AlthoughevidencesuggeststhatancientMediterraneanpeopledivedeagerlyintotemplepleasurepools, lakesandthesea, othercultureshave 'swumagainstthetide' — anotherswimmingidiomthere, Neil — meaning 'nottofollowwhateveryoneelseisdoing'.
Someonewhodidenjoyswimmingwasthepoet, LordByron.
Hewrotepoemspopularisingthesportandin 1810 swamtheHellespont, a stretchofwaterseparatingEuropefromAsia.
Youhavesomebeliefsthatwateristhisunsafespace, unnaturalspaceforhumanbeings — thatit's a perpetuationofthechaosthatexistedbeforeGodcreatedland, orthatwateris a mechanismforpunishmentliketheGreatFloodstoryorpharaoh's armybeingdestroyedintheRedSea.