num_pages: 270
description: From the EditorOneirocritical or the Interpretation of Dreams by Artemidorus Daldianus(An English translation of a 2nd-Century A.D. Greek classic.) Oneirocritica is the most comprehensive, the most sought-after and the most quoted book on dream interpretation to have been written from antiquity to present times. This is more than an elaborate dream dictionary. Artemidorus, a 2nd-Century professional dream-interpreter, tried to impart to his son, and thus to anyone reading this book today, the basic principles he followed, to reveal the dreamer's psyche and future. All human cultures have entertained the common belief that dream images, like words in a language foreign to us, have hidden meanings trying to convey the secrets of our personality or of our future. We are therefore fortunate to have Professor White's superb translation of this unique work on dream interpretation, coming to us from an early professional of this ancient art. Artemidorus writes: 'I have not relied upon conjectures here, nor have I constructed a system of probabilities. My writing is based on personal experience. I myself have observed, in each occasion, how these dreams have come true.'Quote from Oneirocritica of Artemidorus Daldianus, Book I: '31. 'Tooth dreams are open to many different interpretations...upper teeth represent the more important and excellent members of the dreamer's household; the lower, those who are less important. For we must interpret the mouth as a house and the teeth as the inhabitants of a house....'39. The right side signifies the men; the left side, the women...Furthermore, the so-called incisor teeth or front teeth signify the young; the canine teeth, the middle-aged; the molars... old people. Therefore the type of person he is to lose is indicated by the type of tooth he loses. 'But since the teeth signify possessions as well as people, we must regard the grinders as representing treasures; the canine teeth, as objects of no great value; the incisors, as household objects. And so it is quite reasonable that some of the teeth, when they fall out, signify the loss of these possessions. '40. The teeth, moreover, also signify the functions of life...And so, when these teeth fall out, impediments to the functions that correspond to them will follow. Let us now indicate the distinctions. If a debtor dreams that any of his teeth fall out, regardless of their type, it signifies that he will pay off his debt.'This first-time complete translation into English of the Oneirocritica, is enriched by Professor White's in-depth commentary on the text and on the vast Greek and Roman culture of Artemidorus' time. The extensively revised index pages of this second edition are designed to be of help to curious readers trying to make sense of their own dreams. Also, from a desire to be helpful, dream subjects or symbols, of which Artemidorus wrote, have been highlighted in boldface by the publisher. Michael Wurmbrand (origbks@wgn.net), editor of Original Books, Inc.
language: English
title: Interpretation of Dreams: Oneirocritica
titlecomplete: Interpretation of Dreams: Oneirocritica
genres: Classics, Philosophy, Ancient History, Psychology, Nonfiction
ratings_count: 69
publisher: Original Books