Persian Carpets

I spent many of my days wandering in the bazaars of Tehran. And by wandering, I mean weaving through the crowds, clenching my purse, and making sure my headscarf didn’t fly with the wind. While in the bazaar, my grandmother took my mother and I to a carpet gallery that showcased carpets of all sizes, colors, and cities of origin. Carpets from Tabriz, Mashad, and Kashan. Many of the carpets illustrate Ferdowsi’s masterpiece, the Shahnameh (or the ‘Book of Kings’). Born in 935, Ferdowsi wrote one of the most notorious pieces of Persian literature, capturing the culture and tradition prior to the Arab conquests.

But the most amazing evidence of craftsmanship was in a large room above the gallery. My mother and I were in awe as the carpets were unfolded and revealed. They stretched over 100 meters. Each corner of the carpet told a different story: never-ending floral and symmetrical patterns. And yet, the most amazing tale is what it took to create such works of art. Each one took four years to complete.