People usually think of graffiti as a criminal act that vandals commit by spraying paint on walls. It is common in big cities such as New York and Los Angeles. It is often not regarded as an art but rather as an act committed by delinquents or gang members who want to mark their territory within their gang.
Despite modern graffiti originating in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the early 1960s in the United States, there is a deeper history behind it dating back to past civilizations. Graffiti from the past can give us insight into the events occuring in ancient countries, and can also stimulate our minds to ponder what life was like for the average person in these old empires.
Graffiti in Ancient Egypt
Graffiti started in Egypt during the Ptolemaic rule. The Ptolemaic Dynasty, the final imperial dynasty of Egypt, ruled Egypt for nearly 300 years, from 305 to 30 BC. From 180-47 BC, the Temple of Kom Ombo was built. It held many artifacts, art, godly figures that the Egyptians respected, and graffiti.
Above is a drawing made by someone on just some other temple stone. This art isn’t as sophisticated nor culturally significant to the people living in Egypt then.
The Kom Ombo temple seemed to be a place where people could express their love for gods and ideas with art. That probably wasn’t the only instance of Egyptian graffiti.
Graffiti in Medieval Israel
The next instance of graffiti is a remnant of the Crusader wars. This art can be found in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It contains holy sites in Christianity.
It contained the place where Jesus was crucified. This place also contained past references to the Crusader wars, which were serious religious wars.
Below is graffiti in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; it was made by the Crusaders, who placed many crosses and symbols. The Crusaders' graffiti tactics didn't hold much meaning, which was revolutionary because graffiti as an artistic and cultural movement would grow to mostly comprise of words symbols that make no sense, at least in hindsight.
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