Although there are several references in the holy books and ancient manuscripts to the first efforts of mankind at weaving. There is no evidence that such references apply to the pile rug.

What little is known of the origins of the pile rug is based on suppositions never less according to scientific and historical studies. we can assume that pile weaving had a nomadic origin.

Early European researchers believed that the ancient civilisations of Egypt and Assyria were the cradles of carpet weaving in the ancient world Evidence to support this conclusion was found in the Torah in the chapter of Higira  (Emigration of israel). In a  description of tent decoration there is mention of a carpet, and also in the stone columns remaining from Shina Nazares the second, in which the patterns of  two carpets are engraved.

These theories are disputed by the discoveries of the well - known Russian archaeologist Professor S.J Rudenko. In 1949, Professor Rudenko began an excavation in Pazyryk (in the Altai Mountains of Siberia). Amidst the frozen tombs, he discovered a piece of pile carpet. This rug, which was thought to be the oldest pile - knotted rug was woven probably at least five centuries BC. The size of the rug is 200 X 183 cm. In the centre there are a few rows of stars with four points which relates it to various objects excavated in Lorestan(east of Iran)

According to historical references and similarities of design woven into this rug , which resemble those seen in Persepolis, one can relate the weaving to the Achaeminian dynasty. At present this rug is kept in the Leningrad Museum. There are several different suppositions about the origin of this rug.

Professor Rudenko himself believed that the rug was made by the medes (170 BC- 226 AC) or possibly ancient Parthians. Schurmann a respected researcher of carpet art, believes that the Pazyryk rug was woven in Azarbaijan ( in north west of Iran)

Another researcher, Dimond, believes that the Pazyryk contains figures of Assyrian and Achaeminian ( 330 - 553 BC.) culture, and its origin is Iran . Other respected experts have different opinions on the Pazyryk's origin.

Ian Bennet believes that with more than 3500 kilometers distance between the Altai Mountain and the borders of Iran, the probability that this carpet was the work of Iranian weavers is very remote. Ian Bennet in his book entitled Rugs and Carpets of the world, stresses that the art and technique of carpet weaving originated in East Asia among the Mongol tribes. He believes that from there it migrated to Eestern Asia and Iran.

An important period in the history of carpet weaving came during the reign of the Sassanian dynasty in Iran (224-641 AD) .Magnificent Persian carpets won international acclaim and were exported to distant lands.One such splendour, was a  large sized carpet  in the audience hall of the palace of King Khosrow of the Sassanian dynasty at Ctesiphon, depicting a formal garden. The brocaded rug with silver and gold threads with jewels was named Bahare - Khosrow (spring of Khosrow).

In 641 AD, the Sassanian dynasty was overthrow by the Arabs and the country conquered for Islam.

During the Campaign against the Arabs for restoration of Iranian independence, fine arts especially rug weaving revived, Azarbaijan, Fars and Khorasan developed as main centres for carpet weaving.

The Seljuk Turks invaded Persia in 1037 and took Possession of a large area in the north west of Iran. They brought their own culture and adding it to that already existing in Iran. The mixture of Turkish and Persian cultures had a  great impact on the carpet weaving of that era. No carpets of this area are known to have survived.

There is believed to be some similarity between the carpets woven in Iran in that era and those woven in south Asia and Turkey.

Some samples of these have been discovered in the Ala - ed - din mosque in Konya (Turkey) which at the time was the capital of the Seljuk empire.

The mongol armies of Ghengis Khan occupied Iran in 1220. According to some historical evidences the summer residence of Ghengis Khan was decorated with valuable carpets made in Fars.

Timur (Tamerlaine) occupied ran in 1380. Timur was himself a Mongol and descendent of Ghenghis Khan.

Timur and his son shah - Rokh (1408 -1446). Chinese art influenced Iran's fine arts and many basic changes occurred in that period.

Many different motifs such as leaves, ivy blossom, different kinds of mushrooms, mythical birds, and palm trees were introduced. Dragons and animals such as deer, wild cats, and other mythical creatures were inserted into the Iranian designs.

This period was the beginning of the classic arts in Iran. This transformation in Iran carpet design can be seen and  classified. Luckily, miniature drawings of those carpets exist in the poetry books, which remain from that period. The miniatures confirm these changes in pattern and design.

During the reign of the Safavid dynasty in Iran, the arts of calligraphy, gilding, tiling, painting, miniatures, architecture and carpet weaving approached their highest previous level. In this period Iranian artists created very interesting designs that since have been imitated in many carpet weaving countries. The ability of the master weavers of the Safavid period was so complete and sophisticated that since then only a limited number of designers have been able to re-create the original Safavid motifs. The master weavers of the Safavid dynasty created about onethousand five hundred carpets and rugs, some of which are magnificent masterpieces known all over the world.

The Safavid kings such as Shah Tahmasb ( 1524- 1587) and Shah Abbas the Great ( 1587 - 1629) patronised these master weavers . they set up many weaving workshopsin Kashan , Esfahan , Tabriz, Ghazvin , Kerman , and Josheghan and in other suitable areas of Iran.

Diaries of well - known European travellers such us Tavernier Chardin and others who visited Iran in this period wrote extensively of the carpets weaving in Iran . Their travel essays provide excellent source material of that era. In that Period, the simple and rustic Profession evolved into the art and elegant technique of carpet weaving.

Persian carpets became very popular in European nations and the elegant technique of carpet weaving . The main categories of carpets in the Safavid era are classified by their design as follows: Medallion , vase, hunting scenery, tree and shrub, Harati , garden.

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Flower and foliage animals, birds, trees, shrubs, and many others motifs can be woven into the background, angles and the medallion of carpet . For a better understanding of the medallion carpet we study two famous carpets woven with this design.