The ancient Greek Triere had a length of 37 to 45 meters, a width of 5-6 meters, a carrying capacity of about 45 tons, and a draft of about 1-2 meters. According to the testimony of ancient historians, the ship could develop a speed of 7-8 knots and maintain it for 18 hours. The team reached 200 people.
Defeat of the Persians
It was here that the oarlock appeared for the first time, serving as a support for the oar. The invention is credited to the Corinthian shipbuilder Aminocles. The oars came out of the side through round holes with a diameter of half a meter and special leather cuffs that did not allow water to penetrate into the ship.
Most researchers believe that the rowers sat on banks arranged in three tiers. On the upper tier there were 31 rowers at each side, on the middle tier - 20-27. In closed rooms above the hold, rowers of the lower tier were accommodated - 27 people per board. The helmsman was at the stern in a covered room with two wide steering oars.
The keel of the ship in the bow passed into a ram, equipped with a sharp iron or bronze tip. Above the ram, parallel to the keel, a beam, bound with iron, was attached. With its help, having made a skillful maneuver, it was possible to break the oars of an enemy ship.
Sometimes a detachable mast was installed on triremes, on which a rectangular sail was raised with a favorable wind. On the bow there could be another small mast, installed with an inclination in the direction of the ship. But the sail was just an aid that was used during long crossings. In battle, the ship was propelled by all 170 oars. Also on board were about 30 sailors and soldiers.
Trieres became famous during sea battles between Greeks and Persians at the end of the 5th century BC. The battle of Salamis, which took place at the end of September 480 BC, is one of the most famous in maritime history. The Persian fleet consisted of about 600 ships. They were opposed by 200 Greek triremes, who took an advantageous position in the narrow Strait of Salamis.
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The narrow width of the strait did not allow the Persians to take advantage of their numerical advantage. Fearing that the enemy's fleet might escape, the Persians on the night before the battle sent part of the ships to the island of Psittaleia, blocking the exit from the Strait of Salam to the east. The rest lined up in three lines in the middle of the strait. The Greeks placed their triremes in two lines so that their flanks rested against the coastal shoals.
In the battle, the advantage of triremes was immediately revealed. The heavy ships of the Persians tried to approach them for boarding, but the mobile Greek ships dodged and, skillfully maneuvering, rammed them. This decided the outcome of the battle - the Persian fleet was defeated.
New experience
In 1987, after a two-thousand-year hiatus, the Greek trire entered the Mediterranean Sea again. The modern replica of the ship, dubbed Olympia, was built at a Greek shipyard. As far as possible, ancient technology was used in the construction. The pine trees, however, had to be delivered from Oregon, since in the Mediterranean these trees have long ceased to grow straight and tall.
It took 22 thousand oak sheet piles and 17 thousand dowels. Moreover, all the material was processed manually. The builders allowed the only major replacement: instead of the double linen rope, which in ancient times tightened the trire from bow to stern, they used a modern steel cable.
Already during the first tests, the modern ship was able to reach a speed of 7 knots. Most of the crew - 130 men and 40 women - were professional rowing athletes. They also noted the main disadvantages of the triremes: unusual fixed seats, their close arrangement, which does not allow to deviate to the side. The rowers in the lower two rows worked blindly. Only from the top row could the oars strike the water. The rowers of the lowest tier had the worst: the oars from the upper rows literally dropped at their heads, which led to a considerable number of injuries.
The rowers at times managed to bring the speed of the ship to 21 knots, however, with a lighter weight of the ship and on smooth water, and even with a favorable wind. It must be assumed that rowing was also difficult for the Hellenes. But there are references to eight- and even ten-tier ships. It is reliably known about the five-tiered ship - the pentere.
Magazine: Secrets of the 20th century, no. 13. Mikhail Efimov