Carpets and kilims since their beginning were not created just for meeting man's physical needs but also for his psychological wishes. Religious beliefs and ritual life enrich and develop philosophical thoughts and the soul of man. This influences both the artist and his work in various ways. Just looking at the motifs and compositions in the carpets and kilims makes this evident.

Turkish carpets and kilims are a unique product carrying valuable traditional messages from the depths of history to the present, from Central Asia to Anatolia. In other words, Turkish carpets and kilims did have role as a "communication device" in its modern meaning. Thus, every single Turkish carpet and kilim has general and rich messages that it carries through meaningful and colourful patterns.

The meanings of the motives in Turkish carpets are different depending on the region. However, generally the motives symbolize religious beliefs, nobility, power and the other themes described below briefly. The language of carpets and kilims not only indicates the skill of the weaver but also (whether they are understood or not) transmits their messages.

Her Hands are on Her Hips

The woman also symbolizes the fine, sensible, tender and gifted side of the mankind. The mothers are most of the time mentioned on the rugs by the motive. As the motherhood is regarded identical with making baby, it is also the symbol of holy humanal works like keeping the children alive and protecting theme. In the recent days this motive is being weaving for fertility, is symbolizing the women looming the carpet. The fact that women is feeling her self identical with this symbol is the sign of bearing in mind thoughts like making children and her wish to get many children, wishing the animals and plants to increase in number, to bring fertility to her home and make it a unrepeatable part of her home. 

The Horn of Ram

It symbolizes the power, strength, health and happiness. Kilim Covered only with ram horn motives are aiming to symbolizing the man rather than the women world. The sideways spiral view of the horn of ram is symbolizing the path followed by the soul during it’s journey to the eternity, and the eternity it’s self. And as the motive is also representing the animals  sacrificed, it also symbolizes that the good work done.

 The Motive of Fertility

Hands on hips and ram's horn motifs used together denote a man and a woman. The fertility pattern is composed of two 'elibelinde' motifs indicating the female and two 'kocboynuzu' motifs indicating the male. The eye motif in the middle of the composition is used to protect the family against the evil eye.

Hair Band Motive

This motive is used on the rugs to show the wish to get married. Many facts about the position of the women in the nomadic society are pictured by the hair band of the women. The hair band is also an accessory the bride puts on her head in the wedding. The hair band motive on the carpets and the rugs are showing varieties from one region to another.

Earrings Motive

Earrings are indispensable as a wedding present in Anatolia. A girl using this motif is trying to inform her family that she wants to get married.

Fetter Motive

Fetter is a sort of cuff placed on the front legs of horses to keep them from running away. The cuffs are connected to each other by a chain of 60 centimeters. It is also called 'kostek'.

Chest Motive

This motif in general, symbolizes the trousseau chest of a young girl. Since the material in this chest is to be used in the husband's house, the expectations and hopes of the young girl are reflected in the pieces she has woven, knitted and embroidered.

Ying-Yang Motive

It’s a symbol of Middle – east origin. It represents the first steps of formation, reproduction, birth and re-birth. 

The Star With Five, Eight, Twelve Arms ( Refreshed Life )  

In it’s wide extent of meaning to star bears the secrets of life in it self. As the star with five arms is in connection with the number five, an as it is representing the five senses, the five organs, it is symbolizing the mankind when it is standing straight and the devil when it is standing up site down. In the Anatolian magic is has seen very often. Astar with five arms burning as on blazes is the emblem of the geniusity. The star with twelve arms was often used and symbolized on the Seljuk and Ottoman embroideries ‘’the morning star’’ (Venice) and even on the coins. Venice is the symbol of the goodness and life that is refreshed or recreated,

The star with eight arms is the expiration of the life planet in all the periods of the history.  

The Water of Life

78 in the Anatolia fairly tails ; if the water life is drank than old people will became young and strong again., an ugly girl becomes as beautiful as a fairy etc. On the carpets the water of life is generally represented as the embroidery called  ‘’water’’  and the sybol for this is the glass, because one has to have a glass to drink the water of life, and this symbolize the immortally. In the Ottomans this use to be the seal of the Kayı tribe (the founders of the empire). On the carpets it is seen as a live seen on the side.

Burdock  Motive

Burdock is a plant with burrs which stick to the clothing of people and the hair of animals. It is believed to be capable of warding off the evil eye. On the other hand, the fact that the term "like a burdock" means full of flowers, accounts for the use of this motif on flour bags as a symbol of abundance.

Hand, Finger, Comb Motives

The number of fingers on the hand, which is five, is used as a protection against evil eye.
In Anatolia the concepts of fertility and motherhood which implies birth are closely related. This relation can be traced back to Kybele and Virgin Mary. During the Islamic period it was symbolized by the name of "Mother Fatma" or "Mother Fadime". The motif called "Hand of Mother Fadime" is widely used in Anatolian weaves.

Amulet, Evil Eye Motive

It is believed that some people possess a power in their glance which causes harm, injury, misfortune and even death. Evil eyes are various objects that reduce the effect of evil glance, thus protecting the ones who carry them. Blue beads, wild mustard, garlic, sea shells, old coins, lead, mercury, the shell of a small turtle, silver and gold 'Masallah' motifs (inscription of the word meaning 'God save him' on gold or silver) are used with this purpose.

The Eye Motive

The source of an evil glance is the human eye. It is believed that the harms it may cause can best be prevented again by a human eye. A diamond divided into four is quite a common representation of the eye as used on weaves. A triangle is a stylized form of the eye.
Some eye motifs are formed of squares and rectangles.

Cross Motive

Another motif used against evil eye is the cross formed of a vertical and horizontal line.
According to the Anatolian belief the cross reduces the power of the evil glance by dividing it into four pieces. The motif dates back far before Christianity. There are crosses in the wall painting of Catalhoyuk. A variation of the cross, known as swastika is also being used since very early times.

Hook Motive

Another Anatolian motif used against evil eye is the hook. It is also called "cakmak", "egri ala", "balik" and "kucuk kara balik".
The variation called "gonul cengeli" is mostly used on stockings and implies marriage.

Snake  Motive

The history of mankind is closely related with snakes. All the stories of existence include the theme of a serpent offering Eve the forbidden fruit. Black snake is the symbol of happiness and fertility.

Dragon Motive

Dragon is a mythological creature whose feet are like the lion's, whose tail is like a snake and who has wings. The Turks of Central Asia stylized the dragon with a beak, wings and a lion's feet. The dragon is the master of air and water. The fight of the dragon and the Phoenix is believed to bring fertile rains of spring.

Scorpion Motive

Due to their fear of its venom, people used to carry jewelry in the form of a scorpion or decorated with the tail of a scorpion in order to protect themselves against this animal. The scorpion motif used on weaves, illustrated below, seek the same purpose.

Wolf's Mouth, Wolf's Track  

Kurt agzi, also known as dove tail, is a term used in joinery to indicate the triangular fittings connecting the corners of various woodwork. In this context, the motif expresses, like in the fetter motif, the wish for solidarity. But its use on weaves serves a different purpose.

The Tree of Life

The tree is the common theme for all religions believing in a single god. Its fruit which is believed to bring immortality, is forbidden to all mortals when the serpent waiting the tree had convinced Eve to eat it. Mankind, unable to eat the fruit of immortality, put all their hopes on the life after death symbolized by a tree of life.

Family Signs

Throughout the history, Turks have used specific figures as a family sign. They have used their mark on their weaves as well as their grave stones.
Mogul historian Residuttin, in his book Cami-ut Tevarih and Kasgarli Mahmut in his dictionary Divanu Lugat-it-Turk state that each Oguz tribe had a different sign. Those tribes should have continued to use their sign even after migrating to Anatolia, because many of the weaves bear motifs similar to those signs.

Bird Motive

In Anatolia there is no other motif carrying so many different meanings than the bird motif. While birds like owls and ravens imply bad luck, doves, pigeons and nightingales are used to symbolize good luck. The Bird is the symbol of happiness, joy and love. It is the soul of the dead. It is longing, and expectation of news. It stands for power and strength. It is the imperial symbol of various states founded in Anatolia.

Carpets and kilims since their beginning were not created just for meeting man's physical needs but also for his psychological wishes. Religious beliefs and ritual life enrich and develop philosophical thoughts and the soul of man. This influences both the artist and his work in various ways. Just looking at the motifs and compositions in the carpets and kilims makes this evident.

Turkish carpets and kilims are a unique product carrying valuable traditional messages from the depths of history to the present, from Central Asia to Anatolia. In other words, Turkish carpets and kilims did have role as a "communication device" in its modern meaning. Thus, every single Turkish carpet and kilim has general and rich messages that it carries through meaningful and colourful patterns.

The meanings of the motives in Turkish carpets are different depending on the region. However, generally the motives symbolize religious beliefs, nobility, power and the other themes described below briefly. The language of carpets and kilims not only indicates the skill of the weaver but also (whether they are understood or not) transmits their messages.

Her Hands are on Her Hips

The woman also symbolizes the fine, sensible, tender and gifted side of the mankind. The mothers are most of the time mentioned on the rugs by the motive. As the motherhood is regarded identical with making baby, it is also the symbol of holy humanal works like keeping the children alive and protecting theme. In the recent days this motive is being weaving for fertility, is symbolizing the women looming the carpet. The fact that women is feeling her self identical with this symbol is the sign of bearing in mind thoughts like making children and her wish to get many children, wishing the animals and plants to increase in number, to bring fertility to her home and make it a unrepeatable part of her home. 

The Horn of Ram

It symbolizes the power, strength, health and happiness. Kilim Covered only with ram horn motives are aiming to symbolizing the man rather than the women world. The sideways spiral view of the horn of ram is symbolizing the path followed by the soul during it’s journey to the eternity, and the eternity it’s self. And as the motive is also representing the animals  sacrificed, it also symbolizes that the good work done.

The Motive of Fertility

Hands on hips and ram's horn motifs used together denote a man and a woman. The fertility pattern is composed of two 'elibelinde' motifs indicating the female and two 'kocboynuzu' motifs indicating the male. The eye motif in the middle of the composition is used to protect the family against the evil eye.

Hair Band Motive

This motive is used on the rugs to show the wish to get married. Many facts about the position of the women in the nomadic society are pictured by the hair band of the women. The hair band is also an accessory the bride puts on her head in the wedding. The hair band motive on the carpets and the rugs are showing varieties from one region to another.

Earrings Motive

Earrings are indispensable as a wedding present in Anatolia. A girl using this motif is trying to inform her family that she wants to get married.

Fetter Motive

Fetter is a sort of cuff placed on the front legs of horses to keep them from running away. The cuffs are connected to each other by a chain of 60 centimeters. It is also called 'kostek'.

Chest Motive

This motif in general, symbolizes the trousseau chest of a young girl. Since the material in this chest is to be used in the husband's house, the expectations and hopes of the young girl are reflected in the pieces she has woven, knitted and embroidered.

Ying-Yang Motive

It’s a symbol of Middle – east origin. It represents the first steps of formation, reproduction, birth and re-birth. 

The Star With Five, Eight, Twelve Arms ( Refreshed Life )  

In it’s wide extent of meaning to star bears the secrets of life in it self. As the star with five arms is in connection with the number five, an as it is representing the five senses, the five organs, it is symbolizing the mankind when it is standing straight and the devil when it is standing up site down. In the Anatolian magic is has seen very often. Astar with five arms burning as on blazes is the emblem of the geniusity. The star with twelve arms was often used and symbolized on the Seljuk and Ottoman embroideries ‘’the morning star’’ (Venice) and even on the coins. Venice is the symbol of the goodness and life that is refreshed or recreated,

The star with eight arms is the expiration of the life planet in all the periods of the history.  

The Water of Life

78 in the Anatolia fairly tails ; if the water life is drank than old people will became young and strong again., an ugly girl becomes as beautiful as a fairy etc. On the carpets the water of life is generally represented as the embroidery called  ‘’water’’  and the sybol for this is the glass, because one has to have a glass to drink the water of life, and this symbolize the immortally. In the Ottomans this use to be the seal of the Kayı tribe (the founders of the empire). On the carpets it is seen as a live seen on the side.

Burdock  Motive

Burdock is a plant with burrs which stick to the clothing of people and the hair of animals. It is believed to be capable of warding off the evil eye. On the other hand, the fact that the term "like a burdock" means full of flowers, accounts for the use of this motif on flour bags as a symbol of abundance.

Hand, Finger, Comb Motives

The number of fingers on the hand, which is five, is used as a protection against evil eye.
In Anatolia the concepts of fertility and motherhood which implies birth are closely related. This relation can be traced back to Kybele and Virgin Mary. During the Islamic period it was symbolized by the name of "Mother Fatma" or "Mother Fadime". The motif called "Hand of Mother Fadime" is widely used in Anatolian weaves.

Amulet, Evil Eye Motive

It is believed that some people possess a power in their glance which causes harm, injury, misfortune and even death. Evil eyes are various objects that reduce the effect of evil glance, thus protecting the ones who carry them. Blue beads, wild mustard, garlic, sea shells, old coins, lead, mercury, the shell of a small turtle, silver and gold 'Masallah' motifs (inscription of the word meaning 'God save him' on gold or silver) are used with this purpose.

The Eye Motive

The source of an evil glance is the human eye. It is believed that the harms it may cause can best be prevented again by a human eye. A diamond divided into four is quite a common representation of the eye as used on weaves. A triangle is a stylized form of the eye.
Some eye motifs are formed of squares and rectangles.

Cross Motive

Another motif used against evil eye is the cross formed of a vertical and horizontal line.
According to the Anatolian belief the cross reduces the power of the evil glance by dividing it into four pieces. The motif dates back far before Christianity. There are crosses in the wall painting of Catalhoyuk. A variation of the cross, known as swastika is also being used since very early times.

Hook Motive

Another Anatolian motif used against evil eye is the hook. It is also called "cakmak", "egri ala", "balik" and "kucuk kara balik".
The variation called "gonul cengeli" is mostly used on stockings and implies marriage.

Snake  Motive

The history of mankind is closely related with snakes. All the stories of existence include the theme of a serpent offering Eve the forbidden fruit. Black snake is the symbol of happiness and fertility.

Dragon Motive

Dragon is a mythological creature whose feet are like the lion's, whose tail is like a snake and who has wings. The Turks of Central Asia stylized the dragon with a beak, wings and a lion's feet. The dragon is the master of air and water. The fight of the dragon and the Phoenix is believed to bring fertile rains of spring.

Scorpion Motive

Due to their fear of its venom, people used to carry jewelry in the form of a scorpion or decorated with the tail of a scorpion in order to protect themselves against this animal. The scorpion motif used on weaves, illustrated below, seek the same purpose.

Wolf's Mouth, Wolf's Track  

Kurt agzi, also known as dove tail, is a term used in joinery to indicate the triangular fittings connecting the corners of various woodwork. In this context, the motif expresses, like in the fetter motif, the wish for solidarity. But its use on weaves serves a different purpose.

The Tree of Life

The tree is the common theme for all religions believing in a single god. Its fruit which is believed to bring immortality, is forbidden to all mortals when the serpent waiting the tree had convinced Eve to eat it. Mankind, unable to eat the fruit of immortality, put all their hopes on the life after death symbolized by a tree of life.

Family Signs

Throughout the history, Turks have used specific figures as a family sign. They have used their mark on their weaves as well as their grave stones.
Mogul historian Residuttin, in his book Cami-ut Tevarih and Kasgarli Mahmut in his dictionary Divanu Lugat-it-Turk state that each Oguz tribe had a different sign. Those tribes should have continued to use their sign even after migrating to Anatolia, because many of the weaves bear motifs similar to those signs.

Bird Motive

In Anatolia there is no other motif carrying so many different meanings than the bird motif. While birds like owls and ravens imply bad luck, doves, pigeons and nightingales are used to symbolize good luck. The Bird is the symbol of happiness, joy and love. It is the soul of the dead. It is longing, and expectation of news. It stands for power and strength. It is the imperial symbol of various states founded in Anatolia.