The earliest known Greek frescoes were created on the island of Crete around 1500 BC. The most famous of these is the "Toreador," which depicts figures leaping over bulls as part of a religious ceremony. It is speculated that frescoes spread from Crete to the rest of the Mediterranean world through a form of cultural exchange.
Very little ancient Greek architecture has remained intact and few frescoes from classical Greek civilization have survived to this day. Some of the most famous come from a small, 5th century BC necropolis known as the "Tomb of the Diver." It was discovered just outside the ancient Greek colony of Paestum in southern Italy. The frescoes depict scenes of men socializing at a symposium and a young man diving into a pool.
Ancient artists typically depicted scenes of daily life, religious festivals and mythology. These details give historians valuable insights into the lives and beliefs of common people of the ancient world.