CARPETS AND MOTIFS AS AN ETHNO-SYMBOLIC SOURCE OF NATIONAL UNITY IN TURKMENISTAN

Abstract

The carpet of the Turks resembles a history museum. We can clearly see this from the Pazirik Carpet unearthed by the Soviet archaeologist S.I.Rudenko in the Pazirik Plateau in the south of the Altai Mountains, in the east of Kazakhstan. This carpet is considered as a common product of Central Asian cultures in terms of technique, motif, pattern, color and composition. At the same time, it was effective in acquiring new ideas in terms of archeology and art history. In the article, symbolically, the importence of Turkish carpets in providing national unity was emphasized. Carpet motifs were also considered as elements that united Turkish tribes and lineages under one roof. Starting from the concept of “The flag is the symbol of the homeland” in Turks, the carpet and the flag, which is the official symbol of the state, were brought side by side in order to expand the general design. The flag with a carpet inside has no other example in the world. The flag of Turkmenistan was adopted on February 19, 1992 as the “national flag” after independence. This date is celebrated as “flag Festival” every year. There are “Turkmen Carpet” motifs extending as a thick strip on the left side of the flag. The green floor of the Turkmen Carpet symbolizes the Turkmen history. The half-moon designed diagonally on the Turkmen flag symbolizes the future, the five stars symbolize the Turkmen provinces and the carpet motifs symbolize the Turkmen tribes. In addition, the names of each carpet motif and the regions it represents are explained.