Crescent disk symbols and relevant depictions as a motif in the art of seal in the Assyrian trade colonies age of Anatolia

The crescent disk is an astral symbol and its use in ancient Western Asia goes back as far as the Aceramic Neolithic Period. It was used in different geographies for a very long time. The earliest known symbol of crescent disk in Anatolia is seen in Göbeklitepe. The crescent disk is mostly depicted on seals and seal impressions during the Assyrian Trade Colonies Age in Anatolia. Since the crescent disk is a celestial symbol, it always appears in the upper part of the scenes in the art of glyptic. Although the crescent is mentioned with different names (such as moon, sun, sun disk and crescent) in the archaeological literature, the word "sun" has also been used for the disk. The meaning contained in the symbol has been interpreted in different ways so far by many researchers. As Nimet Özgüç states, the crescent disk is a sign of divinity. It is located on a level with the head of the identified or undefined divinities, who are standing, but mostly sitting, holding goblets in their hands. The symbol is often associated with divinity. It is not just a symbol of one divinity. It is seen that any divinity is depicted with different types of crescent disk motifs. There are also some cases where the crescent disk alone is not associated with any divinity. There are different types of crescent disks; such as decorated and undecorated, sun crescent, and a star crescent. Disks with decorated crescents are divided into subtypes in themselves as astral, floral and geometric. The symbol is most often depicted in ritual and worship scenes. The crescent sun and the crescent star are also in the upper part of the scenes in seals and seal prints in relation to a divinity or the whole scene. There are also realms with a crescent star and crescent disk at the top, usually carried by bull-men. The crescent sun is not depicted on the realms. The disks of some of the crescent disks at the top of the realms are decorated. There are also some cases in which undecorated disks are present. It is understood in this thesis study that the crescent disk, which was previously known to be associated with the pleiades, is also related to astral symbols such as the star, crescent, sphere and crescent disk. Astral symbols are depicted on the sides of the crescent disks, like the pleiads.