In ancient cultures, sacred abstract concepts, cosmic events, and the mysteries of nature were explained by combining them with human or animal characteristics. Legendary creatures, reflecting the boundless imagination of humankind, are actually personified representations of our effort to understand nature and the universe.
Shaped by ideas of creation and fertility, these supernatural beings appear in art history as mythological characters that are both feared and respected. So, what do these symbols mean?
Legendary Creatures in Ancient Greek Art
The use of legendary creatures in Ancient Greek art became widespread in the 7th century BCE through increasing commercial interactions with the Near East and Egypt. From pottery to oil lamps and tombstones, they were frequently depicted due to their decorative, protective, and healing properties.
Here are the most iconic hybrid creatures in Ancient Greek mythology:
- Sirens: These creatures grew bird wings from their bodies to reach their friend Persephone, who had been kidnapped to the underworld. Sirens, who lured sailors into traps with their beautiful songs, represent the transition from life to death.
- Sphinx: With the head of a woman, the body of a lion, and the wings of an eagle. Known for its aggressive yet protective nature. It was placed on objects as an apotropaic power to ward off the evil eye.
- Medusa: A woman with serpent hair and dragon wings, who turns anyone who looks into her eyes into stone. Used as a kind of amulet. She is sometimes depicted fleeing from her killer Perseus, and sometimes with her terrifying gaze and severed snake-haired head.
- Centaurs and Chiron: These half-human, half-horse creatures symbolize wild nature and masculine strength. Chiron, the aged horse-man who trained figures such as the god Asclepius and the Trojan hero Achilles, symbolizes wisdom and healing.
Mythological Symbols and Talismans in Turkish Art
In pre-Islamic Turkish art, the fantastical world created with legendary creatures carried not only the artistic and cultural values of the era but also religious, cosmological, and mythological meanings that reflected the worldview and lifestyle of the steppe culture. Each imaginary creature—formed by combining the physical features of humans and powerful animals—was a sign of heroism, power, and authority, as well as a symbol of goodness and a protective talisman.
They appear on every kind of artwork— from the Pazyryk carpet to frescoes, from gold plaques and belt buckles to saddle cloths, and on metal, wood, bone, felt, and leather objects. Influenced by surrounding cultures, this rich world of figures created through the curved-cut technique, one of the features of the animal style unique to Central Asia, continued its influence after the advent of Islam.
Prominent Turkish Mythological Figures
- Griffins and Sphinxes: Griffins with eagle heads and lion bodies, and sphinxes with human heads protect the places they occupy and bring luck and fortune. In Turkish art, the facial features of human-headed creatures typically reflect the Central Asian (Turkic) type.
- Harpies: These creatures with a woman’s head and a vulture’s body are believed to create storms. They often appear on tombstones because, in shamanic traditions, they were thought to accompany the soul of the deceased.
- Legendary Birds: Figures such as the double-headed eagle, the Phoenix (Zümrüdüanka), Simurgh, and Hüma appear on stone and stucco reliefs in early and medieval Islamic architecture, and in tile decoration as well as on coins minted in the name of sultans.
- Dragons: They protect the buildings they inhabit from evil and disease. In caravanserais, they were carved above entrances as symbols of abundance and prosperity.
Traces of the Past Still Live Today
These mythological symbols—once embellishing temple walls and palace gates—continue to preserve their protective and auspicious powers today. Each motif is not only a decoration, but also a bearer of an ancient story and a deep meaning. Whether it is the mysterious Medusa of Ancient Greece or the mighty double-headed eagle of Central Asia, these legendary beings come to life once again in the magical world of Iznik tiles alongside Tree of Life motifs.
By bringing the power and beauty of these ancient symbols into your living spaces, you can become a part of a cultural heritage that spans thousands of years.
