Star and crescent

A crescent moon paired with a star, used as an emblem in several cultures and especially associated with Islam and the Ottoman Empire.

Byzantium: An ancient Greek city later known as Constantinople and Istanbul. The crescent was associated with Byzantium before Ottoman rule and the emblem’s later Islamic associations.
Islamic symbolism: The use of signs and images to express ideas, identities, and values associated with Islam. The motif is widely linked to Islam, though it is not a universal Islamic symbol.
Shahada: The Islamic profession of faith, affirming that there is no deity but God and Muhammad is God’s messenger. Unlike the star and crescent, it is a foundational Islamic statement rather than a later emblem.
International Red Crescent Movement: The humanitarian network of national Red Crescent societies, part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Its emblem adapts the crescent for humanitarian protection and aid.
Crescent: A curved shape resembling the visible portion of the Moon between new and full phases. The crescent’s older uses are central to debates over the emblem’s pre-Islamic history.
Constantinople: The historic city that served as the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Ottoman adoption of the motif followed the conquest of this city in 1453.
Islam: A monotheistic religion founded in seventh-century Arabia, centered on the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad. The emblem is commonly associated with this religion despite its diverse visual traditions.
Islamic calligraphy: The artistic practice of writing Arabic and other scripts in forms developed across Muslim societies. Calligraphy has deep religious and artistic roles without relying on the crescent-and-star motif.
Red Crescent: A protective emblem and humanitarian symbol used by national societies in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It uses the crescent without a star, in a distinct legal and humanitarian context.
Star of Ishtar: An eight-pointed star symbol associated with the ancient Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar. It is sometimes invoked in claims about ancient origins, but is not the same emblem or a settled direct ancestor.

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Flag of TurkeyBroader topic: These two white figures are the flag’s defining visual elements.