A Symbol of Devotion: Ghiordes Pattern Prayer Rug
Both an ornamental piece of fabric and a symbol of devotion, the Ghiordes Pattern Prayer Rug is intricately woven by hands whose names we will never know, yet whose reach stretches to the present day. Dated to the late 19th to early 20th century, this prayer rug is in SAM’s collection. A field of flowers—infused with the history of ancient Gordion, located in modern western Turkey—buzzes in abundance around a central portal in the shape of a mihrab, an architectural niche that indicates the direction of prayer.
The intensity of the mihrab draws you in, blurring the flowers into the periphery and directing your focus to a single hanging lamp in the distance. A common motif in mosques across the world, the lamp is the only illumination in the dark, serving as a quiet symbol of guidance and hope. The worn patterns at the bottom of the rug reveal a story of use—a record of those who stood, knelt, and bowed here in prayer, day after day.
I like to imagine who might have used this rug—whose feet pressed into its fibers, whose hands traced its woven details, whose forehead met its surface in an intimate moment of reflection. How many prayers were whispered here in a secret shared only with their Creator? How many hopes and burdens were carried into each moment of stillness? This rug, though inanimate, holds within it a history of devotion—a continuity that stretches across generations and geographies. Prayer rugs like this offer a space of solace, whether in grand mosques or in exile, in places of peace or in lands shaped by struggle. From ancient Gordion to present-day Seattle, I am connected to the humanity of all those who prayed.
Read More: Object of the Week: Oiling
Eid Al-Fitr, meaning “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” marks the celebratory end of the holy month of Ramadan. After a month of fasting from dawn to dusk, it is a time of renewal, generosity, and community. But beyond celebration, Eid is also a moment of reflection. It is a reminder that faith is both personal and collective; it is a force that calls for compassion, justice, and responsibility toward others.
This year especially, I am reminded of the importance of standing with those who face hardship, both across the world and within our own communities. As we stand in prayer this Eid, let our hearts be filled not only with gratitude but with the resolve to uphold dignity wherever it is threatened. This rug, worn by the passage of time, is a testament to continuity—to the unbroken thread of faith, resilience, and hope that connects us all.
– Raziah Ahmad, Curatorial Division Coordinator
Image credits: Ghiordes pattern prayer rug, late 19th-early 20th century, Islamic, Anatolia, Ghiordes (modern western Turkiye), Pile-woven wool, 73 1/4 x 55 in. (186.06 x 139.7 cm), Seattle Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Breck P. MacAllister in memory of her mother, Mrs. William C. Heussy, 62.169. Oiling, 2012, Faig Ahmed, hand-knotted wool, 59 × 39 1/2 in., Margaret E. Fuller Purchase Fund, 2013.13 © Faig Ahmed