{"product_id":"the-diver-of-paestum-youth-eros-and-the-sea-in-ancient-greece-9781509568130","title":"The Diver of Paestum: Youth, Eros, and the Sea in Ancient Greece","description":"Since its discovery in 1968, the painting of a diver on a tomb in Paestum, originally the Greek colony of Poseidonia in southern Italy, has left viewers spellbound. It depicts a beautiful and enigmatic scene: a young man dives headfirst into the water from a cliff or tower. The image is joined by others from the same tomb depicting a banquet of young people drinking wine, playing games and enjoying music. Understanding this painting is often seen as a key to unlocking some of the mysteries of ancient Greek culture - and therein lies the puzzle. What is the meaning of the diver? Is it, as many have argued, a metaphorical representation of the passage from life to a world beyond?\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The eminent art historian Tonio Hölscher rejects this view, arguing that there is nothing symbolic or metaphorical about the painting: the scenes celebrate the real lives of the Greek colonists of the early 5th century BC. The painting captures a young man's spirited personality and pursuits during a life which may have been short, but was lived to the full. In a groundbreaking reversal of how the painting is typically interpreted, this book opens a window onto the world of Ancient Greece and its culture of athleticism, eroticism, love for nature and enjoyment of the sea. A joyful ode to youth, it is above all a unique portrait of the zest for life in Antiquity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTonio Hölscher\u003c\/b\u003e is Emeritus Professor of Classical Archaeology at the University of Heidelberg.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Polity Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51998146953490,"sku":"9781509568130","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_e2f89528-071c-484b-aa29-3f9e2db82349.jpg?v=1770141098","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-diver-of-paestum-youth-eros-and-the-sea-in-ancient-greece-9781509568130","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}