Azadeh / Çolpan (Cholpan)
The Goddess Who Descends from the Sky
Collection: The Musician Goddesses Series
Technique: Embroidered on Ödemiş silk using traditional techniques such as couching, backstitch, and traditional Chinese embroidery technique. The figure itself is detailed with needle lace embroidery.
Inspiration: The border design is inspired by Seljuk ceramics, while the central figure draws from Ottoman miniature.
This embroidery is inspired by the figure referred to as Azadeh in Persian mythology and as Çolpan in Turkic mythology, who is identified with the planet Venus. In visual representations, this celestial character almost always appears holding a çeng, an open and angular type of harp.
Çeng
An open, angular type of harp, typically featuring 24 or 34 single or double strings. Instruments of this type have appeared in Mesopotamian reliefs and Uyghur wall paintings. The çeng depicted in this embroidery reflects the form seen in Persian, Seljuk, and Ottoman artworks. In Ottoman miniatures, the çeng is often shown in the hands of female figures and was considered one of the harem instruments. In mythology as well, it is frequently depicted being played by women, highlighting its longstanding association with the feminine.
Detailed information on the representation of the çeng in Seljuk ceramics can be found in the books and articles I have authored.