Author Description

Mural or wall decoration is a part of the architecture that is an ancient art of the world. Form of art, comprising initially the rock art (petroglyphs, reliefs, drawings etc.) and traces of paint work in the rock-cut caves, dates back to pre-historic Murals at Lascaux (France) to the ceremonial Murals of ancient Egypt, Greece, Mesopotamia and India, has survived and flourished through time during the development and destruction of various layers of civilizations. Recent discoveries and dating of Blombos cave engravings (c. 70, 000 BCE), Dicpkloof eggshell engravings (c.60, 000 BCE), and Sulawesi Cave art of Indonesia (37, 900 BCE) show that even the pre-historic men had fair understanding of art and aesthetics. Some of the most remarkable instances of Mural arts are found in Africa (Tassili cave frescoes in Sahara Desert around 6, 000 BC), Egypt (around 3150 BC), Europe (Minoan Palaces around 1700-1600 BC, and Pompeii around 100 BC-AD 79), Asia (India, Bhimbetka rock paintings of pre-historic era approximately 30, 000 years old and frescoes on the ceilings and 29 rock-cut temples of Ajanta Caves made in 2nd century BC - 480 AD, North Korea, the Goguryeo tomb 37 BC-AD 668 etc.).