Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization

A classic introduction to Indian art by acclaimed scholar Heinrich Zimmer

In this landmark study of Indian art and religion, Heinrich Zimmer offers a compelling introduction to the visual language of India’s sacred traditions. Featuring seventy illustrations and drawing directly from Sanskrit sources, Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization explores the meanings of key motifs in myth, legend, and folklore. With clarity and insight, the book reveals how Hindu and Buddhist symbols express timeless human concerns in ways that resonate across cultures and eras.

Heinrich Zimmer (1890-1943) was an Indologist, linguist, and historian of South Asian art. His books include The Art of Indian Asia, Philosophies of India, and The King and the Corpse (all Princeton). Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) was the author of many books on comparative mythology, including The Hero with a Thousand Faces and The Masks of God.