Lahich

Lahic was one of the most famous craft centers in the Caucasus since the Middle Ages. The traditions of handicraft, the manufacture of cold steel and copper objects decorated with engraved patterns have been changed from generation to generation.

     

Overview

Lahıc is a town located in İsmayıllı (region) of Azerbaijan about 180 km west from capital Baku, at the foot of the Great Caucasian Ridge, on the left bank Girdimanchay, at an altitude of 1100-1200 meters above sea level on the slope of the mountain chain Govdag 2437 m and 2322m Niyaldag.Lahij  is one of the famous since the Middle Ages in the Caucasus and beyond as center of craft, shopping and production of cold steel and copper utensils, decorated with engraved patterns.  The town was originally a copper mining hub. The mountain terrain above Shemakha is ill-suited to agriculture, hence Lahic’s developed into a craft center. Tourism, carpet weaving, copper and brass work (pots, samovars…) sustain the village’s economy. The territory is recognized as a cultural reserve and is considered a popular touristic destination of the Great Silk Road.

Climate

In Lahij with its wonderful climate and alpine meadows grows a variety of useful plants. Here and herbs, roots and all kinds of spices. Ice and snow cut Lahic off from the valley for weeks at a time in winter.

Herbal plants

Many in Lahij and small shops called Attar, which sells a variety of medical herbs and mining tools capable invigorate spirit and heal the body. Local healers independently collect mountain herbs, harvest them and sell to all comers. Azerbaijan has long used a drug to such spices as saffron to prolong life and strengthen the liver, a carnation for cheerfulness thyme (thyme) – for digestion, and so on.

History of Lahich

The first quarter of Lahij Aragird was founded in III-IV centuries. Curiously, the city has a water supply system and sewage system, which is almost one and a half thousand years.Each quarter is divided into streets, dead-ends, each with its own spring, a mill, a bath, a mosque and a madrasa. Lahij village founded in the IV century and is a historical and architectural reserve, included in the international tourist route “Great Silk Road”. In the historical sources of different periods, it is referred to as “Al-Abkhazia,” “Landzhan”, “Al-Aydzhan”; “Layidzhan”. Lahij became famous as a center of ancient craftsmanship. In XVIII-XIX centuries was one of the main centers of production of copper utensils and weapons. Lahij  is famous machetes, made of Damascus steel. In the middle of the XIX century, more than 200 craft workshops operated in the settlement. Here 127 types of art was developed. Lahıc carpets and metalwork fetched high prices in the bazaars of Baghdad. The population was around 15,000 until WWII, when the privations of war led many to starve or flee across the mountains: the road wasn’t built until the 1960s.Now Lahij is a historical and architectural monument, protected by the state and appearance of the settlement preserved in its original form.

Ethnic content

Main population Lagij is ethnical minority with the same name Lagiji (Lahiji). In its origin Tats are lineal descendants of Iranian-speaking population, displaced in IV century the Sassanids in the Caspian region of Azerbaijan.  The  main population of the village – Lahij (self – Lahij, Lahij). Language of the residents of the village is one of the most isolated variations of the Tat language, having the name lahiji, very close to Persian. This language belongs to the Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages and is a dialect of the New Persian language. Lahij population mostly bilingual: in addition to their native language and is widely used as the Azerbaijani language.

City of masters

The most popular activity in Lahich from the oldest was the production of copper products. The secrets of the case were passed on to the families from generation to generation. Over the centuries, developed handicraft skills and traditions have created the conditions for the rapid development and spread of carpet weaving in Lahic. Here, in the middle of the 20th century, a carpet cooperative was created. Traditionally, various ornaments of Lahic masters of copper workers, jewelers, blacksmiths and are used as artisans and artists of carpet art. Lahic’s carpets, thanks to their high artistic qualities, quickly gained popularity and became important for export. They are distinguished by a special beauty of multi-colored and are in great demand in the world market. In Lahice there are many shops selling carpets. Here you can buy pile and lint-free carpets woven by local traditions, as well as carpets of all recognized schools of Azerbaijani carpets: Cuban, Shirvan, Ganja, Kazakh, Karabakh and Tabriz. There are also a dozen shops here, where hereditary blacksmiths in front of astonished tourists make a variety of household items. In the shops-studios you can find many interesting souvenirs.

Culture

At an altitude of 1505 meters above sea level, you can see the most beautiful forests and landscapes along the river and the gorge Peshtera, springs and waterfalls, scattered in the mountains at different heights. The nearest waterfall is located 2 km. The quaint little one-room Lahıc History Museum (Nizami küç; donation expected; h9am-8pm) is housed in a former mosque next door to the tourist office. It displays a typical selection of traditional cooking and farming instruments, ancient weapons and pottery, plus painted portraits of local artists and writers, a disproportionate number for such a tiny place. In Agoglu mosque, built in 1914, is located Lagich museum. It was published by the museum, the exposition of which includes more than 1000 exhibits. The skills of production and sale of handmade products created favorable conditions for development in Lahij and carpet weaving. In the middle of the XX century in the village was created   the first workshop for the production of carpets . The weaving is widely used in oriental ornaments lagij tinkers and blacksmiths. The skills of production and sale of handmade products created favorable conditions for development in Lahij and carpet weaving. In the middle of the XX century in the village was created   the first workshop for the production of carpets . The weaving is widely used in oriental ornaments lagij tinkers and blacksmiths.In Lahij operates a local historical museum, where you can get acquainted with the ancient way of life and history of the village.In 1980  in  the territory of Lahij created State Historical-Architectural Reserve.  And still it operates here a dozen shops, where hereditary blacksmiths in front of astonished tourists made a variety of household items.   The majority of products were decorated with complex and graceful patterns.

Architecture of Lahij

High mountain village of Lahij in Ismayilli region of Azerbaijan is an original monument of town-planning and architectural art of antiquity. Houses in Lahij constructed from treated river stones Built on the basis of quarterly construction Lahij is an original monument of medieval urban planning and architectural art with cobbled streets and squares, developed sewerage system and water supply. Age of the local sewage system is estimated at about 1,000 years. All the buildings are made of stone,  arranged wooden slats.  Among the unique monuments of architecture of the mosque “brew”, “Agolli,” “Badoy” Araki “, a variety of baths, bridges, etc.

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