Dragon

The “Dragon” carpets are considered among the most beautiful examples of the Garabagh carpet school. They possess a unique structure, often depicting various mystical animals. These types of rugs were predominantly woven in Garabagh, Shirvan, and Guba between the 16th and 18th centuries. Some textile fragments featuring a dragon motif have survived from the Ilkhanid period (13th – 14th centuries). In Azerbaijani decorative applied arts, the dragon image alone symbolizes positive energy and may 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. In Kipchak culture, the “Begsha” dragon was a symbol of the family hearth. Numerous pile and flat-woven carpets from the Safavid period also feature a dragon motif.