The term metaphor derives from the Greek μετά φέρειν (to carry across), which in ancient times often meant "by ship," making seafaring a metaphor for poetry. The ship, as a symbol of departure and the adventure of life, has since become one of the most inspiring images in literature. We find sea and deep-sea fantasies not only in Homer and Melville but also in Jules Verne, Baudelaire, T. S. Eliot, and even Dante. In 14 essays, Durs Grünbein explores the fascination of the sea, not only in books but also in the Museo Archeologico of Paestum and on the bottom of the Tyrrhenian Sea.