Horned and Antler Motifs in Syrian Dress Embroidery of Hauran or Horan Costume

As featured in some of the Sarakeb (near Tell Mardikh in north east Syria), the traditional Syrian Horan or Hauran (in south) are indeed a stylized type of stitching which looks modern even abstract depicting forms of rebirth (the shedding of antlers) as they have been elements of the human hunting societies and farming economies as early as 4500 BC. and in Hauran as early as 8000 BC where wheat farming and seeding may first have occurred.

Shape of the overall dress (bedouin) in nature takes precedent over color representation and follow a strict band pattern of design and adornment with a large emphasis on antler shapes which were in use up to recent times. Even in Damascus today boiling antler is interpreted as a fertility drink at the natural herb stores on the street the old city.

After the horse, Rams, Goats, Stags, Deer or Caribou even Bulls, Buffalo and Bison, and cow, horns depicted a form of an amulet-protection, Talismans (حجاب) Hijab in Arabic, and appeared on clothing even over doorways in Spain and Bulgaria. They also appear on Central Asia carpets and take on simpler less (real) stylistic shapes as floral embroidery spread more and more especially because the modern boarders of today’s Syria (post World War Two) has vastly shrunk, it remains practically impossible for me to pin 📌

However; the influence of a dozen nomadic Turkmen tribes in the business of herding and livestock who also roamed the Syrian area during the Ottoman occupation, and most importantly the Charkass (Circassian refugees) fleeing the Russian Empire genocide were exiled out of their country located on the shores of the Black Sea Black Sea ( up to 90% of the population). also influenced the bustling Hauran area in general. The abundance of volcanic black stone Roman ruins is a constant reminder of the opulent era of this land hundreds of years ago. Unfortunately scarcity of snow that fed Hauran soil from mountains near by ack of interest from the central government have contributed to the frustration of this district. The tight grip of the elder Druz sheiks in Jabal Druz which began during Ottoman times still exists but in the more recent times has actually helped endure and keep the population together.

The protection motifs we all do agree on as in reinforced seams and interlocked zigzag patterns are universal as they strengthened the hems, seams and all edges where the body will be exposed to the elements, sand or thistles ( kutaifeh, Syria) as the motifs served a triple service. Adornment, amulet protection, and garment strengthening for durability, however; the amulets in the first part of the twentieth century in Syria particularly sometimes still have antler like shapes shooting out around the necklines, sleeves and hems.