Gardens of the Gods: Myth, Magic and Meaning

Christopher McIntosh1860647405, 9781860647406

«Gardens of the Gods» reveals the symbolic language of garden design, exploring the gardens of China, with their moon gates and immortal rocks, the Zen gardens of Japan, the paradise gardens of Islam, those of Renaissance Italy with their richly mythological imagery, the landscaped parks of England, the gardens of New Harmony in the US and some striking, modern examples of symbolic gardens, including the Tarot Garden of the sculptress Niki de Saint Phalle in Italy. This illustrated book also includes a chapter with suggestions for creating a «garden of meaning» and a selected catalogue of plants with symbolic or mythological associations. Based on ten years of research, travel and curiostiy, this text is also the result of a personal quest – to reveal the mystical codes written in the astonishing worlds of gardens worldwide.

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Table of contents :
EEn……Page 1
Gardens of the Gods – Myth, Magic and Meaning……Page 2
Picture credits……Page 4
Copyright Info……Page 6
Dedication……Page 7
TOC……Page 8
List of Illustrations……Page 12
Acknowledgements……Page 14
Introduction……Page 16
1 – The Symbolic Language of Gardens……Page 20
2 – Balancing The Forces of Nature: Chinese and Japanese Gardens……Page 37
3 – A Foretaste of Paradise: The Islamic Garden and Its Forebears……Page 54
4 – Gardens of Gods and Gardens of Saints: Pagan and Christian Motifs in European Gardens……Page 65
5 – Ancient Mysteries Revived: The Renaissance Garden in Italy……Page 75
6 – Rosicrucian Marvels and Recreations of Eden: Late Renaissance Gardens in Europe……Page 88
7 – Theatres of Transformation: Symbolism in Baroque and Rococo Gardens……Page 95
8 – Visions of A New Elysium: Symbolism and Allegory in Gardens of the Eighteenth Century……Page 103
9 – The Symbol-Strewn Landscape: Initiatic Themes in European Gardens of The Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries……Page 110
10 – The Present Age……Page 132
11 – Connecting with Nature……Page 155
12 – Creating A Garden of Meaning……Page 167
Appendix – Some Plants and Their Associations……Page 184
Notes……Page 203
General Bibliography……Page 212
Index……Page 215