Harold Bayley
Subtitled: An Inquiry into the Origin of Certain Letters, Words, Names, Fairy-Tales, Folklore and Mythologies. Symbols tell a story but we must first know how to read them. Otherwise, one just sees a picture without the intended message. This book produces the key to understanding many important symbols. For centuries emblems and symbols have been used for trademarks, watermarks, and decorative purposes. These were covered well in Volume One. Volume Two moves into many sacred and mystical areas, covering such things as the heavenly twins, the white horse, the sign of the cross, fire and fire cults, standing stones and dolmens, gardens, fruits & flowers, the tree of life, Via Dolorosa and Jesus, and ends with a conclusion that brings both volumes together. There is a wealth of information to be found in this book because Bayley was a true master in etymology and the origins of words. The drawings are quite simple since they're either the earliest known version of the symbol or the artist was not that elaborate, but the information contained herein is unsurpassed. This book stands well on its own and Volume One does not have to be read first in order to understand it.
