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Where is LILIHAN(LYLYAN)?
South of the City of ARAK(formerly Sultanabad) and about ten miles west of Khomein lies a small area called Kemerah, where the main town of LILIHAN (Lylyan) is located. The majority of the population are Persian Armenians.
In the sixteenth century, Persia was a region divided between various powers. The Ottoman Empire controlled Persia either militarily or as a suzerainty and the eastern border fluctuated during the wars with the Timurids, Uzbeks, Turkmen, and Mughals.
Finally, in the closing years of the century, Abbas Safavi, called "Abbas the Great," finally slipped from the bonds of Turkish control and established what we know as modern Persia. To help pay for the effort, the Shah moved loyal Armenians into the interior of the country and helped them in business.
In fact, a system of grants to Armenian Merchants made them, in effect, partners with the crown. The classical carpets of ISFAHAN were Armenian and the leading traders of the time were also Armenian.
LILIHAN (LYLYAN) carpets are thick, attractive, exceptionally long-wearing rugs made by Armenians in IRAN. These rugs are related to SAROUK rugs, but are made with sturdy single-weft construction.
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