Between Mariners, Pirates and Priests: An Introduction to The World of Ship Graffiti In Medieval Mediterranean

Abstract

Ship graffiti are one of the most common illustrations or vandalismsfound on the walls of medieval and post-medieval monuments in Mediterraneancountries. A multitude of vessels of various types and sizes have been carvedor drawn by the people of the Middle Ages on monuments, such as the Parthenonand the cathedral of Majorca, and humble buildings, such as cisterns and baths. Who made these graffiti? And why? Their occurrence in places of worship(churches, mosques) indicates that they were tokens of suppliance and votives,but equally common is their appearance in secular buildings, often related withwater (baths, fountains, etc.). Moreover, their quality ranges from simplistic‘banana boats’ to highly accurate representations of ship hulls and theirrigging.  This paper will examine certain case studies of medieval Mediterraneangraffiti and propose different scenarios for the nature of their engravers orpainters and the circumstances which led to their creation. Its aim is toexplore the complicated relationship between the creation of ship graffiti andthe contemporary world.