May 22, 2022

History of textile production in Armenia

Few peoples can, like the Armenians, boast of a continuous and consistent record of fine textile production from the first millennium B.C. to the present times. Today, Armenians are blessed by the diversity and richness of a textile heritage passed on by thirty centuries of diligent practice, yet they are burdened by the pressure to keep alive a tradition nearly destroyed in the Genocide of 1915.

Ancient Armenians had begun the art of weaving as early as 1,000 BC. Excavations throughout Armenia have revealed weave fragments from the 7th century BC and before. The oldest surviving complete Armenian weave, which is a carpet and dates to between the 5th and 3rd BC, is on display at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Others have tried to claim the beautiful artwork as their own, but most experts believe the credit goes to Armenian rug makers for the unique funeral accessory.
The beauty of Armenian weave was so notable that even explorer Marco Polo referred to them in his …