish faith and its belief of the Bible prophecies of a Messiah (savior). Chnstians believe these prophecies were fulfilled in the life of Jesus, who they believe is the Son of God. His teachings, recorded in the gospels of the New Testament, stress brotherly love and compassion, and are rich in symbolic meaning. Since its binh 2,000 years ago the Christian church has split into many denominations, but all Christians are united in the central belief that Christ died to redeem the sins of the world and that his resurrection offers salvation. Sacred Lamb Jesi s Christ The sacrificial lamb is a symbol ol This modern Russian icon shows Christ ble.-- Christ. John the Baptist described m the manner of the Eastern church. The thumb him as the lamb of God that taketh away the-sins ol the forms a circle with the founh finger and the middle and index fingers are crossed This represents world.\" In this crazier (bishop's Chi and Rho, the first two Greek letters of his name. Icons are seen as embodying spiritual truths crook) the lamb stands lor the salvation ol the faithful. ROSAM A The rosary is both the repetition of the prayer \"Hail Man and also the string ol beads used to count Fish each incantation. It The fish is a symbol of takes its name from the rose, symbol ol Man Christ because in Greek the first letters M1 III \\ IRGIN ol the five words Jesus \\R1 Christ, Son of God, In the Eastern and Roman Catholic churcl Savior, spell Ichthi Man,-. Jesus mother, is worshiped in her own or fish. Three fishes right She intercedes between man and God. and sent the Trinity: the Father, the is often called Mother of God. The cult ol Man is Dovi similar to some mother goddi Son. and the Holy John the Baptist saw the out ol the need for ami Spirit. Hoi) Spirit enter |esus in the form ol a dove The Cross T:ias many forms St. Peter was crucified upside down. Constantine s combines th< two letters for Christ in Greek; an anchor combines the cross with . mbol I Man: and the Russian cross inclui.; the inscription and the footi the crucifix CRl ( IH\\ IK( I I ( ROSS The image of Christ on the The ring on a Celtic C III R< II cross, the crucifix, nbol of Irwh The church refers both to Christian believers is an object of - F Christianity, slant! and .1 )lace of worship The central part Christian devotion. It in and eternity. ol a church, the nave, i- named alter the Latin is the most flip, symbol ol the church usell rful symbol of Christian;' reminder that although Jesus died on the cross he rose again, triumphing over death. \"+>^%s%s%s%. 18

C H \\R AT*•1 I \"n I Saints Christian saints were particular!) devout people who lived -and often died - for the Christian cause and have since been canonized hy the church. There are thousands of saints, and main ol them are depicted in sculpture and paintings carrying attributes related to their life or manner of death. St. Francis, for instance, is seen with birds or animals, and St. Catherine sometimes carries a wheel. St. John the Baptist M \\ki Mac. dai i \\i carries his severed head on a platter. A former, pn isl si Mary Magdalene represents the penitent sinner \\ \\ii\\in John mt Baptist Jesus was bom in ind his whole life John the Baptist was the in simplic it) 5u< h humble beginnings - ol the Old Testament emphasize the spiniujl nature ol his I. prophets and Jesus' tirst disciple. He foretold the opposed to matt rial rii hness. coming of Christ and baptized him He was St. Ciiristophi r COMMl NK)N beheaded at the wish ol Herod's wife and her Ai his last supper with his disciples |esus daughter. Salome, and his broke bread and poured wine, which he head was presented to blessed and shared among them, saying that them on a plate they were his body and blood By imitating St. Christopher his actions at the carried a Juki across communion service, a river - the Juki was c hristians partake Chnst. 01 the world ritually ol the bod) s Christopher is and bio, >d ol i Iiim i itself the patron ol travel Bri \\d \\\\i\\i symbolizes the The wine drunk at ol c hrist In communion is the communion it takes blood ol c hrist, shed fol mankind the form ol a wafei ( Mill KlM's Will I I St i atherine died for ho ( hristian beliefs, flaming wheels - hence net symbol is the whi \\i\\ 1 IGIOI s HOOKS Si i \\LSO I he Bibl ||M s C MHI I ith the lil' A I Ol h \\cosii is I Ml \\ IK. .IN Ml. I hrist to preach the Gospel St |ohn Ik \\N( is 01 Assist the l I 10 him Pi Hole to the Huils then hold ileum letter, symbolizing hi-, manner ol man n i hi- right Mark, like |onn, holds the < iospel %.--%s%s%^-+ 19

Mythologies & Religions Hinduism Hinduism is the major religion of India. It has evolved over millennia and encompasses a complex range of traditions, religious beliefs, philosophy, and mythology: The roots of Hinduism can be traced to the Aryans, who arrived in India with a pantheon of male gods in the second millennium BC. The indigenous Indus valley peoples already had strong religious beliefs centered on fertility cults and a Mother Goddess. The Aryans adopted many of their beliefs, including the Goddess. All the gods and goddesses of Hinduism, including Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), Shiva (destroyer) and the Goddess are aspects of Brahman, the one eternal principle. The conch, The chakra, whet symbolizing oJc\\ creation and transience Brahma Krishna The four heads of Brahma, An incarnation ol the creator, symbolize the Vishnu. Krishna four quarters, the four Vedas, embodies divine love. or religious texts, and the four His adventures are recorded in the castes of Hinduism. Brahma has become less important than Vishnu, Shiva, and the Goddess. at Purana. Here lu i- .1 naughty child Tht man) hand stealing butter symbolize the man) aspet ts q) ih, deit) Lotus, symbol oj creation and purity. Hanuman Shiva Originally a mountain god, Shiva, meaning 1 lanuman, the mighty auspicious, is the god of destruction. But, in a world monkey general of the ol endless rebirths, destruction precedes creation. epic Ramayana, He may be worshiped as a linga, or phallic symbol, represents loyalty, religious devotion, as an ascetic, as a teacher, or in his form as dancer in the great dance of creation and destruction. and courage. Many signs Club, Ganesha symbol of represent the authority Ganesha overcomes arm. - all obstacles and is contained the god of new within the god ventures. He has the head of an Vishnu DURGA elephant, and so can forge through Originally connected with the sun, Vishnu is the preserver of the Durga is the ferocious universe and the embodiment of love, truth, and mercy To his oi the Mother le thickest jungle worshipers he is the supreme being from whom everything emanates. Goddess and wields In myth Shiva various weapons in her He rides on Garuda, the fabulous bird, or rests on Ananta, the cosmic ten hands. She stands mistakenly serpent. Vishnu has been incarnated on earth in nine avatars, or for the more active, beheaded the incarnations, some human, some animal. The tenth incarnation, the god, and only an destructive aspects of elephant's head horse avatar, is yet to come. feminine nature could be found as a replacemeni 20

. H l\\ PI ISM Objects oi worship * In Hindu worship ind involving the >. ide in the form ol Ri d air. and clarified butter. Ritual i sprinkling rose water and scent, burning inc< ir other n Om St I \\l SHAW K KOSE-W \\n k M'RINKI ER This is a sacred This ivor) sunt The » syllable thought to shaker is shaped be the seed\" of all sprinkler. mantras, divine and like the headily powerful words or sounds shaped like perfumed lotus, The sound, pronounced A-U-M, is thought to symbol ol a flower, be the one eternal syllable, in which the past. present, and future exist creation is used to Inc i \\si sprinkle Bl R\\l R a ate i The incense burner is waved around a back and forth in the shrine. Wafting the shrine in a aroma around welcomes symbolic gods with sweet smells. purification Apsaras ''/JJtillx. Temple Sensuous nymphs Swastika Sacred cow Wheels The architecture ol a Hindu temple like this are found on . tnbolic The central tower The cow is sacred to temple walls. They thai this is the Hindus, and even the personify rain clouds iky-chariol represents .1 mouniatntop, and mists and are qj the sun because mountains are the lowliest specimen associated with god must not be harmed. fertility and growth. sacred abodes ol the g In India the swastika is Valued for us milk and The image ol the god is in its dung, which is used an auspicious mark as fuel, the low the cavelike inner probably represents sanctum, the earthy worn as jewelry or Mother Earth. or womb cnamb marked on objects as a ibolism symbol of well-being. Count ere lock v. swastikas are sometimes considered inauspicious The symbol, which predates • Hinduism, is associated with the sun and the wheel of birth and rebirth, and is f an emblem of Vishnu DrvALi The fall festival ol Shrine (. WGES The household shrine Divali, the festival of The holiest of the rivers ol India, the * h is an important focus light, is celebrated in rises in the Himalayas, home ol the gods of daily pu)a. or worship This is where honor of Lakshmi. : sonified by the goddes! the gods are invited. welcomed, and I Pilgrims come to the ( ranges worshiped Offerings consort of Vishnu and to visit holy sues, such as of fresh flowers, fruit, goddess of abundance and good fortune It Benares, birthp lliva and cooked food are- placed before an image also celebrates the [*o she on the banks ol the of the god, and ino Ganges and to hav may be burned return Irom exile of ashes llo.it ,iw.i\\ on its current is the hero Rama .111 the best ol deaths for a Hindu when. iv.it. ir .'I Vishnu, lamps were relit all over the kingdom \\\\^\\> MAM MVncieni II Sm \\/s<> This suJK illy Brmimv i Ganesh I 1 tain KJUSHNA t • r a fol 1 as indicated by the Smi\\ \\ i horizontal lines on his milL Sw IMIk > I ind the Him! Ihenu, the \\ IMIV I • • the buffal n his >l in later life is 10 live 1 •nan 21

Mythologies & Religions Buddhism Buddhism is based ox nonviolence, compassion, and chanty. Its goal is Enlightenment, which ends the cycle of birth and rebirth and leads to Nirvana, literally, blowing out, or absorption into the cosmos. Buddhism developed from the teachings of Gautama Buddha, born Prince Siddhartha in northeastern India in the mid-6th century bc. He renounced his worldly Whenlife in search of an existence free of suffering. Siddhartha achieved this goal, through meditation and asceticism, he was called the Buddha, or the Enlightened. Bodhi tree on elephant Rays oj enlightenment n \\ and Lao Tzv, Wang Shu-Ku, 18th century Three Great Truths Mara and troops dejeated The great Chinese sages Confucius and Lao Tzu, founder of Taoism, welcome in their midst the Folding book Footprint infant Buddha, symbolically representing the In Burma books that fold up, called parabaiks, tell the story of the Buddha The Footprint of the with words and pictures From left to right, this parabaik depicts the acceptance of Buddhism in China dunng the 4th Buddha is marked Buddha on his way to the Bodhi tree where he attained enlightenment; century. Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism with 108 auspicious the Buddha meditating and worshiped by the gods; the approach of Mara, are known as the Three Great Truths, and signs. These include the evil spirit, on an elephant, and his defeat; the Buddha radiating together have molded the swastika; the mace, enlightenment and being worshiped by gods and creatures. symbol of the force Chinese thought over »- v that breaks lust; fish, ^-^^3kthousands of years. for freedom from all restraint; the flower Aspects of Buddha The great snake vase, for supreme Muchalinda intelligence; the conch, Buddhists do not worship the Buddha ' for the voice of the but pay homage to his teachings and protecting Buddha; the wheel of example in front of his effigies. These the Buddha law or life; and the portray various postures, or asanas, crown of Brahma, for S» • \"^ Buddha's supremacy with a number of mudras, or hand gestures. They all have a particular significance, appropriate for teaching, meditation, or blessing. Wheel of law Reclining Buddha Laughing Buddha Dhyana mudra, (he With his first sermon, After a lifetime of teaching, the Buddha Mi Lo Fo is a form of Maitreya, the Buddha is said to died and entered Nirvana, never to be the future Buddha The name gesture of have set the wheel of meditation rebom. This is usually symbolized means Friendly One who dharma, or law, in Buddha Muchalinda motion. The wheel, r by the parinirvana asana, in laughs at fate and whose therefore, represents which the Buddha is shown obesity contains the wisdom While the Buddha was engaged in the teachings of reclining on his deep meditation there was a violent Buddha, and the nght side. of the universe storm and torrential rain. The great eight spokes the serpent Muchalinda raised the Holy Eightfold Path Marble reclining Buddha, One onto his coils and protected him that leads to Burmese, 19th century from the rain with his many hoods. enlightenment. 22

) Buddhism %s%- l' Shrine at Blddhist Temple. Wimbledon. London Shrine This Buddhist shnne shows Buddha images surrounded by candles and incense, both part of the act of devotion in Buddhism, as in other religions The light produced is the light of the doctrine and the smoke from the incense wafts the truth of the doctnne toward the devotees, carrying their devotions into the heavens. .../inml Terraces symbolize stages oj spiritual CMS development enlightenment Shwe Zigon Pagoda. Pagan, Bi rma. 1 1th ^ in Chorten V1 A miniature shnne, BURMESE PAGODA Pagodas are stupas, which were originally bunal mounds erected over the this Tibetan silver box remains of important men in India After the Buddha's death his ashes with mystic symbols is worn to keep evil were divided and placed within stupas, and later his few possessions were spirits at bay It holds a similarly enshnned Stupas act as a symbol of the Buddha's entry into a tablet molded from Nirvana and a reminder to all of the possibility of enlightenment In Burma, the ashes of a lama as in China, the stupa is known as a pagoda Buddhist monks BODHISATTVA The Buddha established the M KOYASAN MONK According to one school of Buddhism, * sangha. or monastic order, This monk from Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who put off so that people could devote t Japan holds the Nirvana to assist others to enlightenment - the traditional alms ultimate act of compassion Avalokiteshvara, the themselves to his teachings. *fLjfl bowl in which Bodhisattva of compassion, is shown here with people place eleven heads and a thousand arms, so he can The majority of Buddhists Irfa food as an act reach out to all conscious beings. Each hand of merit The holds an object that symbolizes an attribute of think that enlightenment Lan \\c:lrf. bowl is thus the Buddha a symbolic ^^^|only be attained by following the monastic, meditative life - ~~ receptacle for free from distractions - on the gathering good Prayer wheel deeds path to complete awareness Mantras, or sacred Thai monk verses, are inscribed on prayer wheels I-ach A Thai monk sits in the window of a monastic building He is rotation of the cylinder stands for one recitation probably studying surras, Buddhist of the mantra Some texts that young monks have large wheels are to master powered by windmills ViZSnvT See also Till GREAI DlPARIt Rl Hi DOHA «4 B Ml TREE t Pnnce Siddhartha. the future Buddha, leaves the ;i palace (left), having renounced worldly life and determined on a life of meditation and wConfucius asceticism This Burmese boy right I ootpmni or I 1 21, 105; symbolically reenacts the momentous scene before donning monk's robes and Brahma 20 entenng a monastery as a novice monk wI ioism v.N PRAYER «

Mythologies & Religions Islam Islam is the faith of about one-fifth of the worlds population. It is based &® on the revelations uttered by the Prophet Mohammed who lived in Arabia (c. ad 570-632). These were later recorded in the volume called the Koran. Followers of Islam are Muslims. Like Jews and Christians, they worship whomone god, they call Allah, and they see their faith as an act of surrender to the will of Allah. Actions of devout Muslims are dictated by the Five Pillars, which call upon the faithful to declare their faith publicly, pray five times a day give alms, fast during the month of Ramadan, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca. Prayer rug A Muslim usually performs salat, or prays, on a prayer rug. This 16th-century Ottoman example has Islamic pillars woven into the design. I .,; &Star Crescent Thought originally to have signified the waxing moon, and once associated with the goddess Diana, the crescent was adopted as a symbol of Islam in the 14th century. The star, a symbol of sovereignty and divinity, was added later. Hand of God ASCE.VT OF PROPHI 1 Mi IHAMJ I Known as the ' Hand of Fatima. I after Mohammed's I daughter, this The Night Journey Muslims at prayer In a dream Mohammed was led to heaven by the represents the Five Adult males pray side by side in the mosque. Archangel Gabriel. His face is veiled, according As they kneel, fa< ing Mecca, they touch their hilars of Islam. to Muslim convention, and he rides the hall- foreheads to the ground and intone the words Allah is great.\" their actions symbolically human steed Al Borak, symbol of light and truth. mirroring their spiritual submission to God. The i ubelike shrine huh around the sa< red stone, probabl) ./ meteorite Ka'bah The Ka'bah in Mecca is the central shrine of Islam, to which the faithful must turn in pr.r wherever they are in the world. Thus it acts as a point of communion between God and man. Muslims are enjoined to make the pilgrimage hen- al least once in a lifetime if they arc able, and symbolically circle the shrine seven times, each circuit signifying an attribute ol God. Mi: BAH, iI 24

[SLAM Ornamental border (o dccorati Verses from the Koran Compass Mosque lamp Since Muslims need to The interior of a Mecca when they mosque is lit up by lamps. The light of the pray, they often use a lamps indicates the qiWah, or special compass, to find the presence of the divine within the mosque. It direction. Many modem is wisdom and truth prayer mats have and lightens the integral compasses, with an image of the darkness of ignorance. Ka'bah at the center. Calligraphy Koran .n calls Beautifully inscribed Some Islamic countries reject the portrayal ol living Muslims lo prayer from Koranic verses are used creatures in art because it is thought to challenge the lop of the to decorate any number perfection of Allah. As a result, the word itself has minaret of objects - a symbolic been immortalized in art in the form of Koranic i and constant reminder texts. Exquisite examples of calligraphy have of the word of God, as been produced, one of Islam's greatest Prayer beads contributions to an. They are usually in An Islamic rosary is in this steel plaque. Arabic, the language of Islam. These texts, made up of 99 beads often surrounded by beautiful borders and scrollwork, illustrate the authority This is because they and truth of the word of God. stand for 99 of the Ceramic tile Divine Names The hundredth, the Name Minaret The -i mbol of the Essence, can The minaret is attached to the of divinity and only be found in mosque, and from its summit Paradise supremacy in Islam the muezzin, or crier, calls the Dome faithful to prayer five times a day. Islamic decoration is Muslims believe that one morning heu characterized by the the dawn prayer will be called use of ornamented by the Angel of the Resurrection tiles, many ol them star-shaped. See also DOMI 01 mi R. i Koran i \\r85. Mohammi ii Paradisi i Prayer ri i I)<>M! Ol nil Roc K The vhere the Temple of Solomon on si \\k ,mi c kim ist tr ilcm. making the sil and Muslims ' to which Mohammed was hroughl ihru-l foi heaven li bed nind it. one symbolically passes into anothei

: Mythologies & Religions &Ancestor Nature Spirits In every part of the world, at one time or another, there has been a belief that everything in nature possesses a soul or spirit. In such a belief, the spirits of the trees, mountains, crops, rivers, and rocks are ever present, and are honored so that man and nature can exist in harmony. Ancestral spirits, too, have been central to the faiths of many people, believing that when someone dies, they join the ancestors and watch over the community's links with the past. Some spints have a protective character and serve to guard a community or individual in times of danger. They may appear on the prow of a boat or on a weapon, and may be very fierce looking in order to frighten away evil or an enemy in battle. Totem pole A \\SK.\\N MASK '\"iY'*!*.\"1 Elephant spirit I The totem pole symbolizes Zairean mask African masks the relationship between a This Alaskan mask tribe or clan and its Grass-skirted masks, represent sacred spirits represents the essences such as this, represent brought to life for ancestors. Human and ol various beings. the spirits ol the rituals. The sacred animal ancestoi figures Punng divination an< estors among the powers are symbolized Kuba ol Zaire. During by stylized features. arc caned on the pole and rituals a shaman would offerings are made to these weai i his to assume the initiation ceremonies This elephant spirit sacred figures. This shows power ol the spirits young boys symbolically meet this mask from Nigeria respect fori he ancestors and ancestor. represents ugliness. solidarit) with the clan, all The Dreaming of whom are descended Australian Aboriginals call the from one spiritual and natural order ol all ancestor. existence the Dreaming, or Dreamtime. It covers all time, and includes stories ol ancestors who created human and animal life. Australian Aboriginals feel al one with nature, and ritual music and art are vital expressions of the spirit essences of the Dreamtime. Bark painting Paintings of ancestors are filled in with markings known as nink. Australian Aborignals believe these patterns i reated by Dreamtime spirits, can release fertility. Wmjara SP1RI \\\\ \\ I i 'i , 20n Uluru Named Avers Rock by European ttlers, Uluru is sacred to Australian .Aboriginals, who imbue such sites with p& ial powers Ihey perform rites to ai quire this powei and also to w it. Ancestor figure War god male ancestor This Hawaiian war god, figure from Papua New- Guinea, painted in with his threatening and sacred colors, stands for a clan father. terrifying rice, would protect a panicular group in war 26

Ancestor & Nature Spirits %^P .*% Shinto - Shinto, which means Way of the Kami,\" is the oldest religion in Japan. According to Shinto belief the world is populated by millions of Kami, spirits that inhabit am person, place, or object that possesses strange qualities. Spirits may dwell in rivers, rocks, trees, and animals, and a nature is regarded with awe and respect. In the sixth century Shinto blended with Buddhist philosophy to produce a vast pantheon of gods, including a mixture of nature spirits, guardian deities, and Buddha incarnations. God of wealth Gateway d of abundance and thus The torn is the gateway to a Shinto fertility. Daikoku grants a good harvest and bnngs prospenty shrine. Some shrines ma) be approached through more than one torn. The ends of the honzontal bars reach toward heaven. Si \\\\ kus Inari Mount Fuji Ama Terasu, goddess of the sun, is the supreme Shinto god, and Japan's The white fox is the messenger and symbol The unpredictable nature of volcanoes has emperors claim descent from her. Legend says that, angered by the Storm of Inari, the Japanese evoked feelings of fear and worship in many God, she hid in a cave. The other gods tned to lure her out with jewels god of crops and countries. The many volcanoes of Japan figure wealth. Otfenngs of in its religion and shrines are often built on and a mirror, hung on a tree outside. Fascinated by her own reflection, she soybean curd, believed their slopes. Japan's Mount Fup is said to be emerged toward it. symbolizing the daily emergence of dawn alter night. to be his favorite food, the most beautiful mountain in the world It combines the symbolism of heaven, earth are made to him, and fire and thus inspires the feelings of awe. danger, and yet peace elicited by nature. his bib signifies thanks Mount Fuji embodies the spirit of Japan and for prayers answered is a place of pilgrimage. Confucius ClllMSI l,\\NOS< U'l See also f Confucius, who lived in the 6th century BC, I he innei serenm ol faoist philosoph ( HINESI I \\M>-> I c * remains a great teacher for the Chinese. He expressed in landscape paintings Such Ocean monaju h propounded a doctnne based on loyalty and II paintings portra) not just the features ol ihe Monarch duty to parents, clan, and • land, but the very essence ol nature Often \\ of tl state. By stressing loyalty tinj human figures are placed within the the 'he to clan, he underlined the importance of the landscape, stressing both the insignifican ancestors and strengthened ancestral man against nature and his place within the cults, already popular in China. Images of universe Both raoist philosophy and Confucius can be nfucianism have influenced modem found in many i hinese though) raoism stresses the traditional spiritual ordei within nature, and fucianism the nnu.il unlet within society hold shrine-, *-%^m^*-i especially 17 among the overs t hitii •ing the popular resp rded to him 1 15 \\1\\-kv i.- Shim i made to him I in Dwi wiisc. i.- hta temple POSTV I I Hav

Mythologies & Religions is+S%s%s+^^^s%s+s*s^*^s*S^ls^%S*S%^^%S%s^ Mythical Beasts Many fabulous creatures originated in the valleys of the Tigris and the <& Euphrates, and from there moved both east and west. The phoenix and the many-headed serpent for example, and the image of a great bird with a serpent in its talons, are all found in the iconography of many parts of the world. Mythical beasts that are half animal and half human represent both animal instincts and human intellect. Monsters that are part bird and part Double-headed serpent The double-headed serpent is a common image in land or sea creature take on the symbolic associations of both, representing the Americas and is associated with life-giving perhaps the sun and the waters in addition to their own innate symbolism. rain. It was part of the ntes of Tlaloc, .Aztec god of the mountains, rain, and spnngs, to whom children were sacrificed in times of drought. The Lion and the The horn can detei i Unicorn, France. and count ei a, I c.1500 poison The Ky-lin Sleipnir Loch Ness Monster unicorn The swiftest of all represents This fabulous beast stallions was Sleipnir, First sighted in the from China generally eight-legged mount ol minine has the head of a Odin, the Teutonic Middle Ages, the Loch e and magician-god of war. Ness Monster allegedly dragon, (he mane of Sleipnir could overcome bit a swimmer to death (he moon a lion, the body oi a all obstacles and gallop in AD 565. Over the stag, and the tail ol an across both land and years there have been Unicorn sea. As the mount of the numerous sightings and ox It is said to appear god, he was associated The unicorn is pure and incorruptible. In China it represents gentleness, during the reign of with the power of that countless investigations, good wall, wisdom, and longevity; in Christianity it represents Christ. vinuous monarchs and god and also According to medieval lore, a unicorn's horn was a powerful antidote to to herald the birth of symbolized the wind. and scientists have tried poison, but the animal was so wild that no hunter could capture it. Only great people The Ky- to make sense of these a virgin could lure a unicorn to her and tame it. Here a unicom looks into lin often accompanies eyewitness accounts. the mirror of truth, representing the wisdom of self-knowledge. Chinese sages and Originally a symbol of immortals. It is gentle, and symbolizes good danger, Nessie is now will and kindness as a benevolent monster. well as fertility The Aii Theseus visible heads her Centaur Hydra Minotaur A creature of fire, the salamander is us' With the torso and Linked to the many- This creature, with the upper half of a bull, lived headed naga of India, in the famous labyrinth of Crete. Ever)' year it breathing fire or surro head of a man above the hydra was a nine- devoured seven youths and seven maidens headed serpent, chosen by lot to try to appease it. The hero flames Mooded that it re i the body of a horse, sometimes depicted Theseus decided to challenge the beast and end centaurs combine the the reign ol terror. The minotaur represents the unhai he flames. As a symbol ii nerge with a cloglike body. repre instinctual nature of an baser instincts ol man righteous soul, whu i animal with the A formidable foe, if ! judgment and virtue of one head were cut off, a man. In Greek myth two more sprang up ied from the fires of tempta Chiron, a respected in its place. In Greek teacher, was a centaur. myth it was killed by Centaurs are also a Christian symbol of Hercules. Ii symbolizes man torn between the many problems good and that obstruct the path to truth. + -«- i<'»s%^**',*^s%' 28

Mythical Beasts s%s%s%s** \\| \\k\\RA Mermaids and sirens 19th-century In India this sea creature is the mount of the sea Japanese god Varuna and also ol Ganga, goddess ol the Mermaids and sirens appear in the mythology of main Ganges It is part fish and part crocodile or KINE elephant, and is symbolic of the waters ol countries. A mermaid has the body of a beautiful woman and the tail of a fish. She is a creature of the creation It is often seen in conjunction with solar creatures, the two together representing waters, symbolic of fertility and the unconscious. fertility. The makara also represents the duality Sometimes she carries a mirror, which represents truth of good and evil and the soul. Male equivalents are rarer, although the Tritons of Greek myth - embodying wantonness - were mermen. Sirens may appear in two forms: hall woman, half bird, or half woman, half fish. In their fish form they can be mistaken for mermaids. They represent temptation and seduction, the luring of man from his true purpose. Nag a Bishop fish The lure of dangerous women the Sirens, kt Draper. 1905 The naga is a many- This curious creature, Ulysses is forewarned that he must beware the sirens of the waters, whose headed serpent deity found widely in the an also known as the voices have the power to lure men to their deaths. He orders his crew to and legend of India plug their ears with wax, but to tie him firmly to the ship's mast so that he and Southeast .Asia It mitered bishop, has may be depicted with the shaven head of a alone can hear their song human torso and serpent heads or as monk and a large, in safety. The artist has Carved figurehead wholly animal Nagas represented two ol the sirens control the rains and fishlike body Legend This mermaid graces the has it that one of these in human form, but the third stem of a barge designed are in constant conflict creatures was captured with garuda. the bird in the Baltic in 1433 has the tail of a fish. of the sun. This and presented to the enmity reflects in King of Poland. Triton jewel in 7 $21 i Although the king Hall man and hall fish, Triton myth the real balance wanted to keep it, he was the son ol Neptune and may Frederick, son of between sun and rain, relented when the which are both creature pleaded to be have been a god ol seafarers King II of Late myths essential for the returned to the waters. fertility of the soil. On being released, the bishop fish made the sign of the cross. ind Ifcl^iik. mermaid speak ol a race of Tritons H Hippo imp ! the hippocamp is the mount ol Poseidon drawing his chariot across the oceans It has the bod and the forelegs ol I making it symbolic ol both i s and in heraldry to denote a laudable I i In the he i us ol Belfast ii 29 repn le

( -*^%^»^»-^-^-%--%--%^%--i Mythologies & Religions i -%•%--». -*.-%,-K%^V»^^-%^V-%^% -»».-%.-%.%--%-%..-%..-». ^.-1-1 Dragons Basilisk Combining characteristics of the four elements, earth, air. fire, and water, the Usually depicted as a dragon symbolizes light and dark, the sun and moon, masculine and feminine, form of serpent, the and the unit}' underlying these opposing forces. The dragon possesses the wings of a basilisk can also have the legs and wii bird and the scales of a snake or fish. It breathes fire and often guards a hoard of a dragon. In medieval treasure in its lair. In the East and in pre-Christian Europe the dragon was seen as Europe its breath or gaze was believed to helpful and kind - indeed, the red dragon is the emblem of Wales - but be fatal. It is a Christianity which saw the serpent as a symbol of evil, also viewed the dragon as symbol of death. a creature of ill-omen, representing destructiveness and inner chaos. The five claw s — this garment belong Viking dragon the Emperor In Norse myth the The pt . dread biter,\" Nidhogg, immortality^ devoured corpses and gnawed ceaselessly at i he roots of the ash tree Yggdrasil, the tree ot life. Nidhogg symbolized evil. Embroidered silk square irn to denote rank DRAGON Chinese dragon This stylized A symbol ol the dragon is from Emperor, of male an Anglo-Saxon energy, and of fertility, the Chinese dragon is shield. In its mouth a benign animal and it carries what looks like a pearl - perhaps the fifth creature of the Chinese zodiac It the pearl of immortality. guards the East and WDST. GEORGl III! DRAGON represents sunrise, Christians equate the dragon with the spring, and the rains Indeed, torrential rain serpent, the tempter of Eve in the Garden of Eden. The dragon, too, was is known as \"dragon evil, an embodiment ofman's lower rain.\" There are four types ol dragons in Chinese legend - dragons ol the air. the earth, the water, and the spirit. Dragon dances and dragon boat races are still popular in China. The spiraling cloud l^7\"^•s,|U^ divine assistance nature. By slaying the dragon, the victor overcomes heresy and evil and also his own primitive drives. St. George is patron saint of England, and of all soldiers. on batlike i n\\ mbol q/ (hough to be (lii tnumph proi d ovei evil The d the 1 inn. I ilinih I \\^s%s%^*%^\\. -%s%* r^S%S%S%ShSl • -%] u 30

Mythical Bi \\sts Phoenix The phoenix, sometimes known as the tiro bird, m:^elf on fire every one hundred years, dies the flames, and then rises again from the ashes. It is a universal symbol ol immortality, death by fire, the sun. and resurrection. It is also a symbo\" of gentleness because it lives only on dew, not harming any living ereature. In China u represents the empress and, with the dragon. stands tor inseparable fellowship In Mexico the phoenix accompanied the great god Quetzalcoatl and to early Christians it symbolized Christ. The mount of Vishnu, klWARA Sphinx SlMURGH Garuda is usually A popular symbol portrayed as part man, Half human and either This fabulous Pei pan eagle, and often originating in Egypt anc c reature, a mixture ol half bird or half horse, Babylon, the sphinx peacoi k lii has a golden body. It is this heavenly musician a huge, noble ereature is part ol the celestial usually has the body o griffi that represents the sun chorus surrounding and is a bird ol life a lion and a human Russian and < The garuda is often mthe principal deities mythology With head. The Greek sphin shown doing battle Indian beliel h is an was a lemale monster auspicious symbol, that devoured passers- with its enemies, i he- snakes times found on by who lailed to temple doorways. answer her riddle In differeni cultures the sphinx symbolizes the ruler, wisdom, and the of heaven and earth. Griffin II \\nn Si i uso I he gi iiim was a ek mythology guardian t reature the harp) symbolized ( \\K\\I I) I K.I Kl III \\D 14' with the head, the mosl m I and talons ol desti Dragon i an ea he body the female I larpies // had the head .uh\\ wasol .1 lion It sail (\\KI IM I woman, light i mgei than HYDRA N\\c\\ i and the wings and a hundred eagles Mism turn legs ol a vulture i winged st hero Belleropl Sat red to Apollo and PHOI SIX I the m ol the blood ol Medusa and earned /< i Aih griffin is winds, causing storms ted with speed and Igllaiue, and whirlpools and I the hippogn ph, md olI i m evil inl wisdoi sudden death %^^S%S%S%S%s%S*<^%S*^s%S%^S%S< 51

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Nature The natural world provides a vast and rich store oj symbols. The sun, moon, and stars are widely seen as symbolic, affecting every aspect oj our lives. Plants and flowers have diverse meanings, from flowers oj love tojruits ojfertility, and animals, too, have particular associations linked to their characteristics and cultural importance.

i Sun & Moon The sun and moon have always played a powerful role in image ry. For many cultures all over the world the sun is the embodiment of male energy, li^ht and warmth; the moon of female mystery and creation. Both are symbolic of death and rebirth: the sun because of its daily rising and setting; the moon because of its monthly waxing and waning between new moon and full moon. The suns energy warms the land and ripens crops, while the moon's gravity influences the waters, controlling the flow of tides. Clock i u Man in the moon The moons on this Although the moon is 19th-century clock link on as feminine. time to the movements people often speak ol of the heavens. the man in the moon. In popular myth a man was nailed to the moon to atone for his - I Her Fou Ec 1 IPSE i An eclipse ol the moon Moons rm tk madness Baying \\i mi \\kxin The moon exen or the sun is regarded It has long been believed that the full moon influence overcreai by many with fear and bnngs on or aggravates the symptoms of madness. In this painting Diana, the Roman huntress and ol the night When seen as a portent of goddess of the moon, is seated in the clouds above a group of lunatic followers. The word wolves howl at a full evil. Hindu myth says lunatic comes from the Latin luna, meaning moon, and originally meant moonstruck.'' moon they reflect the that an eclips< dark or sinister force ed by the bodiless of the moon. demon Rahu devouring the moon or sun. which then passes through his neck and back into the sky \\\\ R\\ I I White cloal Symbol purity and r> - K - 1908 Personification of sun and mucin ' In this illustration from a 16th-century ie oceans are governed by the moon, so, like the moon, water has associations with alchemical treatise, the sun and moon are personified as king and queen The moon n-1- - d with the feminine creative principle. Water is central to many creation myths (Diana) wears white, in contrast to the red of it flood\" is a common theme. The sea represents the unconscious and infinity her twin brother, the sun (Apollo). The flames beneath the sun s feel reflect alchemists' belief an from which all life has emerged and into which u must eventually dissolve that the sun is the innate fire present in all mauer Diana's foot rests on the moon, ol which she is both goddess and symbol 34

Sun & Moon <•-%. %--».•.».«.»«» «^«^%. -«.%-%.-< ass and square, emblems TV hey within Bl \\CK SUN the triangle [his sun adonis an represents the I8th-centurj house in heart as keepet Prague known as the Freemasonry Black Sun. In alchem This sun-headed the black sun. or sol freemason is made up niger, is a symbol of Saturn and stands for ol the materials of his the dark, destructive lodge, with symbols aspect ol the sun relating to his order. Al'OI LO Apollo. Greek god ol the sun, is the slaw darkness. In this mosaic from Corinth his head, surrounded by flames, symbolizes his divine nature and the ultimate power ol the sun. S< \\RAB Torch blazes Tablet I The Egyptian sacred J night ilu date o) the beetle is a form ol the Declaration oj Min ^od Khepn. as ^\\\" I lighting ndence depicted here in winged form, clasping irld the solar ball and representing new life Fl\\goi i ^( i. mil o) sun Flags Art deco mo hi beams, with 1 Many countries have to represent Sunbursts were popular ieas and adopied the sun as their in stained-glass the 7 continents national emblem japan. known as the land ol windows and also in Associated the rising sun, has a sieel decoration ol the with the sun fire is plain rod disk, while 1920s and 30s, sui purifying, the tiered root ol New Uruguay has a more destructive revealing it is spintuai power ana decorative sun face York's Chryslei Building s.k rifice, and pla\\s a part in main rituals and religions throughout the world lhe Statue ol 1 iheriv, with her crown ol sun s rays stands at the entrance to New York harboi She holds alofi a burning torch, whk h is a symbol ol safety and assurance I he flame was literally a ra) ol hope to the thousands ol homeless who sailed into the haiboi Sej iLSO I I IGS • M5 FREEMASONI I MOM( \\l I M)\\R Moon minis «r Thi- ne with a sun S! \\|. I i the year divui Si \\ EMB1 1 M I his emblem on Siena s into 18 short IS spill HSUN DEITIES cathedral in Ital) I he Si N MASK ili\\ In this Native Ameri< an spirii mask from within the flames ol the in emph.i nortlf h ( olumbia, tl nis sim It was designed as Si s \\l i in the the spirit ol the sun It lirits mbol ol p' i il to Us tube s be!

Nature Earth & Sky The relationship of the earth and the sky is vital for the well-being of humankind, for it is the combination of sun, rain, wind, and soil that brings life, warmth, and nourishment. The sky is symbolic of transcendence and the heavenly realms, and gods of the sky are linked to the masculine power and the creative aspect of the sun. The earth symbolism complements that of the sky and represents the Great Mother, receiving fertilizing rain, producing crops, and nourishing animals. Rivers and lakes represent the bountiful properties of the earth and share its feminine, nurturing qualities. Some rivers, such as the Ganges in India, are viewed as sacred. Satellite photograph Earth from space Far from demystifying our view of the heavens, space exploration has heightened our sense of awe at the vastness and magnificence of our world. Volcano River Rain forest Volcanoes, with their A river is both a symbol of fertility, since it irrigates land, and an image The lorest is a magical, heroic realm of danger terrifying powers of and enchantment, and it can represent the destruction, have of the neverending flow of time. Its delta represents the merging of the unconscious mind. The forest is either the always been sacred soul with the Absolute. Meandenng slowly to the sea, the river can also fearful haunt of spirits, wolves, and goblins, as in and highly symbolic to symbolize a journey into death. Journeys to the Underwotld often involve European folklore, or a place of seclusion where the crossing of a river, and the four nvers of Paradise are a source of power ascetics pursue spiritual contemplation, as in the people who live in and spiritual nourishment. Indian culture In the latter part of the 20th their shadow. An century the rain forest has come to represent the eruption may be vulnerability of our planet, which is rapidly interpreted as a sign of being destroyed by human encroachment. the fury of the gods In parts of Southeast Asia a human sacrifice to a volcano used to be made in an attempt to avert such wrath. '. 18 Ii 36 ..

Earth <Sr Sky p mi i Si Pi ren's, Romf S\\OWI I \\KI Weather Wind cherub Snow represents Sky Every culture has had an explanation This cherub blows Probably because the sun, stars, and moon are coldness and for the whims of the weather. In the wind, probably folktales personifications such as the to guide a boat on its above us in the sky, the sky has always been hardness in human course across the associated with creator gods and the forces of North Wind and Jack Frost are blamed ocean. Such cherubs nature, but the fragile were a popular way creation. The domed roofs of cathedrals and beauty of a snowflake for miserable weather, while storms are ol representing the mosques are often painted blue to resemble the traditionally attributed to the storm god winds in Western art. symbolizes truth and sky. symbolically reminding the faithful of wisdom. The snowflake in China and Japan. heaven above. is also a symbol of individuality, since no BalU two are alike. q) thtindei Thunder and lightning Drumstick Chinese clouds to beat This Japanese god of thunder out the Clouds symbolize the mystical and the sacred. takes the form of a strong man railing The Chinese traditionally believe they are formed beating his drum. The circle of thunder from the union of female balls around his head represent and male, yin and yang. the reverberations of the thunder Japanese Thunder God Dove of peace Noah's Ark, Gabriel Loire, 1975 Rambow, sign of < lod's . ovenanl Noah's ark,^ symbol of the Christian Chunh A London Fog. F.D. Bedford, 1902 Rainbow Fog In many cultures the rainbow bridges th( Fog, like cloud, is a symbol of the and heaven It is often seen as a message ol h mystical and mysterious It stands for the confusion Irom which the soul from the gods. In the Bible God sent a rainbow must emerge to attain enlightenment as a sign ol Hisco iftei the I See also (Rl M MOIHIR «\" H. FJtfALL. Zl' aRiver Watebfau Vou wi i In Ch: xilism a waterfall represents the Waterfai i feminine while a mountain or dill is the ine Its downward motion is the 1)1 SI Rl ndonment and desolation, the desert also repres and mterpan to the upward-striving A pi. the any figun mplation In the Bible gi [\"he children the mn;l \"l Isi Hid ( bust was tempted in the d< 57

Precious Matter The world's mountains, lakes, and waters are the repositories of hidden treasures - revealing the unexpected presence of pearls inside craggy oysters or substances such as metals and minerals that can be mined and transformed into objects of extraordinary beauty In the past, the fascination with these materials stemmed from their colors or brilliance, but durability also played a part. Gold could last forever without tarnishing or corroding, and stones, cut and polished, seemed equally impervious to change. In a fragile, uncertain world, such beauty and permanence must have appeared to have magical, almost divine, properties. Coral Natural In the 16th century it was believed that the only way to cross pi \\KI IN rivers safely or to calm a raging tempest was to cam' a piece rhis Italian i hild's >YSTER SHELL of red or white coral. But the alleged powers oi coral went far bracelet with its beyond this. Coral was thought to staunch the How of blood Peari from a wound, cure madness, imbue the wearer v> uh \\\\ isdom, I hand clasp and offer protection against enchantments. Sprigs freshh was dt signi .1 to Prized in East and West alike, the pearl is a gathered from the sea, such as the one hanging above the universal symbol oi beauty and perfection. It is Madonna in this picture, are deemed the most powerful. To this da) \\ard the linked to the realm ot the feminine - the moon, many people give children coral jewelry to protect them from hai m chastity, patience, and purity, Chinese dragons are usually portrayed clasping a pearl, symbol of wisdom, immortality, and light. Pearls were once thought to be the tears of the gods. MOTHER-OF-PEAR] Amber I he shells symbolism With its bright golden is clear from its name sheen, amber was - u is the mother oi the much-prized pearl thought to be congealed and as such represents fertility and birth lis sunlight; in ancient luster .\\nd iridescence tiieeee n was sacred to the sun god, Apollo. make it perfeel for In Norse and Greek honoring the gods myth amber was thought to be tears - 1 [ere, tiny casts have lor the Vikings it was been placed into the shell of this pearl Freya's tears for mussel to ( reate Svipdag, .uu\\ loi i In' images oi the Buddha. Creeks it was tears shed over the death ol Phaeton CORAI , ITS I \\\\ hen in direct contact Ivory with the skin, jet was 496 believed to become a Be< ause ol its color, part of a person's body or is a symbol ol 1 and soul and to purit) and so is safeguard the wearei ll assot iated with the could protect against Virgin; n was a favored poisons, illnesses, anil material loi c rue ifbees storms In the Nth Ivory is also assoi iated century jet became with moral strength. associated with death An ivory tower and mourning, and represents detachment was worn as a symbol from the world, ol love loi a losi hiend possibly through ,u rogani e or inlellei lu.il piiismts 38

Preciol s Matter Gold S R\\ l1 1 Regarded as the most precious of metals, gold is a symbol of all that has the highest value or is die hardest to attain. The Linked to the moon ultimate prize-winners are gold medalists, perfect times are\" as color. known as \"golden eras, and treasured items as worth their silver is bright, but also weight in gold In most cultures gold is linked to the sun, giver of light, lire, and life. The sun god Apollo, symbol of all that is radiant and beautiful, rode a chariot of gold across the skies. turns vicing the corruptible side ol Olympic cold EMBI : The sun's Gold k\\i i i XIV, symbolize the extent human nature, which Awarded lor excellence oj the King's powei TH! S needs cleansing. In in a given held, the gold K In the 1850s and China silver is the medal is the most highly \"gold fever\" spread a< sought alter pi lunar, feminine yin. in symbol ol exceptional the American continent as achievement Christianity it is punty. thousands ol fortune chastity, and eloquence hunters panned riverbeds for gold. Gold's power to corrupt lends it a negative St N KING .ell as positive Louis \\1Y of France was known for his extravagant symbolism, representing and opulent lifestyle. Nicknamed the Sun King the sins of idolatry and alter the sun god Ap gi eed - as in the legend of he adopted King Midas. the golden Copper emblem of The power of copper to conduct has made it the sun to symbolize his power symbolic oi connection and his imponance In alchemy it is in the in the world. sphere ol Venus, and .inked to warmth and femininity Among North American u copper denoted status U \\n fft MW-SIZEDJAR Golden offering Lead's cheapness made This Chinese ornamental jar. In Thailand worshipers honor Buddha by pressing tmi il for pilgrims made ol beaten gold, is as tall as a woman The detailed scenes leaves of pure gold onto h mmemorating image Over the years, th depicted on lt^. surface took a shnne As the hea\\ team ol goldsmiths more layers of gold render Buddha metal, lead symbo than a year to complete lorm almost unrecognizable well as a Crystal in or a rx il symbolizes purity. clarity, and also the burdened by sin mind. In Christians a >all represents the Iron world ol the light o Jsare widely ility . and rule with thought to have magical pow alian be aboriginals a < rystal is a symbol real and In the Bib: spun Crystal ball of the future, and In the ru LODI MOM wearing a < rystal is thought to promote health •ted lis magnetic properties S/l ILSO C ms! \\| I imbued lodestone with GOLOH quasi-sexual pow< * h' In ancient ( was believed that a man could ensure his wife s faithfulness In R(K K plain- tone igth and under hei pillow while Pi Mtl i the «.\\mhol ol S she slept In Sanskrit ting from the Greek r. ti unih. the word lor li ish a huge meai J in Si \\ kin. i i hinese the word is>

Nature -*ije'i***di-**?*?**?^fc>*^*'*******-%^ Precious Stones Fetishes, amulets, and talismans have played an Bt'FFALO FETISH important part in ever)' culture and continue to do At one time, Native Americans used fetishes to Diamond, symbol of so to this day. From the early Egyptian and South help control the lorces of nature and to tackle problems in their even-day lives. The fetish did power and wealth not contain any innate power; its spirit force was given to a by us owner. American civilizations to the oldest cultures in the East, people have imbued stones with supernatural powers. There are stones to control the elements, calm the winds, and still rough seas, and others to work directly on the body, stimulating vital organs or creating a sense of well-being. There are stones for particular days of the week, and stones for the different months. Stones that capture and reflect light, such as moonstones and star sapphires, are deemed to bring good luck. Agates, with central wTiite rings carved into watchful \"guardian eyes,\" can neutralize the power of the evil eye. The meaning of gemstones The symbolism of stones varies depending on their color, their form, and the use to which they arc put. For example, cut and faceted gemstones symbolize the soul set free from ihe base exterior of the human body. :OND v Wings Lapis lazuli Sapphire Amethyst CADUCEUS In Mesopotamia this transcend) blue stone symbolized lake lapis lazuli, This is the stone of BROOCH the heavens and so was sapphire symbolizes humility, peace of mind, M< r< 1113 's wit used to decorate the the blue ol the heavens piety, and resignation. Twin snakes of tellings of temples In good and evil _ v bnnj> han and also the heavenly It was associated with pi 11 was used to Bacchus, god ol wine, i from strife adorn statues ol the attributes ol truth, and was thought to f gods, while in Europe it cure drunkenness. It was viewed as a cure for chastity, and became a symbol of melancholy and level contemplation. The In China 11 symbolized star sapphire is a sobriety, possibly vision, and was used to powerful good-luck because water in an i harm Its three shafts amethyst jug looked diseases of the eye. ol light are thought to represent faith, hope, like wine, but had no and destiny. intoxicating effect Ruby Diamond brock h Emerald Topaz Ql I l/AU OAU. :> \\M> EAR™ In India this is the king The most prized as well Legend has it that I his stone was also of stones and is emeralds are found in Aztec turquoise mask generally associated as the hardest stone, the widely believed to cure the nests ol griffins poor vision. According Turquoise was highly valued in Mesoamcru a royalty, dignity, diamond is associated to Si llildegard, the and was often used in representations ol gods, or Revered and powerful patient had to place a tied to weapons to ensure accurac y I lie Aztec s zeal, and power. In with incorruptibility stones, emeralds are (ailed it the stone of the gods In ancient Egypl Burma rubies were thought to enhance the topaz m wine for a turquoise was thought to lie protective Ihe stone thought to confer and invincibility. Its memory, sharpen the is symbolic ol courage, fulfillment, and success. transparency and wits, and, when placed period of three days. invulnerab purity make it also a under the tongue, help symbol of constancy I lien, on going to bed, especial!;.- if they were and sincerity. Here, in predicting the he had to rub his eyes embedded in the teeth diamond snakes or flesh so that they entwine a staff of future. The emerald the moistened emeralds in a winged has been used as an sti me to effect a cure. ame a part of the caduceus, symbol of antidote for poison In the 15th century medicine as the healing and a treatment of eye topaz was thought to allegedly pi union of opposites. disease, dysentery, and heal plague sores. leprosy. Due ti 1 wounding by color, the emerald is a A Roman physic ian symbol of spring, of swords, or guns Worn fertility, and of ram. claimed man)' successes ing open sores as jewelr may with a stone thai had ward li' longed to two popes. 1 and 40

Precious Stones Wearing one's Opal Agate Maori lucky charm, Wu Year dragons hel tiki amulet, that keeps birthstone is The opal is the national Agate has been thought emblems of good luck to cure insomnia, to fail spirits away thought to be lucky stone ol Australia, as ensure pleasant dreams, Jade symbolized by this to protect the wearer These are the most brooch Shakespeare from danger, and to In China this is the most precious viewed the opal as a stone, symbolizing purity, common birthstones: endow a person with perfection, andirnmortalit) January - Gamet symbol of inconstancy. Bridegrooms give their fiancees jade although its Christian a bold heart. Its February - Amethyst popularity has been butterflies to represent their eternal March - Aquamarine associations are fidelity, widespread. In Sudan, April - Diamond ove. Jade is similarly valued by May - Emerald Sjrayer, and religious agate amulets - black June - Pearl Mesoamencan Indians, who adorn July - Ruby error It is generally with a white circle to held to be unlucky the masks of their gods with it. The ..List - Peridot (except lor October's look like an eye - Spanish amquistadores believed it September - Sapphire children\"*, although this were carried as healed hip and kidney complaints. October - Opal belief almost certainly November - Topaz guardian spirits to December - Turquoise comes from the fact counter the effects of that opal breaks very the evil eye. Black agate easily Jewelers disliked stands for courage, working with it, and their misgivings turned vigor, and prosperity. red for long life and into popular myth spiritual love. Religion, superstition, and magic The nse of Christianity did little to dispel the belief in the magic properties of stones. Jewelers began to include pectoral crosses and rock crystal reliquaries in their range, and it Crucifix Large and small was not uncommon in Spain and Italy to crosses ensure festoon children with protective jewelry. mbract Cornelian Moonstone This Spanish child is armed with an all- Pamandei Red stones were So named because it thought to be powerful red spng of coral, a protective Contains captures the sheen of spices to stimulating to the the moon, this stone fist, and a host of Chnstian symbols safeguard is sacred in India and circulator)- system and is Widely believed to of salvation against the cornelian was bring good fortune. infection deemed particularly Legend has it that a Patron saint valuable to those timid person who places a The child is safeguarded in speech or weak of moonstone in his by her patron saint voice. In the West it is viewed as a stone of mouth when the moon Spng of coral * self-confidence, courage is full will be able to let with power* against magic spell* and health In the East it is thought to protect see into the futi Muldihifr lozenge the wearer from other I'cn to help them people's envj It is symbolic ol the moon, ol tenderness, .1 spirits at I and ol lovers ( tern bed fist gainst See also \\/lli II RCM Ols| MVskli Diamond bkocx i BlOODSTONE 1 Mis I \\/l I I his stone was I'mi 101 s STONI i thought to contain the w^>~/*^rvvy: mwmum blood ol |eSUS Mis' Rlin. ion si PERSTTTION, \\Mi MACII 1 I be magical li could r allegedly cause thunder, lightning, and tempests k-^,'%^%- mi a practical level, bloodstone was used to stem nosebleeds and hemorrhaging When made u jewelry, it is symbolic ol peace and understanding % •%-%'%^^'*--%^%^%^ 4I

i Nature 15 ry French mam s< rim Gardens The literature of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia is full of the imagery of the garden: the garden represents Paradise and the abode of the soul. Chinese and Vietnamese emperors had tombs built in exquisite, tranquil gardens, which they visited during their lives and where they were eventually buried. The biblical Garden of Eden symbolized the state of perfection from which Adam and Eve fell, while the walled garden with a narrow opening was a visual representation of the wall of purity that surrounded the Virgin Mary. Walled gardens The- medieval walled garden was a -a mbol of the womb and the feminine, protective principle. It symbolized privacy, secrecy, and virginit) The walled garden had powerful religiou> symbolism, representing spiritual enlightenment Chinese and Roman tomb gardens were the earthly counterparts of the gardens of heaven In medieval literature was an allegory foi courtly love (as here), with symbols of lo\\ e beauty, and other pleasu Gardens of Spain I \"i \\rabs living in the desert, a garden was the i arthly symbol oi uni Paradise, des< ribed in the Koran as a place oi spreading shade, with fountains \"I gushing watei I he i n.ii was a symbol i 'I everlasting life I he fi 'Hi fold oi ( ourtyard, garden with a lountain in the center spread with the Moors to The Garden' of Earthly Df i ; southern Spain n1 1> Grotto 1510 some of the lowliest examples can be seen in the grounds ol the In ancient Greece This panel from a triptych, i Alhambra at Granada. sacred rites were a three-paneled painting, conducted in grottoes, by the Flemish painter Fountains and so grottoes were Hieronymus Bosch depicts the In Babylonian created in (..reek and tradition, four rivers biblical Garden of Eden. Here, watered Paradise, and Roman gardens as in the Bible, the the first humans. Adam and Fountain of Life is artifu i.il ta\\es in source of the rivers. lived in harmony with This symbolism is reinforce the magical nature and the animals in a d in lormal 'ink between tin state of natural innocence - -pean gardens in garden and nature until they were banished from which four paths lead In Renaissance times, Parad Onhe Fall. the to a central fountain the grotto was right is a detail showing reintroduced as an nature rur. essential elemeni ol ( lassical garden design 42

Gardens Formal irdens itOtUS through c>/ the I: ordering oj nature Kn VERSAI1 I I s The Orangery at Versailles, Fi. The formal grandeur LOVl KNOTS SlLXTR BAY of Louis XI V's paku c WlSHlNC, Will Knot gardens are made TREE and gardens at \\ symbol ol the Versailles have a up o( interlaced bands Bai tree feminine, life-giving of shrubbery, each The evergreen political significance. bay tree is a symbol of principle, the with a central motif. immortality and victory. Known as the Sun They were popular in Small bay trees are often been believed to England in the 16th King. Loin- wanted to have magical properties century, and reflected cultivated in pots as a show his supremacy A ^oin tossed into its contemporary- by conquering and needlework designs. symbol of honor and depths could make a Knots, representing irking the natural wish come true links and binding, are longevity. landscape so that his symbols of love and surroundings reflected matrimony. They also his own status. The symbolize fate and ward off evil grand scale of Versailles was a conscious symbol of the power of absolute monarchy Ornaments A garden < an be seen as a symbol of the natural world, and Is I considered honu all kinds lbbot's Garden of 1 thesi from the Zen garden gods and Beautiful, bare rock Koine to the humb gardens are i reated in gnome ol c elik origin Zen Buddhist * '.! ! monasteries in |apan I mB( ri to represeni the See aj s<> it has The columns thai universe in Hour I irdens only since the enclo Man microcosm Some have II alment \"./(. or court) raked sand, the Dr) (,\\kl>l\\ .'F EOEl ' evil hoed m a I andscape garden in I 1>\\I kSl'l I irney garden with t r*.-li t • Kyoti nid MAZI I nto overhung with \\iKs\\im i Bonsai pebbli ite in red I provii and I he Japanese an ol miniature the growing minial unpi symb1 ,ii. islands mastery ovei natui I his illusion is ni from generatioi intended I ultimate truth, ration, thi and the womb; th< mbol ol immortalit) h is an aid to this meditation 45

Nature fu#£ Trees The tree has symbolic significance in cultures throughout the world. It represents the Great Mother in her nourishing, sheltering form. Rooted in the earth, it draws water from the ground and reaches up to the heavens Ouve branches: and eternity, acting as a world axis. It is closely linked to the Willow Palm symbolism of the pillar and the mountain. Individual trees, symbols of peace n the Weste As an important food the weeping willow is source the palm was types of trees, and groups of trees all have particular associations. For associated with death equated with the tree and mourning, and it oi life in the Near East. example, evergreen trees symbolize immortality, whereas fruit-bearing trees In ancient Egypt it was is often depicted in sacred to the sun god, are often seen as trees of life, and forests or groves tend to be magical places funerary art. In China Re, and represented and Japan however, it where mysterious or momentous events occur. is a symbol oi spring, the fertility of the of feminine beauty, and grace. In Taoism crops. In Judaism it is the willow, pliable in an emblem of Judea; in strong winds, represents strength. Christianity of Christ's entry into Jerusalem Tree of km mi edge - Sycamori maim i Cherry Laurel Symbol of temptation, the tree of knowledge grows in Paradise and bears To ancienl 1 gyptians, In China and |apan the Sacred to Apollo and a this was a celestial cherry is a national symbol of immortality the fruit of good and evil. As Adam succumbs to Eve's enticements and tree, a form ol the sky and victory, the laurel goddess, Nut Its leaves emblem and its was said by Greeks and takes a bite of the apple, he defies the will of God, signif) ing both his loss provide shade, which Romans to be physically svmbolized peace and blossom is a symbol ol and spiniually cleansing, of innocence and his downfall - Adam falls from grace and \"mankind is spring, femininity, and and to repel lightning rest in the afterlife the youth. In English lore doomed. In this Spanish painting. Eve blames the serpent, her tempter fruit yields a milky a cherry nee planted Worn as a wreath, it and itself a symbol of evil near the house brings substance, and so was luck, and the luckiest symbolized the poet and excellence in the associated with fertility lovers are those who sciences and arts. and nourishment meet for the first time 17k candles under a cherry nee an- symbolit The Christmas tree oj Jesus, the light o] the Widespread throughout Europe and North world\" America the Christmas tree is a symbol Beech PlNl Yew of Christ as redeemer ol original sin 1 he ornaments on its branches represent the Associated with death, The yew tree has apples from the tree in the Garden of Eden the beech is sacred to The custom of decorating an evergreen poisonous seeds and tree goes back to the pre-Christian Hades and Cybele, the needles and so period ol taw nights\" (December 25 to mother of Zeus, and January 6), when people would hang represents death. It has represents prosperity, mgreen brain lies their houses and become symboln. ol divination, and mourning and is often light candles to keep evil spirits immortality. Because of found in English at bay its leather)' leaves and churchyards; however, bark the beech As an evergreen the pine as an evergreen it also i durance, symbolizes immortality. symbolizes immortality and the Freemason's In Japan it has come to and was grown in hammer is made of beech wood. The signify strength of Celtic sacred groves. In beech tree is the character and vital the Middle Ages it was used as an antidote to emblem of Denmark. lue to its enchantment .ithstand strong winds. In both Holly In Roman times holly was East a the part of the Saturnalia festival pinec celebrated in mid-December and ft is an In Christian lore it symbolizes both the crown i 'I thorns, due to its spiked leaves and blood- attribute oi the Greek red berries, and the joy of Christmas god Bacchus, and an emblem of Jup Venus, and Diana. 44

Trees -%^%^%^%^%^*^%^ L.IM1 OR I IND1 N Ac \\CTA Sacred trees With its red and white In Europe the lime, or (lowers, the acacia was A reverence For trees, and even tree linden, tree represents sacred to the ancient worship, is widespread thoughout Egyptians, symbolizing the world. Main traditions speak beauty, and ol a tree of life - a tree that is femininity In German) birth and death Then- the central point and pivot and Scandinavia it was gods were said to haw- of the world. This tree links been born beneath an heaven and earth since it is believed to repel acacia tree. The sacred rooted in the underworld, but its branches reach up to lightning and to cure wood ol the Hebrew the heavens, symbolizing ase it touched by man's striving for perfection tabernacle was that of The Scandinavians have someone w ho was sick. Yggdrasil, Buddhists have the \"shittah,\" or acacia the bodhi tree, and Muslims kneel on carpets tree. In Europe it embroidered with trees of symbolizes immortality life when praying toward Mecca. Christ is sometimes shown crucified on the tree of knowldge in the Garden of Eden, symbolizing redemption. Ml I BERR^ Mali vol nt serpent attach the roots This tree's berries npen MPi l Yggdrasil in three stages white- represents youth, red ie plur Yggdrasil is the evergreen ash tree that, in its mythological form, represents the entuc world lis trunk represents th< gorous middle an emblem ol wiitnter years, and black the l central axis ol the universe, and from beneath its roots npeness ol wisdom, age, bubble the rivers - the waters ol wisdom. and death This tree symbolizes the sun In Japan the tree and is a tree of life in China. In Greek myth it represents the fleeting :hl. 01 is a tree of misfortune. '\"(in, eru irele joy and innocence Buddha's bod\") youth, its beautilul blossom a symbol ol Pr.NA I R spring triumphing over winter, and virtue and HANGING courage triumphing In this 19th- difficulties. century example a Buddha under a bodhi tree stylized tree ol life todhi tree, a type ol fig, is symbolic is intricately ol the Buddha s Enlightenment, which he attained while meditating woven into the design. Muslim in< hes Bodhi trees are often grown in monaster) grounds as prayei rugs often depict this a remindei ol this event powerful symbol ol asceni and salvation The faithful kneel and . theii prayers on a tree ol lite ( ypu ss M\\Rll ( d with Pluto. d ie Venus and to Oak ! death. the Egyptian godd< Often associated with the thunder gods, the oak Si i ILSO | Hathor, myrtle brii meel iii the earth luno, lupiter, Beei ' I immortality luck to lovers and and to the ( elik god Donai In i lima n represents n in Is In ( hina it ish bridal th since ii t>I Ml R Iki i hit but mhol ol d in the wind and \\( !>R\\ 'he feminine ilm immortal,' so bi i hristians As the seed ol the ne, happiness, .md ii is.i symbol ol ( hrisi s mighty oak. the acorn Palm i videspread symbol SVI UMOU ' mampeace in cull while m >....Hk\\s|| I* '. ludaism ii is a symbol ol lit' ndina\\ ia the gods In dreams it ol the divine : H is s.u red 10 I hoi, and signit rity irope the oak ol ol fertilii and a rijx- old stand ism life, and immonalit) 43

Nature *-***^ Plants Plants echo the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. They were closely If connected with the mother goddesses of many cultures and with fertility A: ./ Myths from around the world often feature a human or a god changing ' into a plant, or a plant sprouting from the dead body of a god. Wheat and herbs, for instance, grew from the body of the Egyptian god Osins. Often the f symbolism of plants is more direct, based on their shape, color, smell, or habitat. The fact that ivy for example, covers many old university Acanthus buildings has meant that the term \"ivy-league\" now symbolizes a respected This thistlelike plant has large, thorny leaves and takes its name from the Greek akc, meaning and long-established place of learning. sharp point. The distinctive leaves, caned in stone or marble, are commonly seen on classical buildings, particularly on Corinthian capitals (.shown above). Acanthus leaves signify the arts, or a love of the arts, while in Christianity the thorns symbolize pain and punishment for sin. Reeds Bamboo The pi. Shamrock form th Rushes and reeds mbol of pliability, Once an Arabian symbolize flexibility grace, and strength 'hcaddi because they sway in because it bends in the the mart religious symbol, the the wind. Pan's pipes wind but does not shamrock, or clover, were made of reeds. break, bamboo is Mandrake's was also adopted by odd-shaped Di \\m\\ nightshade central to the cultures roots gi\\c the Christians. Its three- Also known as devil's impression of of the Far East. As its a man's bods leaves signify the Holy bernes. the fruits of this shoots are alv. Trinity: Father, Son, plant look edible, yet green, it symbo and Holy Spirit The are highly poisonous. longevity. Bamboo's straight, jointed stem plant is the emblem of It is a symbol of symbolizes the path Ireland and of its patron deception and and the steps toward Asaint, St. Patrick. four- enlightenment in danger. Chinese philosophy, leaved clover is thought and it is often depicted to bnng the finder luck. in paintings. I . FROM Symbolic of 12TH-1 ENTURY fertility and growth MEDICAL TR! , \\es on a dog's bach - to the met! uprooting it Wheat Ivy For the Like most evergreens, ancient Greeks wheat was the ivy is associated with symbol of the goddess Demeter, while the Lmmortalit) , but it is Egyptians associated it with the resurrection M \\N DRAKE also a plant of death, of the slain god Osiris. Ears of wheat motifs in drawing vital moisture Christian churches signify Christ's body This plant, with its from trees. Sacred to and also his rebirth. human-shaped roots, has been Dionysus, the Greek considered magical since the time of the ^s god of wmc shown i ancient Egyptians. When uprooted, it was said above trailing ivy), it to utter a shriek that killed anyone in earshot, so a 1 was thought to cure dog was used to carry out the task. Mandrake is a symbol of enchantment, fertility, and prosperity. drunkenness when wom as a garland 46