From the Breath Crystal and the Last Journey - This volume provides a comprehensive introduction to various aspects of metaphor. It illustrates the fundamental significance of metaphor for all forms of communication, ranging from everyday language to specialized terminology and poetry. The author distinguishes metaphor from related figures such as simile, metonymy, allegory, and symbol. It offers an overview of different theories of metaphor from Aristotle to cognitivism and finally presents interdisciplinary perspectives on metaphor, including linguistics, literary studies, philosophy, theology, computer science, politics, and economics. The focus is on the functioning of metaphors, which is explored particularly in relation to rhetorical and cognitive approaches. Examples from the press, specialized literature, and poetry are used for illustration.