Hushang Shah Rug
Written by Abdolhossein Ghasemnejad.Pictorial rugs are thought to have originated in the Qajar period. Parviz Tanavoli was the first person to carry out research on such rugs and published his findings in a book titled ‘Iranian Pictorial Rugs’.
Visualization[1] goes back to ancient Iran with early traces on carved pottery dating back to prehistoric Iran. However, visualization as a means to narrate tales is a more recent phenomenon common in Iran 1000 BC, which explains how significant visualization and story-telling have been to Iranians.
In general, the tendency to create Pictorial rugs stem from an interest Iranians have since taken in this concept. King Hushang rugs are among the main Qajar weaves which are held in high regard as they narrate the story of King Hushang of Pishdadian dynasty. It is said that the first of such rugs was woven in Hamedan and later commonly created in other areas.[2]
King Hushang
Hushang is one of the first figures mentioned in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh who is quite renowned among Iranians because of the ups and downs of his life narrated in Shahnameh. According to Dr. Zhaleh Amouzgar, Hushang[3] is the first king on the Pishdadian line of monarchy. His name means the person who is skilled at building houses or the one who generously gives away good houses. In Avesta, he is referred to as Paradata which means a person who is bestowed the right to rein.[4] According to Iranian mythology, he was the first legislator[5] and the discovery of fire attributed to him celebrates the beginning of the century.[6] He also managed to beat the army of the black devils in revenge for the death of his father[7] and thus ruling over both humans and the devils.[8] Such stories are so interesting that they were narrated to people throughout history and are also reflected on rugs known as King Hushang rugs.
Hushang Shah Rug Structure
These rugs are basically the same and depict the king sitting on the throne in the middle. Ministers and other officials and servants appear on both sides of the throne. At the bottom of the throne we can see enslaved devils who, in some patterns, may also appear to be carrying the throne on their shoulders. Sometimes a lion is sitting on the stairs down to the throne, too.
References
Bibliography
- Amouzgar, Jaleh. 1380. Mythological History of Iran. 4th edition. Tehran: Samt Publications.
- Hillens, John. 1381. Understanding the Mythology of Iran. Translators: Jale Amoozgar and Ahmad Tafzali. Tehran: Cheshmeh Publishing.
- Pordawood, Ibrahim. 1377. Yasht ha. Tehran: Asatir Publications.
- Tanavoli, Parviz. 1376. Pictural Carpets of Iran. Tehran: Soroush Publications.
- Vandsheari, Ali. 2017. The Myth of Hoshang Shah in Qajar Pictorial Carpets. Goljam. No.10. 87-99.
- Ghasemnejad, Abdolhossein. 2021. Field Work.