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Magic Carpet Ride

© Anita Stratos

Legend has it that King Solomon owned a green carpet so large that on it he could fit his throne along with two lions and two armies, one of each on either side. When they closed ranks, the king ordered the wind to lift the carpet up and carry it wherever he wanted to go. It flew in such a way that no man would fall nor would any of the cooks' pans be upset as they were preparing dinner for the soldiers during the flight. Flocks of birds flew above the king, forming a canopy to give him shade.

This scene from the Arabian tale, 1,001 Nights, has been called the prototype of the flying carpet. Since then, flying carpets have appeared in stories from Aladdin to The Sorcerer's Apprentice, as well as a multitude of other fictional stories. But where did the concept begin? Like most myths, it began with historical facts.

The flying carpet is actually a Turkish or Persian carpet (historians seem to disagree as to which) that was given magical properties because of these carpets' incredible beauty. When these richly colored handmade carpets were first introduced to other areas of the world, it is said that their beauty was so incredible, it was only natural to assign magical properties to it.

But real life can be even more fascinating than fiction, and perhaps more amazing than the idea of the carpet taking flight is the actual story with the story of the Oriental carpet. These carpets have a language all their own, revealing stories that are woven and hand-knotted by the nomadic tribes, villagers, and royal weavers of Persia (Iran) and Turkey. Other countries including China, Spain, Pakistan, North Africa, early Egypt, and others have also contributed to the art of carpet weaving, but to a smaller degree.

Although no one knows exactly when the first carpet was woven, to date the oldest Oriental carpet was discovered in the tomb of a Sycthian prince. Carbon dating showed that the carpet was made around the fourth century BC.

The language of the Oriental carpet can be traced back to some degree, though there are some discrepancies in interpretation and meanings can vary from region to region. Carpets are named for the region in which they were made, and clues as to their origins can be found in their colorings and patterns. Each handmade carpet is a form of self-expression by the weaver, though the types of patterns used can be classified. Nomadic families in Persia generally create geometric, angular designs. These families follow their herds of sheep to green pastures, carrying the clothes on their backs, their tents, and few trappings as their only possessions. Floral patterned rugs are usually made by philosophers and poets of the "cultured class" who live in the cities. Rugs of individual motifs that are related to each other but not joined are called conventionalized patterns, made by farmers, a class of Persians between Nomads and sophisticated city dwellers. These simple country people weave all day long during the winter months and concentrate on farming the rest of the year. Any of these hand-knotted carpets can take from one year to a lifetime to produce.

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