Traditional Rugs - Navajo Technical University€¦ · Traditional Rugs n History says the Diné were introduced to weaving from the Spanish and the Pueblo during the 17th century

+Traditional Rugs

n  History says the Diné were introduced to weaving from the Spanish and the Pueblo during the 17th century

n  Clothed, fed, protected n  Dresses, chief blankets, saddle

blanket, doors

n  Trade for other goods

n  Protection

n  Some rugs would have hair of cougars or other protective way animals or mountain top plants for protection

n  Designs would help navigate

+Traditional Rugs – the Design

n  The Designs told a story or mapped locations

n  Four Layers of Dawn n  1. First Light

n  2. White/Gray

n  3. Sun about to come up

n  4. Sun touches mother earth


n  Evening

n  Mid-evening

n  Midday

n  Mid-morning

n  Morning

•  Ode to Spider Woman

+Traditional Rugs – the Symbols

n  Star with Horns

n  Guidance to travel at night undetected

n  Protection

n  Would also be symbolized on natural landscapes

n  Clouds n  Spider Woman n  Changing Woman

n  Born for Water n  Monster Slayer


n  Four Layers of Sunset n  1. Meet Mother Earth

n  2. Pale yellow

n  3. Thin twilight

n  4. Folding darkness

Traditional Rugs - Navajo Technical University€¦ · Traditional Rugs n History says the Diné were introduced to weaving from the Spanish and the Pueblo during the 17th century

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