Oriental carpets: top and bottom

Most oriental carpets were woven on a vertical loom so there is a top and a bottom to the carpet. The bottom of the carpet is the end at which weaving began. It's very easy for you to find out which is the top and which is the bottom by simply stroking your hand over the pile of the carpet. The pile of a carpet is like the fur on the back of a cat. If you go from the head to the tail it's very smooth, you're stroking your hand with the fur. If you go in the other direction from the tail to the head, it's difficult because you're going against the fur. It's the same with a carpet. With this carpet, as I move my hand in this direction it's very smooth, I'm going with the pile and my finger is moving towards the bottom of the carpet where the weaving started. If I move in the other direction, I'm meeting resistance, I'm going against the pile and my finger is moving towards the top of the carpet which is where the weavers finished.