Ancient greek bireme Hyperborea - finished & UPDATED!

[Jane]

Just discovered this site and this amazing project. Congratulations! The bireme is absolutely beautiful!
Jane

[Astiryu1]

Where would one go to get plans for period boats? I have looked online and have not been very lucky.

[Lýsandros]

Hello Jane! Thank you for these kind words! It was (and still is) a very challenging project, but we are very committed to it. Expect more information during summer months

Astiryu1: As far as I am aware, there are no surviving plans or salvagable wreckage from this period. So any reconstructions are based solely on pictorial and written evidence. There is a bit more information on ancient roman ships and their designs can be used to gain some understanding of how these ships were built (in general, not only in Rome).

[SvenLittkowski]

You all might like to visit the Forum Navis Romana, it's all about ancient ships: [url:2epczmkl]http://navis.terraromana.org/Forum[/url].

We also support projects like this (the reconstruction of ancient ships), and would invite the reconstructors to use our forum to post about their research, reconstruction methods and the continuation of their amazing project there.

[Dithrambus]

I am new to RAT and have just discovered this thread, I would like to congratulate Lysandros and his crew on a splendid re-creation!! hock:

Have you considered a flotilla consisting of the Hyperborea, Olympia, Argo etc, I realize that this would require the cooperation of a lot of people, but it would be a beautiful sight!

[Astiryu1]

I will second that idea!

[Lýsandros]

That would be a splendid sight, indeed. Cooperation and communication is only the first part of the problem though, the most difficult part is transportation down to Greece.
While we are planning to go down the Danube all the way to the Black Sea and then further to Meditteranean, this will most likely not happen this year. We were contacted by Thessaloniki administration, as they were interested to have our ship this summer, but the calculated transport by TIR would be as costly as the ship itself So give us some time, we will get there... eventually!

[hoplite14gr]

Juraj did you get me email with the requested info?

Kind regards

[Lýsandros]

The email with Naval commands? Yes, I did - and we are practicing already mrgreen:

If you mean some other email, I dont think I have received it.

[hoplite14gr]

Just the naval commands.
We are researching marines and archers on deck.
When we are done I will inform you.

Kind regards

[Lýsandros]

That will be very kind of you, Stefanos!

Our bireme has only limited fighting space: just the fore-ship is usable, as the middle area is impenetrably occupied by the rowers and the back belongs to the navigator and to the captain (dierarchos). It is our assumption that in a vessel such as this - a support/interceptor/possibly a pirate ship - with a crew around 30, all men aboard are actually fighters. While there are few dedicated marines on guard, in case of a boarding or other sort of deck - to - deck fight, even the rowers would have to take their weapons and join the fight.

[M. Demetrius]

Naval commands

Several people would like to see that list, if you'd make it available, please.

[hoplite14gr]

Naval commands:

Rythm of rowing is given with:

Avlos:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... I22711.jpg (double orsingle)

Krotala: http://parodos.net.gr/elepapado/images/ ... rotala.jpg

Kymbala: http://briefcase.pathfinder.gr/download ... 0/org5.jpg

To start moving the ship: (with oars)
AJE (j like "ja" on German)

To stop rowing
KRATEI (EI = I like India)

To put anker in water
PONTISON

To raise anker:
ANELKYSON (Y = I like India)

To raise sail:
ISTIA IPSOSON (I = I like India)

Variation ISTIA ARATE (E = E like Emily)

To drop sail (no wind or preparation for a naval fight)
ISTIA SYLLEKSATE (Y = I like India) (E = E like Emily)

Additions:

to raise mast ISTON IPSOSON (I = I like India)
Variation ISTON ARATE (E = E like Emily)

to disassemble mast for a naval fight (I = I like India)
ISTON APOSPASON

traiontoroi and pentikontoroi doubled as war and merchant vessels.
Initially they were popular with pirates.
Armed hoplites on board of merchant men tent to discourage them though.

Hope it helps

[SvenLittkowski]

You all might like to visit the Forum Navis Romana, it's all about ancient ships: [url:2uf1ds87]http://navis.terraromana.org/Forum[/url].

We also support projects like this (the reconstruction of ancient ships), and would invite the reconstructors to use our forum to post about their research, reconstruction methods and the continuation of their amazing project there.