The Pazyryk

Origin: Persia, 5th Century BC
Current Location: Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
Weaving Technique: Turkish knot, approximately 360,000 knots per square meter (232 knots per square inch).

In 1949, Russian archaeologist S. I. Rudenko unearthed a remarkable rug preserved by ice in a tumulus in the Altai Mountains of Central Asia. This extraordinary find, dating back to the Achaemenid period, is the only rug from this era to have survived to the present day.

Although discovered in a Scythian burial mound, most experts, including Rudenko, attribute its origins to Persia. Its intricate design mirrors the artistic style of Persepolis sculptures, particularly in the double border adorned with 28 horses and riders. This number intriguingly aligns with the count of males who historically carried Xerxes' throne to Persepolis.

The inner border features a row of elks or stags, while the central field displays a pattern of squares with large rosettes. This design evokes the alabaster paving of King Assurbanipal's palace, a feature still visible in the British Museum.