A peek at the Kurdish Textile Museum

In a tent made with black woven goat hair in the Kurdish Textile Museum in the Citadel in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, I stood on Kurdish carpets woven in the early 1900s. The museum has more than 400 carpets and is reopening very soon, after more than 18 months of renovation. The history and culture of Kurdistan, with a focus on Erbil, on display is extensive and beautiful. To be surrounded by such beauty for an hour and a half is a reminder that even in a region with violence and war surrounding on all sides, there is some place where peace and splendor prevail. Life continues amidst instability everywhere – what other choice is there?

More photos and a more in-depth story on Kurdish textiles will be coming soon!