Persian carpets on display at Athens expo

TEHRAN,Dec.17(MNA)-- An expo displaying traditional Persian carpets opened during a ceremony at Athens’ Divani Caravel Hotel on Thursday. Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Honardust, Iranian cultural attaché Mohammadreza Pakravan and several Greek officials attended the ceremony. At the ceremony, Honardust referred to the Persian carpet as one of the most original kinds of art in Iran calling “preservation of its construction” as one of the main factors for its permanence. He also stressed the development of the Persian carpet market in the world as a valuable Iranian commodity. “The Iranian artists manifest their art of calligraphy and painting in Persian carpets,” Pakravan mentioned at the ceremony. He said that no market is comparable to the Persian carpet in artistic as well as quality aspects and this is the secret of its permanency. “Iranians have manifested their arts in different forms including carpet, Iranian painting, calligraphy to the world since a long time ago,” he said. Hundreds of carpets woven by Iranian artists in different regions are on display for enthusiasts in Athens. Handicrafts created by Iranian artists are also on display in a stand on the sidelines of the event.