Once upon a time there was Caligula, who ruled the Roman Empire from 37 to 41 AD. During this short period of time, he became known as a cruel leader, known for his eccentric behavior and incredible orgies. Contemporaries claim that he was obsessed with the constant maintenance of his image and at times implemented the strangest projects, sparing no expense. So, on his order, three huge ships were built, which launched a small lake Nemi, which was considered a saint by the Romans.
At that time, these were the largest ships in the world: about 70 meters long, 20 meters wide. There were stone buildings on them - almost like on the ground. Each of the ships was decorated with marble, mosaics and gilded copper tiles. The vessels were equipped with plumbing, hot water flowed from the taps. Some parts of the aqueduct were richly decorated with the heads of wolves, lions, and mythical creatures.
Can you imagine? I doubt very much that such ships could really exist. Let's dig deeper into this question …
There is a small lake Nemi 30 km south of Rome. This place has long been associated with the cult of Diana. Rex Nemorensis was the title of the priests of Diana of Arricius, whose temple stood at the very water. One could become a priest only by stepping over the blood - having plucked a golden branch in a sacred grove, the applicant had to kill his predecessor in a duel or die himself. Priest candidates were usually fugitive slaves and did not live long. Suetonius reports that when a particularly cunning and strong priest “healed in the world”, the emperor Caligula personally chose and sent a murderer to him.
So, historical evidence: The ancient Roman writer and historian Guy Suetonius Tranquill describes these ships as follows:
"… ten rows of oars … the stern of each of the ships sparkled with precious stones … they had enough baths, galleries and salons, a variety of grapes and fruit trees grew."
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The ships were propelled by rows of oars and wind, and their masts carried purple silk sails. The ship was turned with the help of four huge steering oars 11.3 meters long each.
Panorama of Lake Nemi
Caligula often visited his ships, spending time in various, not always decent activities. According to some historical records, Caligula's ships were scenes of orgies, murder, cruelty, music and sports.
In 41 AD, the extravagant Caligula was killed by Praetorian conspirators. Shortly thereafter, his "pleasure ships", launched just a year ago, were stripped of their precious items and then deliberately flooded. In subsequent centuries, they were completely forgotten.
For centuries, locals have spoken of giant ships resting at the bottom of the lake. Fishermen often pulled out pieces of wood and small metal objects with nets. In 1444, Cardinal Prosperro Colonna, fascinated by the then fashion for antiquity, organized an expedition to Lake Nemi, led by the prominent then architect Battisto Alberti, who investigated the sunken ship with the help of divers and even attempted to raise the ship. For this, a deck was built on a set of wooden barrels, on which winches with ropes were installed. However, with the help of this simple device, Alberti only managed to tear off and raise to the surface a piece of the bow of the mysterious ship. A century later, in 1535, Senor Francesco de Marchi tried to investigate the ship again using a primitive diving suit,but also to no avail. A wooden frame was found, connected with bronze nails, covered with large slabs resting on an iron lattice."
Researcher Jeremiah Donovan wrote:
“In this lake deeply rest the remains of what some call the galley of Tiberius, others Trajan, but what actually looks like a group of buildings built on the very shore of the lake.
In 1885-1889, the British ambassador to Italy, Lord Sevayle, organized an expedition to Nemi and with the help of hooks tore off many bronze items from the ship. At the beginning of the 20th century, underwater archaeologists discovered the hull of another vessel. It lay close to the coast and was approximately 60 meters long and 20 meters wide. The ship, once discovered by Cardinal Colonna, was larger: 71 meters long and 21 meters wide. Despite the fact that no written records of these ships have survived in ancient writings, most historians immediately attributed these grandiose structures to the era of the insane emperor Caligula, who allegedly used them as floating palaces.
Bronze sculpted heads found on the ships of Lake Nemi
In the 1920s, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini ordered detailed studies of the mysterious object. In 1928-32. significant efforts were made to drain the lake. At the bottom, in the mud, two ships were found: 70 and 73 meters long, and with them a lot of bronze objects. Discovered statues and ornaments confirmed that these ships were built specifically for the emperor Caligula.
Even archaeologists were amazed at their preservation. It became clear how the ancient large ships were built. Many items of that time were found and restored: pumps for pumping out the water that came during the voyage, several bronze items (heads of animals with mooring rings), a statue of Caligula's sister, the head of the Gorgon Medusa, a talisman hand that was nailed to the hull of the ship, the head of the she-wolf Romulus. One of the most surprising finds was two unique rotating platforms found on a small ship. Eight bronze balls were found under one of the platforms, moving in a chute. Another platform lay on eight tapered wooden rollers, also moving in a chute. Both designs are reminiscent of rolling bearings, the prototype of which was invented in the 16th century by the great Leonardo da Vinci. The purpose of these platforms is still it is unknown, it is possible that they were used as rotating stands for statues.
And on one of the lead pipes of the small ship was found the inscription: "Property of Kai Caesar Augustus Germanicus" - the full name of Caligula. There was no doubt about the owner.
Among the finds were clay pipes that supported the floor and allowed it to be heated. This proves that large ships were equipped with sophisticated heating systems throughout the ship. During the excavation, a bronze crane was found. He controlled the flow of water into the tanks. From there it was supplied through lead pipes for various needs.
A lot of nails were also found, with the help of which wooden elements were attached, they were treated with a solution, which protected them from corrosion.
The ships were sunk under the Emperor Nero or after his death, during the civil wars.
The huge structures were moved to a hangar and a museum was opened. Unfortunately, during the hostilities in 1944, the museum was destroyed and both ships burned down. The surviving details and bronze decorations can be seen today in the Museo Nazionale Romano.
Caligula's ship in the museum, 1932
Medusa's head found among the remains of one of Caligula's ships
Half a century later, interest in Caligula and his ships arose again in Italy. In 2011, the police said that "black archaeologists" had found an imperial tomb near Lake Nemi and looted it. More recently, a small lake has attracted attention again. Local fishermen said that when their nets reach the bottom, they often catch ancient artifacts. Now there is revival on the picturesque lake: scientists are examining the bottom with the help of sonars, and divers are looking for the third, largest, ship of the emperor Caligula.
Benito Mussolini at the opening of the museum
Recommended for viewing: Ships of antiquity. Technologies of ancient civilizations