Various descriptions
of ancient
vessels.
Mode of rigging.
sand soldiers! But this, and such like fabrics, (says the author of
the Arcbseologia, from which we have extracted these particulars,)
served only for show and ostentation ; being by their great bulk rendered
unwieldy and unfit for ordinary use. Athenseus (he adds)
has informed us, that these vessels were commonly known by the
names of Cyclades and A3tna; names of islands and mountains, ito
which they appeared almost equal in size—consisting, a s some
report, of materials sufficient for the construction of at least fifty
triremes.
Besides those already mentioned, there were other vessels fitted
with half banks of oars, which' seem to have been between a unireme
and a bireme, and consisting of a bank and a half: also some
between a bireme and a trireme, having two banks and an h a lf’of
oars. These, although perhaps built in other respects after the
model of the long ships, or men-of-war, are seldom comprehended
under that name, and are sometimes mentioned in opposition to
them.
Several other kinds o f ships are enumerated by different authors,
which varied from those already described ; being fitted for particular
uses, or seas, or employed upon urgent occasions in naval fights,
b ut more commonly as vmpTixai (or tenders), and as victualling ships
for supplying the principal fleet.
Some were built for expedition, to carry expresses, or to observe
the enemy’s motions, without incurring the danger of being taken
b y the heavier, and armed vessels ; these were distinguished from
the former by the manner of their construction and equipment, being
in part like men-of-war, and partly resembling ships o f burthen,
while, in some things they differed from both, as the v arious-exigencies
for which they were fitted might seem to require.
Every ship in later times had several m a s ts ; but we a re told by
Aristotle, that at first there was only one mast, which was fixed in
the middle of the ship. On landing, the mast was taken down; as
appears everywhere in Homer, and placed on a thing called is-oSo*«,
which according to Suidas, was a case wherein the mast was deXXV
posited ; b u t Eustathius will have it to be nothing more than a piece
of wood, against which it was reared. About the mast was constructed
a kind of turret for soldiers to stand upon and cast darts.
Sails are by some thought to have been first invented by Daedalus,
and to h a v e given rise to the fable of his using wings ; others refer
this invention to Icarus, making Daedalus the contriver of masts ahd
yards. There was originally only one sail in a ship'; but afterwards
a greater number was found convenient ; the names of which
are enumerated by Potter.
Sails were commonly o f linen ; but sometimes of any other material
fit for receiving and repelling.thè wind. We occasionally find mention
of leathern sails ; and it was usual with the ancients, when none
were a t hand; to hang up their garments for this purpose : whence
arose (continues our author) the fable of Hercules, who is feigned to
have sailed with the back o f a lion, because he used no other sail but
his garment, which was a lion’s skin. Occasionally the ropes and rigging
were for the most part composed of leathern thongs; afterwards
cordage of hemp and flax came into use, as well a s of broom, palm-
leaves, philyry, and the bark of trees, such as cherry, vine, maple,
&c. The oars were usually covered with bra ss in th e blade, or
broad pa rt of the oar, to make them stronger and more durable ;
the oars of the lowest bank were shorter than the rest, and those of
the uppermost ranges were necessarily the longest, being a t the
greatest distance from the water, for which reason it was customary
to load their handles with lead, lest the bottom should outpòise the
top. The row-locks, and the seats of the rowers were generally
covered with hides.
The most ancient anchors are said to have been of stone, and
occasionally of wood, to which a quantity of lead was attached. In
some places, baskets full of stones, and sacks filled with sand, were
employed for this purpose. In later times they were composed of
iron, and furnished with teeth (arms,) whence oìmrss and dentes
a re frequently used for the anchors themselves in the Greek and
Latin poets. Originally there was only one tooth ; b u t a second