A Study on the Symbolic Significance of Medallion in Persian Carpet Seyyed Mohammad

Among various Persian carpet designs, medallion and medallion with spandrels designs have special status due to their both aesthetic and frequency of use in carpets. It seems that the medallion in Persian carpet has not achieved this significance only for its aesthetic aspects. In this paper, the significance of this pattern is investigated from symbolic point of view using library-based survey and content analysis. Medallion in the carpet has reached such maturity and aesthetic climax from both conceptual and appearance aspects that this can hardly be seen in other arts. Medallion pattern has developed from mythical beliefs and it symbolizes garden and pool; but its evolution to today's state is in fact the manifestation of the beliefs, thoughts and dreams of the Iranian Muslim artists that are manifested in a heavenly garden and spiritual space. On the other hand, visualizing heavenly concepts in the medallion departs from mortal and earthly state, and seeks introducing a holy space by using abstract patterns. In this way, an eternal world, which cannot be depicted in any mortal form, is portrayed by applying a symbolic rendition. For realizing all of its connotations, the designer and/or weaver chooses the center of the carpet to stimulate this prominent concept