The Continuum Encyclopedia of Symbols [Hardcover]

Udo Becker (Author), Lance W. Garmer (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1994

"A scholarly compendium.... Exploring a wealth of objects and concepts, this encyclopedia traces symbols to their cultural, religious, or mythological origins". -- Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Becker, an international authority on symbols and semiotics, has compiled a collection of symbols useful in giving meaning to everyday life. Originally published in German as Lexikon der Symbole in 1992, this collection of 1500 entries and more than 600 illustrations is useful in some ways, but given the inestimable number of symbols in the world, each selection was a personal choice that meant the exclusion of some other entry. Entries vary in length from a sentence (e.g., for "Gothamites") to a page (e.g., for "number symbolism"). Both a general meaning and a cultural and/or geographic meaning are usually given. This book would be good for popular browsing, but as a reference tool it is not adequate. For a solider approach, stick to Hans Biedermann's scholarly Dictionary of Symbolism (LJ 9/1/92).
L. Kriz, Sioux City P.L., Ia.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Becker, an authority on semiotics (the theory of signs and symbols), has produced a scholarly compendium of symbols. Translated from the original German, more than 1,500 entries are arranged alphabetically, along with 800 illustrations, most of them in black and white, with an insert of colorplates. As he states in the foreword, the selection from the inestimable number of symbolic signs is always a personal one by the editor. Readers will find symbolic meanings for common objects, such as the rose, cross, and numbers, as well as the Greek god Tyche, valerian weed, and ancient mythical giant Ymir. Exploring a wealth of objects and concepts, this encyclopedia traces symbols to their cultural, religious, or mythological origins in 50-100 words. A short bibliography provides additional references. Dictionaries of symbols abound, and each covers some different symbols. Dictionary of Symbols [RBB Ja 1 92] has 1,500 symbols arranged by shape and is more strictly limited to graphic symbols. This new book gives the symbolic meaning of such things as hair, the desert, and sneezing, which are not written symbols. It would be appropriate for academic libraries that need additional sources in this area.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 345 pages
• Publisher: Continuum Intl Pub Group (Sd); 1st US edition (November 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826406440
• ISBN-13: 978-0826406446
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,419,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OK for starters..., January 14, 2007

By 

Dame Droiture (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Continuum Encyclopedia of Symbols (Paperback)

I purchased this book because I thought it would be an interesting/entertaining thing to have around, yet I am terribly glad that I did not pay full price for it. I immediately found that it leaves a lot to be desired and is poorly edited (it includes typos, a few missing illustrations, etc.). The cross-references are OK. Additionally, anything in this book is available to you on the internet - and in much greater detail. It is likely that Wikipedia will give you more help.

Its only consolation is that it can be used as a suitable jumping-off point if one feels the need to jump off of nowhere. If you have a topic in mind that you want to research, just go to the internet, or to your library. If you want to simply peruse, magazine-style, it works.