Photos of the Very Rare Ancient Greek Fresco Paintings Art

Home  /  Classical Antiquity Photos /  Ancient Greeks Photos

Photos of the Very Rare Ancient Greek Fresco Paintings from the beautiful decorated Paestum Tombs. Includes the Tomb Diver Fresco. Photos by photographer Paul E Williams. (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

How To Download These Photos ?

Photos of the Very Rare Ancient Greek Fresco Paintings from the Paestum Tombs.

---

Photos of wonderful Ancient Greek Fresco Tomb Paintings from the Paestum.

Ancient Greek Fresco Paintings are very very rare. They are so fragile that few have survived. Some of the few that remain were found as internal tomb decoration of the coffins in the Necropolis of Paestum, Italy.

Originally named Poseidonia by the Ancient Greeks, the city was later renamed by the Romans as Paestum when they conquerored it in 275 BC.

Paestum Ancient Greek Tomb of the Diver Fresco

Paestum is renowned for its tomb frescoes. The “Tomb of the Diver”, which is the only example of Greek painting with human figures. Dating from built in about 470BC it has remarkably survived in its entirety.

Ancient Greek Symposium Fresco

In ancient Greece, the symposium was an important social drinking party and the long sides of the Tomb of the Diver are painted with men reclining on couches drinking.

Some of the men are calling for wine from a slave boy who is depicted on one of the end panels of the tomb with a wreathed crater. In one panel of the Symposium the men are depicted with musical instruments possibly playing the songs of Eros to help the deceased journey to the next world.

On the other Symposium panel there is a sense of sexuality between 2 male figures who look longingly at each other. The scenes could depict the next world where pleasure rules and the deceased will be reborn.

The lid of the Tomb of the Diver depicts a young man diving into the Ocean of death which symbolises the the passage from life to death.

On the other end panel there is a cortege made up of a naked young man with a short blue cape proceeded by a flutist and followed by a pedagogue leaning on a cane.

Other Ancient Greek Fresco

The other tomb paintings that have serviced in Paestum belonging to the period of the Lucanian rule. Popular frescos depict chariot racing, hunting scenes, dualing men and the deceased on his or her death bed.

The collection of Paestum tomb paintings can be seen in the museum of Paestum adjacent to the archaeological site. The tomb paintings of Paestum which have survived in remarkable condition. A UNESCO Wolrd Heritage Site.Pictures from Paestum National Archaeological Museum.