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Marriage, Birth, and Fertility:
• Hands on Hips
- Based on the Mother Goddess. This motif is usually used only when the weaver has given birth to a boy to express the pride
of the mother.
• Ram's Horn - Expresses fertiliy, heroism and power.
• Fertility
- These are often stylized versions of wheat and pomegranate, which symbolizes fertility.
• Hair Band
- Expresses the yearning of a young woman to get married. Young village girls typically keep their hair long until marriage.
• Earrings - Because it is a traditional marriage present, this motif represents a girl's desire to
get married.
• Chest - Representing the dowry chest, this motif expresses a girl's yearning to
get married.
• Ying&Yang - Expresses love and unity.
• Star - Represents
happiness.
Protection of life, land, and possessions:
• Burdock
- This motif is based on a plant with burrs, which is believed to ward away evil. At our wedding, my mother and aunts kept
this plant burning throughout the ceremony.
• Comb - Represents the weaver's desire to get married, as well
as the wish to keep evil away from marriage and birth.
• Amulet - Many people wear amulets with small scrolls
of paper inside them to ward away evil.
• Eye/Evil Eye - This motif is believed to keep away the Evil Eye.
• Cross - The cross is believed to keep away evil by splitting it into four and reduce its power.
•
Hook
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| Motifs for the Protection of Life, Land, and Possessions |
Immortality
• Tree of Life
Strength
and Power/Longevity:
• Birds of Prey
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| Marriage, Birth, and Fertility Motifs |
Essentials of life:
• Running Water - Also expresses
the wish for life to continue smoothly, like the running water.
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| Essentials of Life Motifs |
Protection of life:
• Snake
• Dragon -
Dragons are mythical creatures with beaks, wings, and lion's feet. They are believed to be the ruler of the sky. They are
also the protector of treasures and sacred objects, such as the Tree of Life.
• Scorpion - In a similar way
to the Evil Eye motif, weaving a scorpion into a carpet is believed to keep real scorpions away.
• Wolf Mouth
- Many people who make carpets, make their livelihood by herding sheep and goats. Wolves are dreaded animals, which can wipe
out entire herds in mintues. Therefore, by weaving wolf motifs into the carepts, people try to keep wolves away.
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| Motif for the Protection of Life |
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