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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. Bird is the symbol of happiness, joy and
love. It is the soul of 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.
In Çatalhöyük birds resembling eagles and vultures
are described as animals attacking human beings. The eagle called
Horos in the language of Hittites later assumed a legendary meaning.
There is a relief of an eagle with two heads on the sphinxes standing
at the two sides of the entrance door of Alacahoyuk. The theme of
a double headed eagle holding a couple of hares in its claws was
later used on the sign of the Seljukian State.
In his lines "We took off, became birds and flew,
Thank God!" mystic poet Yunus Emre is expressing the feeling of
getting near to God. He describes death by the words "The bird of
life has flown off". Ministrel Karacaoglan states that the bird
flying away from off". Ministrel Karacaoglan states that the bird
flying away from its cage is death by saying "Life is a bird in
its cage".
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Various bird motifs used on Anatolian weaves are illustrated
below:
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