Rightly recognized as a real gem of the world cultural heritage, the Turkmen carpet is a handmade symbol of craftsmanship and talent. Carpet making is a tradition stretching back into the mists of time. It is both a craft and an integral part of the traditional way of life.
The tricks of the trade have been passed down from generation to generation through the centuries. Today, wonderful carpets made by Turkmen weavers are true works of art and stand as eloquent testimony to the cultural identity.
The art of carpet weaving is engrained in folklore of different cultures. People celebrated carpets in legends and poems. Symbols in ornamental designs were thought to have magical properties and regarded as sacred. Widely used in everyday life, they found an echo in the story of a magic carpet or flying carpet…
There is hardly a person in the world today who has never heard of the magic carpet story. The flying carpet is mentioned in Middle Eastern, Chinese, Turkmen and Russian folk tales.
The Muslim story of King Solomon (Suleiman) goes that he had a flying carpet of green silk and gold woven by genies. It was large enough to carry Solomon, his throne, members of the royal court, his guards and army.
An old genie named Hottabych rides a magic carpet, too. Aladdin – the main protagonist of one of the most well-known Arabic tales – meets a magic carpet in the cave while he is looking for the genie’s lamp. The purple and blue carpet embellished with intricate patterns cannot talk in the story. It helps Aladdin to escape from a wave of lava and becomes not only his preferred mode of transportation but also his best friend.
Based on a Turkmenfilm-produced cartoon, a children’s book entitled ‘The Magic Carpet’ was published in 1984. It was illustrated by People’s Artist of Turkmenistan and director Myojek Charyev.
The book tells the story of a young man who dreams of taking to the sky to have a bird-eye’s view of the earth. Once, after another failed attempt, he finds an unusual-looking bottle in the desert and rubs it. And a genie appears in front of him dressed in a turban and robe. The genie grants the young man’s dearest wish and gives him a flying carpet woven out of air…
Svetlana CHIRTSOVA
