Tomb of the Diver

The Tomb of the Diver is an archaic Greek funerary monument discovered near Paestum in Campania, Italy, and dated to about 470 BCE. It is notable for its rare funerary painting, especially a depiction of a diver on the sarcophagus lid.

The surviving painted panels include a striking image of a lone diver on the lid and interior scenes that appear to represent symposium and ritual imagery; these are exceptional examples of Greek wall painting from the early Classical period. The original tomb and its panels are conserved and exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum of Paestum.

The tomb was created in the early 5th century BCE in the Greek cultural sphere of southern Italy and was excavated in 1968. Its paintings have been extensively studied for what they reveal about funerary iconography and local Greek-Italian artistic practice.

The monument was found in the vicinity of the ancient Greek city of Paestum in Campania; the painted panels are now housed in the museum in Paestum.

• Date and discovery: Excavated in 1968 near Paestum, the tomb's painted lid with a diving scene is unique in archaic Greek funerary painting in Italy and dates to around 470 BCE.

What to See #

• Diver fresco (lid): The painted limestone sarcophagus lid with the famous frescoed image of a diving figure, often interpreted as a symbolic passage or transition motif.
• Interior wall paintings: The small burial chamber interior decorated with painted scenes, including men at feasting and other motifs preserved on the tomb walls and floor panels.