SOME VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF SHIP BUILDING AND NAVIGATION IN ANCIENT INDIAN ART

Abstract [English]

The maritime heritage of the Indian subcontinent is deeply rooted in its extensive river system and vast network of coastlines, which enabled communication, trade, and cultural interaction from ancient times Ray (2018), Tripati (2011). Although historical texts and archaeological findings have traditionally been the main sources for understanding this seafaring past, visual depictions of vessels in early Indian art present a unique and often overlooked form of evidence. This study investigates these artistic representations across a wide timeframe—from the Indus Valley Civilization through to the early medieval era—using an interdisciplinary approach that integrates archaeology, art history, and cultural analysis.
By examining images found on terracotta items, seals, sculpted reliefs, and murals, the research considers how such depictions convey knowledge about shipbuilding, trade routes, symbolic systems, and societal customs linked to maritime activities Ray (2018), Chakrabarti (2001). These visual records are interpreted not simply as ornamental or storytelling devices, but as significant reflections of everyday life, spiritual beliefs, and economic conditions Additionally, they reveal regional differences in vessel design, navigation methods, and the ways maritime imagery was incorporated into religious and artistic contexts Deloche (1994), McGrail (2001)