The Symbolical Language of Ancient Art and Mythology: An Inquiry (1818) by Richard Payne Knight is a foundational scholarly work that explores how ancient civilizations used symbols, rather than words, to convey complex religious, spiritual, and cosmic ideas. Knight, a prominent British connoisseur and collector, analyzes art and mythology from Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Indian cultures to uncover the hidden, often esoteric, meanings behind their figures and myths.