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Signs and Symbols: An Illustrated Guide to Their Origins and Meanings (DK Compact Culture Guides) Hardcover – Illustrated, June 16, 2008
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For thousands of years, humans have communicated through a language of signs and symbols. From uniforms to body adornment and corporate logos, symbols are everywhere, and this book is your guide to their secret meanings and history.
The Sun as well as the night sky with its stars and planets has long been used to symbolize supernatural forces. Learn about this and also how humans have used patterns, numbers, clothing, and more to signal authority, kinship, and status. Signs & Symbols decodes over 2000 emblems, explaining the visual language of architecture, heraldry, religion, and death. It answers questions such as why, for example, Christianity is symbolized by a fish, or how the Chinese use the crane bird to signify longevity.
This comprehensive book also explores how certain gemstones or flowers became linked to personal qualities and how the alphabet and national flags came into being.
Signs & Symbols will open your eyes to the fascinating world of symbolism that is embedded in every area of our lives.
- Print length352 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherDK
- Publication dateJune 16, 2008
- Dimensions7.75 x 1.19 x 9.19 inches
- ISBN-100756633931
- ISBN-13978-0756633936
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| Price | $19.79$19.79 | $15.19$15.19 | $36.07$36.07 | $25.72$25.72 | $18.31$18.31 |
| What It's About | Decode the language behind ancient signs and symbols — discover the roots of fertility symbols and the meaning behind modern logos. Six sections cover the history of symbols from religion, ancient civilizations the stars and more! | Dive into the world of legends and mysterious myths with this brilliant guide to all elusive folklore. Learn about the beginning of the universe through Japenese mythology or who brought death to the world in the eyes of the Maori myths. | Described as the longest poem ever written, this Sanskrit epic of India from 3rd century BCE still carries truth and wisdom in our day. A story of conflict, tragedy, love and death with ancient roots is celebrated with incredible artwork and honor. | Discover the tale of Rama, the exiled prince of Ayodhya and his battle with the evil king, Ravana. A tale of good versus evil, love, friendship and loyalty. Timeless lessons taught in a modern world with beautiful images makes the text unforgettable. | From the ancient art of Alchemy to the Wiccan religion and modern chaos Magic — this text covers all the mysteries enjoyed by mystics. See key Deities, practices, spells, symbols and more with this practical guide to magic. |
| Features Vivid Imagery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Includes Historical Materials | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Pages | 352 | 352 | 512 | 392 | 320 |
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
DK was founded in London in 1974 and is now the world's leading illustrated reference publisher and part of Penguin Random House, formed on July 1, 2013. DK publishes highly visual, photographic nonfiction for adults and children. DK produces content for consumers in over 87 countries and in 62 languages, with offices in Delhi, London, Melbourne, Munich, New York, and Toronto. DK's aim is to inform, enrich, and entertain readers of all ages, and everything DK publishes, whether print or digital, embodies the unique DK design approach. DK brings unrivalled clarity to a wide range of topics with a unique combination of words and pictures, put together to spectacular effect. We have a reputation for innovation in design for both print and digital products. Our adult range spans travel, including the award-winning DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, history, science, nature, sport, gardening, cookery, and parenting. DK’s extensive children’s list showcases a fantastic store of information for children, toddlers, and babies. DK covers everything from animals and the human body, to homework help and craft activities, together with an impressive list of licensing titles, including the bestselling LEGO® books. DK acts as the parent company for Alpha Books, publisher of the Idiot's Guides series and Prima Games, video gaming publishers, as well as the award-winning travel publisher, Rough Guides.
Product details
- Publisher : DK; Illustrated edition (June 16, 2008)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 352 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0756633931
- ISBN-13 : 978-0756633936
- Item Weight : 2.64 pounds
- Dimensions : 7.75 x 1.19 x 9.19 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #25,462 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

We believe in the power of discovery. That's why we create books for everyone that explore ideas and nurture curiosity about the world we live in.
From first words to the Big Bang, from the wonders of nature to city adventures, you will find expert knowledge, hours of fun and endless inspiration in the pages of our books.
www.dk.com
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From crosses to triangles, colors to flowers, symbols permeate art, myth, fairytales and movies. Most everyone knows that a heart pierced by an arrow symbolizes love, as well as that of a red rose. But have you ever considered how that association came to be made?
What about the pyramid on a dollar bill, "the finger", or the significance of the red string bracelet worn by Kabbalists? Or what does it mean that Bill Clinton "points" with his thumb when giving a speech or that kohl lined the eyes of Ancient Egyptian women? Where is the subtle symbol concealed in the FedEx emblem that earned it one of the top eight logos in modern design history?
You'll find the answers to these questions and many more in DK's book Signs & Symbols. At 352-pages with full color illustrations, many in shiny gold, this hardcover reference book is chock full of fascinating tidbits on the origin, lore and associations of thousands of signs and symbols.
Here are just some of topics covered in DK's Signs & Symbols:
* Fairytale motifs
* Religious and national symbols
* Body language, hobo signs, hand signals and symbolic gestures
* Weather, fire, air, water and earth
* Clothing, headwear, uniforms, body adornment and jewelry
* Modern phallic symbols (i.e. rockets, guns and guitars)
* Plants, herbs, flowers, food, trees and animals
* Buddhist mudras
* Emoticons, currency symbols and musical notation
* Fantastical beasts
* Art, theater, dance, masks and musical instruments
* Flags, crests and corporate logos
* Numerology, Magic Squares, Tarot Major Arcana, Palmistry and Runes
* Precious stones and metals
* Astrological, Mayan and Celtic glyphs
* Death, marriage, creation stories and rites of initiation
* Gematria, tetraktys and Sefirot of Kabbalah
* Monuments, architecture, home, gardens and mazes
Gorgeous as a coffee book or simply for leafing through, DK's Signs & Symbols offers magnificent eye-candy via lush photos, gold inking, illustrations, charts and accessible descriptions. As a reference book for writers, researchers, artists or the insanely curious, this book provides extraordinary insights into the patterns, archetypes and symbols found throughout history and modern surrounds.
-- Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book
Top reviews from other countries
This book is a fountain of knowledge for anyone interested in symbols and their historic, social and cultural significance.
The entries and chapters are intriguing but it's a dense read, which can be expected for any book in this format. Don't expect to sit down and read this cover to cover. It's much more a book you flip through section at a time, or when you want information about a specific entry.
A must have source book for anyone interested in the importance and significance signs and symbols play in the world in historical and contemporary contexts.



















