Greek ship colours, patterns and other details

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

Wow! It's working! it' being built!
Although centuries later,those frescos from pompei show that the ships were colourful.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2054/166 ... 1217791405
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2139/166 ... 1217791635
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/166 ... 1217791998
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2054/166 ... 1217791405
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2259/166 ... ea05_b.jpg
About sail patterns,take a look at this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/inn3rflow/2081224081/
Here's a ram,i think in peiraeus museum.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/trojannorse/2614218332/
However you reconstruct an earlier ship.In vases the rams have the shape of boar heads,and indeed i have seen one such in a private museum just under the acropolis. It was very small, it was supposed to be from a small vessel,not a trirreme,but they didn't specify what kind od ship either. Usualy dirremes are shown with such rams.
As far as i can remember usually the sails are plain,no design on them. And according to herodotus the ships were recognised by their emblems on the head or the stern. He says one of the two but can't remember what. It's when Xerxes recognises Artemisia's ship. Od course in battle they wouldn't have sails on.
Keep us posted and good luck!
Khaire
Giannis