Story

Took me 2 long years to acquire it. And it turned out to be far more important than I dared imagine. Check this out 👇 and brace yourselves for a ride of literally Biblical proportions, mathematical ingenuity, and primal tribal power.

The mystery weaver drew 125 peacocks. I doubt any other rug has a higher number. 5 stand out in glaring white forming a clear cross shape ie ❌ marks the spot. The cruciform symbolism needs no explaining. That leaves 120 birds in alternating shades of saturated red.

The numeral 5 has profound symbolism in Islam beyond the pentagram: the five prayers, the five pillars, the five holy members of the Prophet Mohammad’s household, 🖐 etc.

Mathematically 120 = 5! = 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1. This is called 5-factorial and brilliantly links the number of white birds to that of the dark ones. 120 is a number imbued with significant numerical and numerological symbolism. It forms the ancient “long hundred” of Germanic & Anglo-Saxon society (look it up).

It is 12 x 10, a combo of the two most widespread modular bases. Our current arithmetic scheme is base 10 (fingers, toes, currency, counting sheep..). The ancient Babylonian one was base 12, hence 12 hours and 12 months and 360 degrees in a circle etc. Of course 12 also refers to the Shi’a Imams, the Apostles of Christ, the Israelite Tribes, the constellations of the zodiac, days of Christmas, and so endlessly on.

120 is also associated with ancient Zoroastrian & Hebrew traditions. Said to be the age of Moses at time of death, “120 years” is used by both Persians and Jews today as a really incredible age to live to. “Once in 120 years” is equivalent in Persian culture to “once in a blue moon” in English. It’s said that the ancient Achaemenids would hold festivities every 120 years and no living human would ever witness two, hence the saying.

I think I’ll stop here.
Just forget all the above now and behold how truly beautiful this Baluch rug really is. Regardless of everything. But how infinitely more sublime it is when considering everything.