Some of the most familiar icons we see around us every day—things we associate with luck or longevity, religion and magic—had deeper, more fascinating meanings at their inception. Since symbols predate writing as a way of communication, they became, for humanity, visual shorthand. Plants and animals, patterns and graphics, the cosmos, the human body—they each have played a significant part in the profound messages sent throughout the centuries. Complete with a reference section covering the major symbol systems, this volume offers a look at how symbolism constantly renews itself as a way for different cultures to give significance to human life.