Motifs and Symbolism

Zigzag Border
Running water. Without water, there is no life.

Eight Pointed Star
Sometimes called Solomon’s star or Mohammed’s jewel. This design is extremely old and probably meant spiritual revelation.

The 'S' Design
Also called hook. This design is used for strong relationship.

The Five Dots
Five important things for Moslems: 1. Pray five times a day. 2. Do Ramadan. 3. Go to Mecca. 4. Give to the poor. 5. Believe in Mohammed

Noah's Ark
This design is seen on was that come from Mt. Ararat region, where it is believed that Noah’s Ark laded after the flood. They feature many animal motifs which as well as having religious significance and representative of the natural environment of the weaver.

Phoenix
Symbol of immortality and rebirth

Women with Hands on Hips
Woven to denote fertility, motherhood is not only identified with fertility bu is symbol of scared duties of giving life to children and protecting them.

Eye
The most effective precaution against the “eye” which is regarding to be guilty or harmful and fatal looks sign for protection.

Love Birds
Love birds with heads facing each other s a sign of true love.

Triangles
Nomads weave this magic motif, i.e. the triangle of charm, into a corner of their carpets so that they are completed without any defect or trouble, and not affected by the evil eye. Newly-wed brides also fold their headscarves into a triangle, letting them drop behind, to denote a wish of productivity, fertility and charm.

Eagle
The ruler of the sky and an image of power and height, the eagle is a symbol of the sky and a healthy life because of its ability to look straight into the sun. The eagle, as the king of the birds, protects the people. An eagle with its head turned to the right symbolizes holiness and protection.

Wheat-Sheaf
It symbolizes rebirth and fertility, because one grain that falls to the soil produces hundreds of new grains. Women who weave this motif usually express a wish that their crops be plenty and bring abundance to their homes.

Goose Foot
It is believed that a goose foot inside a circle or triangle brings luck. Each toe of a goose foot symbolizes one of the rules in divine trio (Holiness, Productivity, Fertility)

Arrow
It is a symbol of courage and heroism. A woman who weaves this pattern into her carpet wants to say that her man is a strong and courageous person.

Human Being
A woman weaver often weaves herself, her family or a member of her family into her carpets, such as husband and wife or mother and daughter figures, and this usually represents the weaver’s expectation of a child.

Scorpion
Scorpions are in effect a natural disaster for nomads. They often break into the tent; their sting is very painful and may sometimes be deadly. A scorpion motif woven into a carpet symbolizes the instinct of protection against this animal. In the belief of nomads, a scorpion cannot approach a carpet if there is such a motif in it. The scorpion is also a symbol of “pride and liberty”. Hence a scorpion surrounded by fire commits suicide by stinging itself when it realizes that the circle of fire is insurmountable.

Stamp
Every tribe places a unique identification mark (stamp) on their carpets and kilims. These stamps not only serve the purpose of strengthening and promoting tribal unity but they are also woven so as to assist in sorting out or identifying the tribal origin of carpets which have been mixed or lost.

Camel
It is the most important means of transport for nomads. Reserving a place for them also in carpets denotes blessing for this obedient animal that has carried the goods of the tribe patiently and untiringly for many years.

Tree of Life
It is a big, tall tree which is believed to have grown out of the centre of the world, living for centuries, knowing the secrets of the world, and being close to the universal powers. It is a tree, which is regarded as the stairs of human journey from the underground to the sky, its knots grasping the world and its branches hosting the birds of Paradise. Denoting life and death, the Tree of life is often woven into carpets as an Anatolian motif. The birds of life that will fly away when the time comes. It is believed that after death spirits come to the branches of this tree to envoy endless happiness.

Dragon
Believed to live in every place, every climate and region, the sacred imaginary animal of the sea, sky, mountain and forest, the Dragon is a symbol of power, force and might for its ability to produce flames from its mouth and its supernatural appearance (multi-headed, multi-legged, multi-tailed, etc.)

Hair Band
This motif is frequently woven with a view to expressing desire for marriage

Wolf's Mouth
It is a symbol woven by nomads for protection against wild animals they frequently encounter in nature.

Rose
A white rose symbolizes love, a red rose symbolizes passion, and a wild rose symbolizes yearning

Poppy
It symbolizes the magic power and infinite sleep.

Earring
It symbolizes marriage wishes

Sacred Light
It is a symbol of sacred, luminous, inextinguishable, endless light of Paradise

Hide
It is a symbol of golden post mythology, and symbolizes power, force and might.

Ram's Horn
It is a symbol of power, force, heath and happiness; it also denotes man’s fertility and the power of giving life and protection.

Border
Numbers like 3,5,7,9 etc. are usually regarded to be sacred. These numbers are represented in the borders of carpets. 3 symbolizes earth, sky, water, holiness, productivity, fertility and so on. 5 means of five fingers of the hand or five prayers in a day. 7 symbolizes seven levels of the sky. Almost all Turkish carpets have such a number of borders that corresponds to one of these figures.

Flying Birds
It symbolizes the birds, which bring good and happy news.

Tent-Home
It represents happiness of the family

Pomegranate
Pomegranate fruit is the fruit of Paradise, regarded as sacred in Anatolia. It is even believed that scattering pomegranate fruit inside the house of in a newly-wed bride will make the marriage long-lasting and productive, as well as making the family rich, with many children who will have long life. It, therefore, symbolizes abundance and fertility.

Leaves
It is a motif which is related to life and death. It is believed that a person dies with every falling leaf and a person is born with every new leaf. It is also symbolizes the immortality of the spirit.

Gold Scales
As a precision instrument symbolizing justice on which sins and good deeds are weighed, it denotes a wish for going to heaven.