Стр. 57 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

57
Zangazur was noteworthy for its pirs, ojags (holy plac-
es), and pilgrimages. Its location surrounded by moun-
tains strengthened the belief in sacred mountain and
stone elements. As snakes were seen as the holder of a
mountain’s spirit, the people of the district used snake
images in their faith and daily lives.
Zangazur is well known for the monuments, temples,
and colors that reflect the Caucasian Albanian govern-
ment. Based on its structure and form, the Gushundash
monument is a collection of stone elements emerging
from Oghuz Turkish beliefs and traditions. Graveyard
inscriptions on Gargi Dashi Mountain in Nuvedi village
and their explanations hint at Turkic-Azerbaijani trac-
es. The original fifteenth and sixteenth century images
found on the stones that were laid on graves as well as
patterns found in Urud village show clearly that this land was part of
Azerbaijan. Patterns, calligraphy, notes written using the Arabic al-
phabet, and graves belonging to Sheikh Riza Amrusal, and the Eliyar,
Shahnaz, and Chelebi families give detailed information about peo-
ple living here. One of these gravestones is particularly interesting.
Two carpet-weaving women and carpet-related images like khana,
combs, and others were depicted on a stone engraved with the Hijri
date 992 (1584) and the word “Aysoltan.” This proves once again that
Azerbaijanis had been engaged in carpet weaving here since ancient
times. It is believed there are remnants of lost cities in this district.
The history of Sheki village lends credence to claims that there used
to be an ancient city in this area. The ancient Azerbaijani song Apardi
Seller Sarani (Torrents Took Sara Away) indicates a connection of the described incident and actual
place names.
Zangazur’s Gafan district is a mountainous region. It is surrounded by the Bergushad Mountains
in the west and the Zangazur Mountains in the north. There used to be carpet-weaving quarters
in this district’s villages such as Aralig, Atgiz, Achagu,
Ajibaj, Baydak, Garachiman, Gatar, Kigi, Chaykend,
Khelej, Jirish, Sheherjik, and in the center of Gafan city.
The Gorus region is another district of Zangazur prov-
ince. Famous for its flowers and rivers, this was an area
where Azerbaijanis lived. Historical evidence suggests
that there were also carpet-weaving quarters in the vil-
lages of Agbulag, Gurdgalag, and Shurnukhu.
The Mehri district of Zangazur province was noted for
its rich nature and abundant gardens and is located at
the crossroads of Nakhchivan, Karabakh, and southern
Azerbaijan. The villages of Mehri’s Lok, Eldere, Lehvaz,
Maralzemi, and Nuvedi used to be the homeland of carpet masters who created perfect art sam-
ples based on ancient traditions. For hundreds of years, they enshrined fine patterns on carpets,
kilims, mefreshs, chuls, khurjuns, and heybes.
The Sisyan district, located 227 km south from Iravan city, is considered one of the great histori-
cal places of Zangazur province. Carpet weaving traditions were carried on in large residential
quarters of Agudi, Agkend, Vagudi, Garakilse, Shikhlar, Giziljig,
Destekerd, Murkhuz, Urud, Jomerdli, and Sheki villages. The
district remained famous for its colorful and lively carpets.
Notes about Zangazur carpets indicate that kilims woven here
were recognized by their elegant designs; motifs like goshabuynuz
(double-horned), garmagli (hooked), s-shaped, t-shaped flow-
ers with four, six, eight or twelve petals, spiral shapes, arrows,
mashal (torch), shamdan (candlestick), and damga (emblem) were
widely used in this province.