The Pazyryk Carpet

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The Pazyryk Carpet
by ebi amirhosseini
03-Nov-2009
 

In a unique archaeological excavation in 1949 the exceptional Pazyryk carpet was discovered among the ices of Pazyryk Valley, in Altai Mountains in Siberia. It was discovered in the grave of a Scythian prince by a group of Russian archaeologists under the supervision of Sergei Ivanovich Rudenko. Radiocarbon testing revealed that Pazyryk carpet was woven in the 5th century BC. This carpet is 1.83×2 meters and has 36 symmetrical knots per cm². The advanced weaving technique used in the Pazyryk carpet indicates a long history of evolution and experience in this art. Most experts believe that the Pazyryk carpet is a late achievement of at least one thousand years of technique evolution and history.

This unique piece of art was partly damaged by age and oxidation, but it was preserved in a thick sheet of ice -- which had protected it for twenty-five centuries. Late in 1929, a Russian ethnographic mission led by Rudenko and Griaznov began the excavation of five tumuli dating from the Scllhian period. The tumuli had been discovered in the Pazyryk valley, in the Altai mountains, 5400 feet above sea level, and some six miles from the border of Outer Mongolia. In 1949 during the excavation of the fifth tumulus, a magnificent carpet came to light which today represents the most important piece of evidence in the history of Oriental Carpets. This is the only rug from the Achaemenid period known and preserved up to the present day.

 Although it was found in a Scjythian burial-mound, most experts attribute it to Persia. Its design is in the same style as the sculptures of Perspolis, The outer of the two principal border bands is decorated with a line of horsemen: seven on each side, twenty-eight in number -- a figure which corresponds to the number of males who carried the throne of Xerxes to Perspolis). Some are mounted, while others walk beside their horses. In the inner principal band there is a line of six elks on each side. The two external guards are decorated, with a succession of small squares containing imaginary creatures, probably griffins. The original colours used for this carpet are not known as they have almost faded away. The Pazyryk carpet is of rare beauty and was woven with great technical skill. The Pazyryk carpet compares favourably with that of the best, work from modern sources.

The Pazyryk is now in the Hermitage museum in St.Petersburg,Russia.

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sources:

//www.carpetmuseum.ir

//www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/03/hm3_2_7d.html

//www.persian-carpet.info/

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more from ebi amirhosseini
 
maziar 58

thanx Ebi Khan

by maziar 58 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:13 AM PST

I read the article in rugnews and hali.com and was fascinated by the age of the rug weaving..........

and also afghan weavers in peshawar are mass producing the same rug today and I saw one tagged hand knotted in ghoochan.      Maziar


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Red Wine

Ebi Jan .

by Red Wine on Wed Nov 04, 2009 06:30 AM PST

دوست عزیزم، سپاسگزارم... اطلاعات بسیار خوب و کافی‌ بود.

دستت درد نکند.

 


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yolanda

......

by yolanda on Wed Nov 04, 2009 05:29 AM PST

Thank you for your article. My favorite part comes in the 3rd paragraph:

 Although it was found in a Scjythian burial-mound, most experts attribute it to Persia.

I am so glad that you mentioned the word "Persia". I am not crazy about Russia, but I am crazy about Iran. It's why I visit Iranian.com instead of Russian.com.

thank you for the very interesting article!

thanks,

 


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Khar

Very Nice Haaj Ebi Jaan

by Khar on Tue Nov 03, 2009 08:40 PM PST

Baa Ejaazeh, People Protests at Cyrus's Tomb:


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Hajminator

استاد ابی

Hajminator
Tue Nov 03, 2009 07:01 PM PST

بسیار مطلب ارزنده ای بود. حقا كه این فرش خیلی شبیه گلیم هایه خودمون، زنده باد ایرانی. شما اطلاعاتی در دست ندارید كه چرا آریائیهای فلات ایران بعد از سرازیر شدن از سیبری، همراه برادران دیگرشان به طرف اروپا نرفتند؟ و چرا این اجداد ما نبودند كه نرفتند اونطرف؟


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desi

I can't believe how great

by desi on Tue Nov 03, 2009 06:24 PM PST

I can't believe how great this looks for a textile that's dated to 5th century BC.  Seriously what a find.  Very intricate too.  Thanks Ebi.


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SamSamIIII

Ebi jaan,

by SamSamIIII on Tue Nov 03, 2009 06:20 PM PST

 

 

As you fully know, we owe a lot to scythians(Saka, Sag-zian as persians called em) . The Scythians the nomadic wild cousins of ancient Iranians unlike Persians , medes, etc chose except a a few to keep their nomadic lifestyle & stayed behind as eatern & western Sakas in what is called the Russian-Caspean steppes ranging from northern china and Altai mountains all the way  to todays Danub river ,Ukrain , Bulgaria & Poland . those who did move south, ventured way south settled in todays Sakestan(Sisstan) and as Medes allies against Assyrians in Ekbataneh who later looted the city and were kicked out .In their many so called burial places (Noble Scythian mounds) you find according to their traditions their horses,gold & many personal belongings buried along their bodies intact due to the location of these mounds which are usualy in steppes and mostly frozen & protected by low temps. Among these belongings you find many artifcts such as carpets that show their such closeness to their cousins to the south. it was only after the great Hunic /Turkic invasions & great migrations of post 300AD that a great numbers of them moved westward & a minority southward  for good . A great many tribes of Scythians left their marks even as recent as time of Khosru I in areas such as Hamadan, Lurestan & eastern Kurdistan before assimilating. btw ;Scythian society by far was the most Maadar-Shahii society of ancient time in which women supremed in all fields of war, peace & justic to the point that herodotus claime that their women used to cut their right breast to be able to master their swordwomanship & art of war. wow, sorry pal, got carried away.

Thx for a great blog & cheers!!!

 

 

 

 

Path of Kiaan Resurrection of True Iran Hoisting Drafshe Kaviaan //iranianidentity.blogspot.com //www.youtube.com/user/samsamsia


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IRANdokht

wow

by IRANdokht on Tue Nov 03, 2009 05:37 PM PST

That is amazing Ebi jan. What a discovery!

but are you sure about the size of the carpet?

"There are about 49 knots per square cm in this carpet and it measures 2.00 cm X 1.83 cm"

I think it might be 2.00m x1.83 m.

IRANdokht


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bajenaghe naghi

Ebi jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Tue Nov 03, 2009 05:26 PM PST

It is amazing and very fortunate that this treasure survived so many centuries. Thank you for your very interesting blog.


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