MALE PROFESSOR: Now, when I say "gardens," I don't mean vegetable gardens,or simple flower gardens.

MALE PROFESSOR: These were lavishly constructed, finely detailed gardens that covered hundreds of acres,with exotic plants and ornamental statues.

MALE PROFESSOR: And they were just as much a symbol of their owner's social position as their palaces and villas were.

http://www.yygrammar.com/Article/201303/3171.html 在网站上，没有找到了类似的用法

我的理解是这里的as much = the same; 

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

as much

 as much

  : the same

   I helped her through the divorce–I know she would do as much for me. [=I know that she would help me if I were going through a divorce]

   He likes baseball but he likes hockey just as much.

   “Where is he?” “He's still at home.” “I thought as much.” [=I thought so; that is what I thought]

 And they were just as much a symbol of their owner's social position as their palaces and villas were=And they were just the same a symbol of their owner's social position as their palaces and villas were. 其中第二个as 为比较代词，指代a symbol of....position.

类似的，I have the same book as is laid on the desk.

请问老师，上述理解是否正确？如果正确，这里的the same a 中的a怎么处理呢？