Dragon

The “Dragon” carpets are acclaimed as some of the most stunning examples of the Garabagh carpet school. They feature a distinctive structure and frequently illustrate various mystical animals. This type of rug was primarily woven in Garabagh, Shirvan, and Guba between the 16th and 18th centuries. Several textile fragments with dragon motifs have survived from the Ilkhanid period (13th – 14th centuries). In Azerbaijani decorative arts, a solitary dragon image denotes 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. Some historical sources mention the “Dragon City” of the ancient Huns, and in Kipchak culture, the “Begsha” dragon was regarded as a symbol of the family hearth. Numerous pile and flat-woven carpets from the Safavid period also display dragon motifs.