Gold in culture

Thesis titled Gold in Culture deals with the phenomenon of gold as a part of the human cul ture. It shows the role of gold in the human cultural history. Based on the basic syllabus, that the phenomenon of gold must be explored in two peculiar levels, material and symbolical, the thesis has been composed to interpret gold especially in context with human history, the history of the corporeal culture and the human imagination. Preamble chapter defines gold and its elementary physical and chemical characteristics, due to which this metal gained its irreplaceable position in the human culture. Next extensive chapter describes the evolvement of the relationship between gold and men, gold mining and gold processing in various historical period s, but also deals with its influence on shaping history of humankind, followed by chapter in which the symbolic and materiallevel of gold organically pervade. Further chapters analyze symbolic approach to gold in mythology, fairy-tales, legend s and Christianity. Last chapter is devoted to the reversed symbolism of gold in the Thomas More utopia. Thesis therefore summarizes the existing knowledge by every means related to the theme of gold into the convincing culturally historical study, in a way that exceeds the limits of the various fields of historical science towards..