Trireme construction

[Anonymous]

I wonder whether the question is "Are triremes easy to build?" - i.e. not technically difficult. I don't think they are very difficult. We know that Viking longships were built without plans and were, in terms of their seaworthiness and mobility, much superior to the trireme, which doesn't seem to have been conceived primarily as a seagoing vessel but rather as a kind of manned missile, just seaworthy enough to keep the crew safe in favourable conditions. Even if you insist that triremes are as good as longships, that does not necessarily make them harder to build - and replica longships have been built by groups of amateurs. Most of you will know that the Greeks built a replica Trireme some years ago, which was then rowed mainly by non-Greek, specialist oarsmen. So, if you were wondering whether building one is a possibility, the answer is "Yes." All you need is money and carpenters.<br>
Paul <p></p><i></i>