Turkey, from Flags of All Nations, Series 1 (N9) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This late 19th-century chromolithograph by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes presents the flag of Turkey, dominated by the crescent moon and star, potent symbols deeply embedded in cultural memory. These emblems, prominent in the Islamic world, evoke a sense of divine guidance and cosmic order. But let us trace the wanderings of the crescent. Long before its adoption by the Ottoman Empire, the crescent held sway in pre-Islamic cultures as a symbol of lunar power, linked to goddesses and cyclical renewal. We see echoes of this in ancient Mesopotamian art and Hellenistic representations of Diana, the moon goddess. Consider how this symbol has evolved: from ancient religious connotations to its adoption as an emblem of an empire, its shift reflects the complex dance between cultural appropriation and transformation. The collective subconscious seems to be at play, with the emotional resonance of the crescent shape lending itself to various interpretations across millennia. This image, though a mere cigarette card, encapsulates the symbol's long journey through time, a testament to the enduring power of visual motifs.