The triantaconter (and the penteconter)
It was a high speed oared warship with one row
of 15 (or 25) oars on each side. It was oblong for the placement of 30 (or 50)
oarsmen, with a shallow keel and exceptionally more versatile and faster than
the equivalent "round" commercial ships. It was widely used by the
Mycenaeans and first referred to by Homer as the main ship in the Trojan War.
The oars were tied with loops to the oarlocks of the gunwale and the oarsmen
sat at a distance of 80 cm from this so that it ensured the required torque.
For steering, they used the two big oars of the stern. In the prow it brought a
large bronze coated ram for the ramming of rival ships. Complementarily, it had
a large square sail. The length and width reached 25 (or 35) and 4,5 metres
respectively. It did not have a main deck but two side ones (in the prow and in
the stern).
SOURCES: "The History of the Greek Nation,
Ekdotiki Athens", "Deligiannis Pericles, Naval History",
"Homer, Iliad", "Aelianos Taktikos, Tactic theory".
The bireme
The bireme was an oared warship with two rows
of oars on each side. It was a revolutionary invention by (possibly the Biotian
Greeks since the Trojan War or more probable their settlers, the Erythraeans in
Asia Minor in the 8th century B.C.) which doubled the motion force of the ship
without increasing its length. This was an important advantage in pirate
persecutions and in the ramming of opponents (with the ram of the prow).
Navigation was achieved with the two big oars
of the stern. Complementarily, it had a large square sail with many pulleys for
its unencumbered handling. It usually had 100 oars ("ekatontoros").
Its length and width reached 32 and 4, 80 metres respectively.
Sometimes it had a deck for the protection of
the oarsmen and the facile transport of the warriors.
SOURCES: "The History of the Greek Nation,
Ekdotiki Athens", "Dellopoulos, The Greek Trireme",
"Deligiannis Pericles, Naval History", "Homer, Iliad",
"Aelianos Taktikos, Tactic theory".
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