This is the third revised and augmented English language edition of Carl G. Liungmans book Symboler, published in Sweden in 1974. The book was previously available in English as Dictionary of Symbols and Thought Signs. Since its appearance on the Internet in 1997, with much e-mail feedback from both scholars and laymen, Symbols -- Encyclopedia of Western Signs and Ideograms, has become the most complete and up-to-date edition ever published.

Book Description
Symbols--Encyclopedia of Western Signs and Ideograms contains approximately 2,500 Western signs. In 1,600 articles their histories, uses, and meanings are thoroughly discussed. The signs range from ideograms carved in mammoth teeth by Cro-Magnon men to modern corporate logos and subway graffiti.

A unique system for classifying signs according to graphic structure lets the reader look up the meaning of any sign in seconds. A comprehensive Word Index and a large number of cross-references throughout the book make it equally easy to find signs that are related to each other.

In addition, this edition contains 100 pages of in-depth articles on topics that are especially interesting from a symbologist's point-of-view -- such as the Mystical Pentagram, the Polarity of Meanings of Elementary Graphs, the Astrological System of Symbols, ancient American ideograms, and the signs of the Alchemists.

This book serves both as a resource for professionals and a general reference tool for anyone interested in our graphic cultural heritage.

Editorial Reviews
Symbols.com, an online limited version of this book, and previous editions were highly praised:

New York Times, February 4, 1999
Strange sign? 'Symbols' can help. Browsing is richly rewarded.

Library Journal, 1991

There is nothing else quite like this well-researched work.

USA Today, July 4, 1998

A decidedly offbeat but way-cool resource.

About the Author
Born 1938 in Stockholm Liungman spent his childhood in different parts of Sweden, and in Africa. He studied theoretical philosophy and psychology at the university of Lund. In 1970 he wrote his first book. It was about the concept of intelligence and the history of IQ-testing. It was translated to English, German, Spanish, Dutch, Danish and Norwegian.

In 1972 Liungman took an interest in semiotics, the science of communication with signs, and Western ideograms in particular. After two years of compilation the first version of his encyclopedia on Western ideograms was published in Sweden.