Reconstruction of Roman merchant ship

[tlclark]

Roman merchants are completely different than Roman warships. In fact, roman merchant ships vary greatly by region. Roman vessels in the Red Sea and Indian sea are very different from Mediterranean vessels.

They were also monsters, over 200m according to some records, massive displacements. And yes that's 200 METERS. They were vast and bargelike, with flat bottoms and massive beams, pulled out to sea by smaller oared vessels. The Nemi lake barge was probably very similar and it had bronze beam terminals that measured in some instances 70cm squore or more.

Let's put it this way, they were so big, they collapsed the local pottery industry in EASTERN india and Tabropane (Sri Lanka).

If you can ship that much terra sigillata across thousands of kilometers and STILL sell it for cheaper than the locals can make their own, you must have some huge freaking ships. (That's also a fun comparison to modern economies and retail chains, Walmart is forever it seems. :wink: )

Can't wait til someone finds one of these in the black sea where there's a slim chance they might have survived.