Tehran, Iran, August 25-- A specialized website on Iranian time-honored art of carpet weaving has been launched to coincide with the opening of an international rug exhibition in Tehran, Iranian Cultural Heritage News Agency reported.
The site, tentatively launched last spring, endeavors to provide experts and students as well as businesses with latest developments and trends in the craft. It also aims to exchange academic know-how with domestic and foreign universities.
The site, which promises to launch its English and French versions soon, is to be updated 5 to 7 times a week and it could be reached at www.rugart.org.
Iran regards itself as the homeland of carpets. The tomb of 6th century BC empire-builder Cyrus the Great was decked with rugs. Shahrokh, son of the 14th century Tartar warlord Tamburlaine, promoted the industry by subsidizing looms.
Customs officials said hand-woven carpet exports fell 4.2 percent in the spring and summer of 2003. Carpets are the Islamic Republic's second most valuable non-oil export after salty pistachio nuts.
