This information-packed volume is an accessible guide to archetypal symbols used in art and design from different cultures. Using a geographical approach, it not only explores the origins and meaning of each symbol, but also invites the reader to appreciate the artistic style of symbols within each culture and to compare them with similar motifs elsewhere in the world. After an introduction to symbolism and its use in art, the book continues to explore the figuration of symbols on a continent-by-continent basis. Each chapter shares the same thematic approach, allowing the reader to compare the different regional approaches for the representation of sacred figures, identities, symbolic systems, and allegories. Through beautiful color photographs the symbols are put into context, while the illustrations allow the reader to visualize everything from Egyptian hieroglyphs to Western heraldry. Rigorous yet accessible, this manual will captivate anyone who has ever been intrigued by the meaning and style of an Egyptian ankh, an exquisite Hindu mandala, or a magical pentagram.