About the project
Encyclopedia of Symbols is built around a simple idea: a symbol needs a biography, not a fortune-cookie definition. The interesting questions are where it appeared, who used it, what it meant at the time and what later centuries managed to add, remove or completely misunderstand.
How a symbol is studied
Each entry follows the surviving evidence and the historical context. Religion, politics, folklore, popular culture and later esoteric readings can all change a sign, sometimes beyond recognition.
Research principle
Fact, scholarly hypothesis, folklore, late legend and modern reconstruction are kept apart. Mixing them would make a smoother story, but not a better reference book.