Ajdahali

This exquisite piece is adorned with dragon motifs inspired by various carpets. Dragon carpets are regarded as one of the most beautiful examples of Garabagh carpets, featuring a distinctive structure and typically showcasing images of mystical creatures. These types of rugs were primarily woven in Garabagh, and possibly in Shirvan and Guba, from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

Some textile fragments with dragon motifs have survived from the Ilkhanid Period (13th-14th centuries). In Azerbaijani decorative applied arts, the dragon motif—when used alone—symbolizes positive energy and can also represent water sources in Azerbaijani folk literature. In ancient Turkic mythology, the dragon “Büke” or “Evren” symbolizes might and power. Historical sources even mention the “Dragon City” of the ancient Huns. In Kipchak culture, the Begsha Dragon was regarded as the symbol of the family hearth.

Numerous pile and flatwoven carpets from the Safavid Period also feature dragon motifs.