Dragon

This piece draws inspiration from the ornate designs found in early “Dragon” rugs of the Safavid period, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. These dragon rugs are celebrated as exquisite examples of the Garabagh carpet school, featuring unique structures and often depicting mystical animals. Predominantly woven in Garabagh, and possibly in Shirvan and Guba, these rugs date from the 16th to 18th centuries. Some textile fragments with dragon motifs have survived from the Ilkhanid Period (13th – 14th centuries). In the Azerbaijani decorative arts, the dragon motif alone symbolizes positive energy and represents water sources in Azerbaijani folklore. In ancient Turkic mythology, dragons like “Büke,” “Evren,” “Kökluu,” and “Abyrga” symbolize might and power. Historical accounts also reference the “Dragon City” of the ancient Huns, and in Kipchak culture, the “Begsha” dragon symbolized the family hearth.