In Assyria lived a prince in a castle surrounded by fertile green hills through which a river ran. Beasts walked in tandem and grazed in the pastures by the river. Inside his home were beautiful chambermaids and scientists who developed irrigation systems and musicians with lyres and harps and dancers for his entertainment. And he was reputed to have the finest hand knotted area rugs in the land.

In ancient times it was difficult to acquire area rugs. One had to be a man of great power and wealth. The prince, who claimed ownership to the fertile valley was very happy. Until one day when his friend, an older man who was also his tutor told him that there was much to see in the world. He said that there were even finer area rugs in nearby Lebanon.

The prince was aghast. He could not fathom that there were other places with area rugs as exquisite as his own. He required his old tutor to go with him on a journey to acquire new area rugs. So they left.

Years later, they returned with carts full of area rugs in tow. The prince had seen the world. But when he arrived home and laid his new area rugs next to his old ones, the old ones were still superior. He was dumbfounded.