Myth & Magic

Throughout the long history of textile production in ancient Inner and Central Asia, certain visual themes recur, themes which reflect wide spread, common beliefs that transcend political borders as well as ethnic groupings. Such pervasive images, seen in early rugs and textiles more than 2000 years old, have continued to appear over the intervening centuries in areas stretching from the Altai Mountains in the north, across the steppe lands of Central Asia, and westward to Anatolia.


The author explains and illustrates the mythology and belief systems which are the source of patterns recurring throughout the history of mankind in many artistic mediums including the textile art of the tribal people of the Asian continent.