Dragon

The “Dragon” carpets are regarded as some of the most beautiful examples from the Garabagh carpet school. These carpets boast a unique structure, often depicting various mystical animals. This type of rug was primarily 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-applied art, the dragon image alone symbolizes positive energy and it may also represent water sources in Azerbaijani folk literature.

In ancient Turkic mythology, dragons such as “Büke,” “Evren,” “Kök-luu,” and “Abyrga” symbolize might and power. Some historical sources reference the “Dragon City” of the ancient Huns. In Kipchak culture, the “Begsha” dragon was considered a symbol of the family hearth. Numerous pile and flat-woven carpets from the Safavid period also feature dragon motifs.