Shows that myth and symbol constitute a mode of thought that not only came before that of discursive and logical reasoning, but is an essential function of human consciousness. The author analyzes powerful and ubiquitous symbols that have ruled the mythological thinking of East and West in many times and at many levels of cultural development. Foreword 9(1) The Rediscovery of Symbolism 9(3) Symbolism and Psychoanalysis 12(4) The Survival of Images 16(5) The Plan of the Book 21(6) Symbolism of the ``Centre'' 27(30) The Psychology and History of Religions 27(6) History and Archetypes 33(4) The Image of the World 37(4) Symbolism of the ``Centre'' 41(6) Symbolism of Ascension 47(4) Construction of a ``Centre'' 51(6) Indian Symbolisms of Time and Eternity 57(35) The Function of the Myths 57(3) Indian Myths of Time 60(2) The Doctrine of the Yugas 62(5) Cosmic Time and History 67(4) The ``Terror of Time'' 71(2) Indian Symbolism of the Abolition of Time 73(4) The ``Broken Egg'' 77(2) The Philosophy of Time in Buddhism 79(3) Images and Paradoxes 82(3) Techniques of the ``Escape from Time'' 85(7) The ``God Who Binds'' and The Symbolism of Knots 92(33) The Terrible Sovereign 92(3) The Symbolism of Varuna 95(4) ``Binding Gods'' in Ancient India 99(4) Thracians, Germans, Caucasians 103(2) Iran 105(2) Ethnographic Parallels 107(3) The Magic of Knots 110(2) Magic and Religion 112(3) The Symbolism of ``Limit-Situations'' 115(4) Symbolism and History 119(6) Observations on the Symbolism of Shells 125(26) The Moon and the Waters 125(3) The Symbolism of Fecundity 128(5) The Ritual Functions of Shells 133(2) The Part Played by Shells in Funerary Beliefs 135(9) The Pearl in Magic and Medicine 144(4) The Myth of the Pearl 148(3) Symbolism and History 151(28) Baptism, the Deluge, and Aquatic Symbolism 151(9) Archetypal Images and Christian Symbolism 160(12) Symbols and Cultures 172(3) Remarks upon Method 175(4) Index 179