Paestum - Cemeteries / Tomb Paintings

Outside the town walls of Paestum three large cemeteries, with tomb paintings of the highest quality, have been discovered since 1968.

On the south side are tombs of the fifth century B.C., the heyday of Magna Graecia, with frescoes in the style of the classical vase-painters ("Tomb of the Diver").

To the north are 70 tombs dating from the fourth century (the period of Lucanian predominance) painted in vivid colors, with scenes from everyday life which throw fresh light on the discovery of color, of light and shade and of spatial representation in Western art.

On the west side a cemetery was found, covering an area of 25,000 sq.m/29,900 sq.yd with thousands of third century tombs painted in a style which demonstrates