The Persian carpet ((فرش ایرانی /farsh/ or /qāli/) is an essential part of Persian art and culture. Carpet-weaving is undoubtedly one of the most distinguished manifestations of Persian culture and art, and dates back to ancient Persia. Historical records show that the Achaemenian court of Cyrus the Great at Pasargadae was decked with magnificent carpets. The Pazyryk Carpet, the oldest known surviving carpet in the world, 5th century BC was thought, by its discoverer Sergei Rudenko, to be a product of the Achaemenid
In recent times, Iranian carpets have come under fierce competition from other countries producing reproductions of the original Iranian designs as well as cheaper substitutes.
