Dragon

The “Dragon” carpets are renowned as some of the most exquisite examples from the Garabagh carpet school. They feature a distinctive design, often illustrating various mythical creatures. These rugs were primarily woven in Garabagh, Shirvan, and Guba between the 16th and 18th centuries. Some textile fragments featuring dragon motifs have survived from the Ilkhanid period (13th – 14th centuries). In Azerbaijani decorative arts, the image of the dragon alone represents positive energy and may symbolize water sources in Azerbaijani folklore.

In ancient Turkic mythology, dragons such as “Büke,” “Evren,” “Kök-luu,” and “Abyrga” symbolized might and power. Historical sources mention the “Dragon City” of the ancient Huns, while in Kipchak culture, the “Begsha” dragon symbolized the family hearth. Many pile and flat-woven carpets from the Safavid period also feature the dragon motif.