Shamakhy

This piece embodies the ancient traditions and cultural essence of Shamakhi, inspired by its famed castle walls. Shamakhi’s name was first recorded by the ancient Greek geographer Ptolemy. Situated at a trade crossroads, the city endured repeated enemy attacks, resulting in the construction of protective castle walls. The vine and jug motifs symbolize Shamakhi’s historic viticulture, nurtured by favorable climate conditions. Renowned from antiquity as a carpet-making hub in Azerbaijan, Shamakhi’s carpets belong to the Shirvan school, noted for their unique ornaments and intricate compositions. The rhombus, a prevalent symbol in these carpets, represents religious themes and, depending on its placement, can denote earth, femininity, and fecundity.