tree of life (general motif)

  1. Home
  2. top of the aat hierarchies
  3. Physical Attributes Facet
  4. Design Elements (hierarchy name)
  5. design elements (attributes)
  6. motifs
  7. plant-derived motifs
  8. tree of life
Scope note
General motif resembling a stylized tree as seen in the art and artifacts of many cultures, including Islamic and Judeo-Christian cultures, Ancient Egypt, Assyria, Greece, China, Japan, Africa, Nordic cultures, India, Turkey, pre-Columbian cultures, and more recent European culture. The tree motif takes various forms, from a two-dimensional vertical stalk to a three-dimensional trunk topped by a rounded head of foliage. The motif typically represents the cosmos, immortality, renewal and continuation of life, paradise or another abode of deities, or the connections between generations. For the motif specifically related to kilim textiles and other art of Turkey and Armenia, use "hayat agaci."
tree of life
Accepted term: 29-Apr-2024