Get to know world's oldest carpet

Dating back to 5th - 4th century BC, the Pazyryk rug was found in a cube of ice named to be the oldest known carpet in the world.

The treasure was discovered in the grave of a Scythian soldier in the valley of the River Bolshoy Ulagan in Kazakhstan.

The exact origin of the rug is not known but there are speculations about its Iranian provenance. Maybe the rug was produced in Central Asia where ancient Altaians had contacts with Iran.

Some experts also say the nomads could have copied the Pazyryk carpet from a Persian original.

The designs and decorations of the rug are so rich and varied; making it hard to believe it was made almost 2500 years ago.

The central field of the Pazyryk carpet holds 24 cross-shaped figures each consisting of 4 stylized lotus buds. This part is enclosed by a border of griffins, followed by another one of 24 fallow deer.

Also, the widest border contains 28 figures of men on horseback and dismounted.

The species of the deer depicted on the carpet is thought to be of Iranian origin and the men are dressed like those of the Persian Empire.

The color of the carpet is now faded but it is thought that its red, blue and yellow colors were originally glowing. It’s worth mentioning that the carpet was woven with so-called Turkish knot.

The Pazyryk rug was found in 1949 and is kept in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

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