Page 68 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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Inside the medallion in the center of the main border on the right, there is a portrait of Afra-
siab (Alp Er Tunga), who was a legendary Turkish khan. According to ancient Iranian history,
he was Tur’s grandchild. He was one of the great kings of the Turan state. After conquering
Iran, he reigned for twelve years and only later he was driven out of the country as a result of
an Iranian rebellion. In Ferdowsi’s “Shahnameh,” Kaykaus’s son Siyavush escaped to Turan
and went to Afrasiab. Afrasiab married his daughter to him and later Keykhosrov was born.
Afrasiab was killed by Keykhosrov.
On the right border in the fourth medallion from the top “Gudarz” is written near the por-
trait. Gudarz is the name of two heroes of ancient Iran. The first Gudarz’s father Qarin was
the son of the famous blacksmith, Kaveh. It is said that Kaveh revolted against the Arabian
Zohhak who conquered Iran, dethroned him, and enthroned Jamshid’s grandson Firidun in-
stead. The second Gudarz, according to Ferdowsi’s writing, was the son of Gasvad who is
known as “Ghizilpapaqli Geshvan,” the founder of the Guderz-i Gasvad Dynasty and one of
the heroes of Firidun’s period.
On the right corner of the carpet inside the medallion on the main border, the seventh shah
of the oldest dynasty of Iranian shahs, the Pishdadian Dynasty, Manouchehr is depicted. “The
heroes of “Shahnameh” like Kayumars, Hushang, Tahmuras, Jamshid, and others also belong
to that dynasty. It is said that he was Iraj’s son or Iraj’s daughter’s grandson.
On the lower part of the carpet, inside the medallion in the center of the main border, one of
the legendary shahs of Iran, Jamshid’s grandson, the sixth shah of the Pishdadian Dynasty and
Firidun’s third son, Iraj’s portrait is depicted. By dividing his estate into three parts, Firidun
gave the lands of Iran to Iraj. His brothers Salim and Tur were not satisfied with this division
and killed Iraj in envy. Firidun, in his turn, killed Salim and Tur and appointed Iraj’s son Man-
ouchehr as his valiahd (the successor of the throne).
On the main border above the carpet on the first medallion on the left, there is a portrait of the
legendary Pishdadian Dynasty’s second shah, Hushang. He was Siamek’s son and Keyumars
I’s grandson. As his father Siamek was killed in a fight with mythical ogres, his grandfather
Keyumars sent him to fight them. Hushang defeated the ogres and ascended the throne after
Keyumars. He reigned for forty years. Getting fire out of stone and steel and the ancient Ira-
nian holiday Jeshn-e Sadeh are connected with his name.
On the right inside the second medallion, the word written under the portrait is “Darab.”
Darab is the name of three shahs belonging to Iran’s Achaemenid Empire. Dara I reigned from
520-486 BC, made official, military, and economic reforms, and conquered large fields by inva-
sion. The wars that he fought with Greece were unsuccessful. He is also known as Whishtab’s
son Dara I.
Dara II reigned from 423-404 BC. He is the son of Ardashir I. During his reign, Iran weakened
and Midia and Egypt became independent. Dara III was Dara II’s son and reigned from 335-
330 BC. During his reign in 331, Makedoniali Isgender attacked Iran and defeated Dara III.
After escaping to the east of Iran, Dara III was executed by his own vassal Besus, governor of
Belkh.