Dragon

The “Dragon” carpets are regarded as among the most beautiful examples of the Garabagh carpet school. They feature a unique structure and often portray various mystical animals. These rugs were predominantly woven in Garabagh, Shirvan, and Guba between the 16th and 18th centuries. Some textile fragments with dragon motifs have survived from the Ilkhanid period (13th – 14th centuries). In Azerbaijani decorative and applied art, the dragon image, when used alone, symbolizes positive energy and may also represent water sources in Azerbaijani folk literature. 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 was seen as a symbol of the family hearth. Several pile and flat-woven carpets from the Safavid period also depict dragon motifs.