- Pentekonters:
- These ships were galleys, with fifty oars on one level only. They were built of pine wood, while the oars were made from polished spruce. The stern was curved, with the end coming back over the ship. The bow was almost vertical, with a metal ram at the waterline. Two large paddles at the stern steered the ship. The anchor was stone.
- Biremes:
- These were galleys, with two banks of oars on each side, one above the other. They were developed to provide a more powerful ship. They were shorter and more manoeuverable than pentekonters.
- Triremes:
- These were galleys, with three banks of oars. There were twenty-seven rowers (thalamites) per side at the lowest level. There were also twenty-seven rowers (zygites) per side at the middle level. There were thirty-one rowers (thranites) per side at the top level. Two steering oars were at the stern of the ship. Two anchors were at the bow. The stern and the bow were similar to those of the pentekonters. Later models had a complete deck.
- Later Ships:
- These included the tetereis (fours), the pentereis (fives), the tessarkonteres (forty), and various numbers from five to sixteen. Ships were being designed to have platforms for artillery. Thus, the sides were enclosed, and the ships had a complete deck.
(This page was uploaded in 2012.)
