The Continuum encyclopedia of animal symbolism in art

by Hope B. Werness

"The focus of this encyclopedia is on animals and their symbolism in diverse world cultures and in different eras of human history. Most entries on particular animals begin with brief zoological information, which includes the animal's scientific name and classification as well as its range, habitat, and behavior. Main, general entries on cultural, chronological, and geographical areas include cross-references to specific cultures discussed in greater detail. Other broader entries address the significance of animals in their own environments (e.g., architecture of animals, tool use by animals), and still others deal with animals in the human sphere (e.g., pet animal, zoo). The ways that people think about animals and what people do to and with animals as a result are discussed in more theoretical entries, such as anomalous animal, collectives, complementary duality. Finally, some entries deal with the ways in which animals are depicted (composition, X-ray images). The work concludes wi