| Kilims, which are much rather ancient
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| | motif reveals its meaning as that of
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| than their relative the carpet, are a
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| | freedom and the associated concept of
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| kind of flat-weave rug. These rugs are
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| | good news brought from far away.
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| originally produced in a tribal
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| | The wheat ear motif: This symbol
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| environment. Unfortunately there is no
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| | represents the fertility of the earth and
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| certain information on how ancient kilims
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| | for this reason plenty and prosperity are
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| are; however archaeologists have found
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| | two interrelated ideas often found in
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| evidence of their existence on the walls
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| | kilim rugs.
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| of Egyptian tombs dating from 1700-1800
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| | The pomegranate: Such motif is quite
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| BC.
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| | similar in meaning to that of the wheat
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| However incredible it may sound, it is
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| | ear motif because this fruit of paradise
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| even more amazing to know that some of
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| | with its hundreds of seeds in the single
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| the motifs found in such rugs seem to be
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| | fruit represented wealth and plenty.
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| quite more antique than the weaving
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| | There was an ancient custom in which
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| itself. The designs of a kilim tend to be
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| | whenever a couple got married,
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| of a geometric shape and often include
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| | pomegranate seeds were sprinkled in the
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| several symbolic motifs. These motifs
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| | home of the newlyweds so that they would
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| which are bound to be found on kilims are
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| | be happy and have healthy children.
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| copied in flat weaves all over the world
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| | The spider motif: The spider motif
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| from the tribes in the Atlas Mountains,
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| | bestows sacred significance because of
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| stopping by the Afghan nomads to the
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| | its connection to the legend of Arachne,
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| Navajo Indians in the U.S.A. and the
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| | the Lydian woman who was turned into a
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| Indians of the Andes in South America.
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| | spider by the Greek goddess Athena due to
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| The universal motifs typically found in
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| | Arachnes boasting of her ability as a
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| kilims hide an extremely rich language
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| | magnificent weaver.
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| based on ancient beliefs, legends and
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| | The tree of life motif: This symbol is
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| mythology. However, local variations may
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| | often displayed with its roots embedded
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| be easily spotted on kilims according to
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| | in the earth beneath, and its branches
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| the region and even village where they
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| | reaching up into the sky. The evident
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| have been woven.
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| | mystical connotation shows a connection
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| The most repeatedly occurring motifs in
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| | between mortal life and the spiritual
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| kilim rugs are the following:
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| | world above portraying the immortality of
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| The eye motif: Specially found in lots of
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| | the human soul.
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| Asian and African countries, the eye
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| | The snake motif: The motif of the snake
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| represents a charm against bad luck and
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| | is deeply rooted to that of the tree of
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| misfortune coming from the malicious eye
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| | life motif since the snake is depicted as
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| emitted by those who gaze at them with
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| | the guardian of the tree. This role may
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| envy or ill purpose. Therefore, the
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| | probably result from the annual snakes
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| different eye motifs seen in kilims are
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| | sloughing of their skin. Consequently,
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| deliberately woven to give protection to
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| | the snake represents rebirth and life
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| the members of the household.
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| | energy.
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| The rams horn motif: this is a symbol
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| | The diamond shaped motif (hand on waist):
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| which dates from the Neolithic times.
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| | This symbols meaning dates back to
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| Besides this, evidence of this motif has
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| | prehistory and it appears to be the
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| also been found among the Egyptian and
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| | stylized representation of a pregnant
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| Phoenician cultures. In old Anatolian
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| | woman and expresses the wish of the woman
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| civilizations the rams horn was the
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| | who is weaving the kilim of bringing
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| symbol of the power of the gods. Nowadays
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| | healthy children into the world.
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| in nomadic Turkish communities this
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| | To understand the meaning of the kilims
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| represents the symbol of power and
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| | motifs and their bright colors together
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| fertility, showing the particularity of
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| | with their intricate geometric patterns
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| being mostly related to male virility.
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| | help to enhance their beauty and make
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| The bird motif: This symbolizes the
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| | them even more attractive to the buyers
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| endless fascination of humankind towards
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| | eyes.
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| the idea of flying; therefore the bird
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