The use of symbolism is an art, not a science. Different people use symbols in a variety of ways and each symbol can have diverse meanings, even within the same culture. Not surprisingly, determining the meaning of symbols can be difficult. This valuable reference defines the general symbolism of more than 15,000 terms, from ancient to modern, as well as specialized meanings in mythology, religion, art, literature, folklore, flower language, astrology, heraldry, numerology, and cultures the world over. From “0” to “Zu,” each entry catalogs all possible connotations, listed by culture when appropriate, creating the most comprehensive symbolism dictionary available.

Award-winning author Steven Olderr is a professional librarian living in Oak Park, Illinois.

Steven Olderr
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 234
Bibliographic Info:
Copyright Date: 2012
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6955-0
eISBN: 978-0-7864-9067-7
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

THE DICTIONARY      3

“a welcome addition to reference collections in public, college, and university libraries”—Choice; “valuable…fascinating…thorough…highly recommended”—ARBA; “this comprehensive resource, which includes more than 15,000 entries, is notable for its depth and variety”—Reference & Research Book News.