Ajdahali

The “Dragon” carpets are esteemed as some of the most beautiful examples from the Garabagh carpet school. They feature a unique design, often depicting various mythical creatures. These types of rugs were primarily woven in Garabagh, Shirvan, and Guba during the 16th to 18th centuries. Some textile fragments with dragon motifs have survived from the Ilkhanids period (13th – 14th centuries). In Azerbaijani decorative arts, the dragon image symbolizes positive energy and may also represent water sources in Azerbaijani folklore. In ancient Turkic mythology, dragons like “Büke,” “Evren,” “Kök-luu,” and “Abyrga” symbolize might and power. Historical sources mention the “Dragon City” of the ancient Huns. In Kipchak culture, the “Begsha” dragon symbolized the family hearth. Several pile and flat-woven carpets from the Safavid period also depict dragon motifs.