Analyzing the Geometric Structure of Mahi-Dar-Ham in Herati Carpet

One of the most important and widely-used motifs in Iranian carpets is the best-known “Herati” design, also known as “Mahi-dar-ham”, which has been the focus of attention in most weaving centers in decorating carpet fields. The sub-patterns of this design have been slightly modified to add variety to this design. Despite many intricate Islimi (Arabesque) and Khataiee (Tendrils) motis, Mahi-dar-ham is a simple vagire that covers the overall field of carpets. Up to the moment, different hypotheses have been proposed regarding its origin and its symbolic concepts. The present study deals with the general form of Mahi-dar-ham and its sub-patterns so as to provide its original pattern. Early investigations revealed that one of the knots in “Hasht” (The Eight) category known as “Hasht and Wavy Zohreh” composed of square sub-patterns could be considered as the origin of Mahi-dar-ham. Therefore, their components were compared and contrasted. The results show maximum correspondence and overlapping between Mahi-dar-ham and Hasht and Wavy Zohreh. This finding casts doubt over those hypotheses attributing the history of this sub-pattern to Pre-Islamic Era; thus, strengthening those hypotheses linking its development and extension to Islamic Era and Timurid Dynasty and probably the city of Herat. The elements of Mahi-dar-ham have been the subject of various alterations since the Qajar era to put it into new forms while avoiding too much repetition and invariability. The mysterious meaning and the symbolic concepts behind Mahi-dar-ham have always been the subject of researchers’ speculation from different perspectives.