The Yerakhorran /Tri Apsidal/ (or as some scholars refer to it, Gorzi) is perhaps the oldest Armenian preserved rug with inscription. It belongs to the group of Khoran-style (Altar-style) rugs. Rugs of this type are characterized by one or more altars separated by columns, often adorned with floral elements and a hanging oil lamp at the top of the altar. In general, rugs of this group are associated with the Church and religious rituals, and they were mainly used as prayer rugs.
The decorative system of the rug is based on the principle of adorning the field with arch-shaped altars. The altars are separated by columns. The upper part of the rug’s field, left vacant, is decorated with stylized animal motifs and floral patterns. The rug is bordered with one wide band adorned with a floral chain and two narrow bands featuring acanthus leaf patterns.
Unfortunately, according to Ganzhorn, the Yerakhorran is currently considered lost, though it was previously kept in a private collection in Vienna (Ashkhunj Poghosyan considers that it is in the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna). In 1895, the German orientalist Alois Riegl first published information about the rug, basing his findings on the inscription interpreted by Father Grigor Ghalemkaryan, an Armenian scholar and member of the Mekhitarist Congregation in Vienna. Riegl concluded that the rug was woven in 1202 in Banants.
Father Ghalemkaryan’s interpretation of the inscription is as follows:
"This is the [work of] Archangel Kirakos of Banants, in memory of Hripsime of the house of Year 1250 (1202 CE). This [or I] [wove?] this craft/art." /Դ/րան Արկանելի Կիրակոսի բանասէրի ետ/?/ ա յիշատակ Հռիփսիմէի տ/ան/ն ՈԾԱ. թվին զսա Գ. /կամ Պ./ որժիս ա/րա/եստ/
There are various interpretations of the inscription, which, while differing to some extent, agree on the rug’s origin in Banants. Examples include:
- Mania Ghazaryan: "By Archangel Kirakos of Banants, in memory of Lady Hripsime, in the year 1250, this was made by me." /Արկանելի/ս/ Կիրակոսի Բանանցեցաց ի յիշատակ Հռիփսիմէ տի/կի/ն ՌԾԱ. թաին զսա գործի սա եմ/
- Vardan Temurjyan: "By Archangel Kirakos of Banants, in memory of Hripsime, of the house, in the year 1250, this I made." /«Արկանեփս Կիրակոսի բանանցեցաց ի յիշատակ Հռօփսիմէի տն ՈԾԱ. թվին զսա գործիցա ես» և այլն/
However, some scholars believe the weaver simply omitted a part of the letter "Ո" and that the actual date should be 1602 rather than 1202. Among these scholars is Volkmar Gantzhorn, who provided a different reading of the inscription and named the rug Gorzin after what he interpreted to be the name of the weaver.
Gantzhorn’s interpretation is as follows:
"Curtain for the door of the Holy Hripsime Temple, for the Holy of Holies, Lord’s Year 1051 a.p. (1602 CE or 1651). This is by me, Master Gorzin (I made or donated it)." /ՍԲ Հռիփսիմէի տաճարի Սրբաթիւն սրբոցի դռան վարագոյր Տիրոջ 1051 ա փ (Ք. հ. 1602 թ.) կամ 1651: Սա ես Գորզի վարպետս (ես եմ արել կամ նւիրաբերել) /.
Thus, he considers that the Rug was not just a simple prayer rug, but was made as a curtain for the door of a temple. This interpretation is far away from what the letters say on the inscription of the rug.
Source:
Volkmar Ganzhorn, The Christian Oriental Carpet
Ashkhunj Poghosyan, On the question of the origin of the "Yerakhoran" carpet.