Roman warships

Bireme & trireme

The name Bireme comes from “Bi” which means two, and “Reme” meaning oar. Most of the time Bireme ships were about 80 feet long and had a beam width of about 10 feet. They had two sets of oars on each side of the boat, employing 120 rowers. The Trireme added 60 more rowers, and an extra tier.

The Bireme and the Trireme ships were mostly used in Julius Caesar’s invasions of Britain. People can identify the difference between the two boats by the numbers of banks and oars.

nemi ships

Nemi ships were built in the 1 st century AD at lake Nemi. They were like floating palaces, they were made with, marble, had mosaic floors, heating, plumbing, and baths.

Isis ship

The Isis was a big ship that operated on the Mediterranean. It was 180 feet long, and the beam was The sophist Lucian described the ship in his book when he saw it in Athens' seaport, Piraeus;

I say, though, what a size that ship was! 180 feet long, the man said, and something over a quarter of that in width; and from deck to keel, the maximum depth, through the hold, 44 feet. And then the height of the mast, with its huge yard; and what a forestay it takes to hold it! And the lofty stern with its gradual curve, and its gilded beak, balanced at the other end by the long rising sweep of the prow, and the figures of her name-goddess, Isis, on either side. As to the other ornamental details, the paintings and the scarlet topsail, I was more struck by the anchors, and the capstans and windlasses, and the stern cabins. The crew was like a small army. And they were saying she carried as much corn as would feed every soul in Attica for a year. And all depends for its safety on one little old atomy of a man, who controls that great rudder with a mere broomstick of a tiller!

By Kaya Bye!!