What Did Greek Murals Or Wall Paintings Often Contemplate?

Greek murals and wall paintings often depict landscapes, mythological creatures, or scenes from everyday life. These ancient works date back to the Bronze Age, and can be seen at sites like Knossos, Tiryns, and Corinth. In some cases, they show everyday life, while other times they depict epic scenes and depict people who are famous in history. Whatever the subject matter, the paintings were beautiful and inspiring to look at.

Some examples of early Greek murals include the famous Alexander Mosaic, which is an exact copy of an ancient wall painting in the Alexander Mosaic. The later Greco-Roman artifacts from Egypt, such as the Fayum mummy portraits, were often re-painted as murals. The same technique was also used in the creation of Byzantine icons, which were sometimes continuations of Greek illusionistic style.

Wall paintings were originally painted on wood boards, and were often made of tempera or wax paints. Unfortunately, these paintings were not very durable, and many have been destroyed. But there are a few notable exceptions. The “Tomb of Diver” and the “Pista panels” survived centuries of destruction. Even though the majority of Greek murals and wall paintings are dated to the Bronze Age, some are much earlier and more detailed.