Nanotechnology in Ancient Indian Art
I recently stumbled on this interesting article of Indian craftsmen using nanotechnology to make weapons and cave paintings. It points to use of nanotechnology in ancient Indian art, in Indian cave paintings.
Read the article here:
‘Indian craftsmen, artisans used nanotechnology 2000 yrs ago’
Citing examples of the famous Damascus blades used in the famous sword of Tipu Sultan and Ajanta Paintings, Nobel laureate Robert Curl Jr. said studies have found existence of carbon nano particles in both.
They had the technology to make wootz steel, a ‘high-grade’ steel that was highly prized and much sought after across several regions of the world over nearly two millennia.
This was used to make Persian daggers which were quite popular in Europe centuries ago. Wootz also had a high percentage of carbon, which was introduced by incorporating wood and other organic matter during fabrication.
What is Wootz Steel?
This is a type of crucible steel, i.e. a type of steel produced by melting the raw materials in a crucible. Due to its high quality, Wootz steel was traded all over the ancient and Medieval world, including Europe, the Middle East, and China. The qualities of Wootz steel were well-suited to making weapons.
Forging of Damascus Steel
Nanotechnology in ancient Indian art?
So what does it all mean… the wonders I saw at Ajanta and Ellora caves, the serenity and beauty of the cave paintings, the elaborately sculptured treasures… all result of such high technology??
That too centuries ago?!
There were evidences of carbon nano particles in the swords of Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore and at cave paintings of Ajanta, Maharashtra. Indian craftsmen used the concept in making weapons and art work.
Future uses of nanotechnology is to use as effective alternative for solving renewable energy problems and alleviating over dependence on fossil fuels. Vigorous nanotechnology research is on, especially the nanotechnology in medicine.
Nanotechnology refers broadly to a field of applied science and technology whose unifying theme is the control of matter on the atomic and molecular scale, normally 1 to 100 nano meters, and the fabrication of devices with critical dimensions that lie within that size range.(wikinanotechnology)
Bodhisattva Padmapanu from Ajanta Caves (Source)
unfortunately many such technological feats of ancient India has gone undocumented for various reasons…
one reason could be that literacy was limited to a particular section of the society and the skilled craftsmen were not literate enough to document these skills.
In some cases skills were not deliberately passed to next generation. Take the example of Taj Mahal …arms of artisans who made this wonderful monument were cut off so that a replica is never made.
still googling on it…
Very interesting facts…I read the other article too. Any pointers on how nanotechnology was used in the Ajanta paintings?
Great! Isn’t this proving to be such a voyage of discovery! WOuld love to read about nanotechnology use in Ajanta paintings.