Symbol of the pagan sun in the motifs of ancient Armenian rugs

I have to laugh at the ridiculous names that have been given to borders on Caucasian rugs. The “Crab” border is one I talked about in a past post which is the Jerusalem Cross.

Someone told me recently this was probably named by the weavers who didn’t know what they were weaving. WRONG.

It was named by Western “experts” who didn’t understand the design origin of the border.

Now I will talk about another ubiquitous border called the “Wineglass” border or its other name the “Leaf and Calyx’ border.

Most people don’t realize that borders on Caucasian rugs are usually half of a whole design. Put them together and you will see that the so-called “Wineglass” border is half of a design that goes back to the Pazyryk rug woven by the Urartians or proto-Armenians in 500 BC.

It represents the pagan Sun that later became the Christian symbol for the Cross. You can see it back on the helmet of Tigran the Great.

Only the people that designed and wove it understand what it is. The others just copied and came up with silly names.

by Arto Tavukciyan