ETERNAL VALUES
Carpets of Turkey :
From Ordinariness to Art
Hasan Gulday , a tour guide , expert on Turkey
Despite of the fact that throughout its history , the Turkish people have always used carpets in everyday life ( laid it on the floor , warmed their houses , prayed or decorated the walls ), they have never been simply objects . Carpet has been a true work of art , a way of expressing culture over time .
The first association with carpets is nomadic Turks . Nomadic Turks from the Central Asian steppes domesticated the cattle and used their wool for carpet weaving .
There are some sources telling that carpet weaving probably originated in Central Asia , where Turkish nomads were found . When the natives of this region , nomadic tribes or simply nomads , migrated westwards as a result of a great population explosion and started looking for more suitable areas , they struggled with harsh weather conditions . For this reason , the nomads started using goat wool for their tents . Goat wool is much longer and stronger than sheep wool . To make nomadic tents they used the technique of flat weaving for the first time .
Later , the nomads protected themselves in their tents . They made floor coverings , which today are called carpets , using the same technique of flat weaving . Most of the patterns reflected pagan beliefs . With the development of weaving art some objects used in everyday life , such as the saddlebags of horses or camels , were woven from carpets .
Carpets have always been an important part of Turkish culture since nomadic times . Carpets placed in the centre of nomadic tents were an important part of everyday life . To understand the Turkish carpet , we should study pre-Anatolian culture , geographical and sociological features that led to carpet weaving among the Turkic peoples . The
Let us look at the main symbols of Turkish carpets
• Carpet with a headscarf was created by single girls who dreamed of marriage , or by married women who dreamed of having children .
• Hand is one of the oldest symbols of Turkish carpets . It symbolizes God , who creates people and protects them .
• Ram horn is a symbol of masculinity and power . It can be found on the edges and in the centre of carpets .
• Tree of life is a symbol of the Turkish pre-Islamic culture and it can still be found today . It is the flower of life which grows and eventually reaches heavens .
@ hasangulday
42