Tessarakonteres
Encyclopedia
The tessarakonteres or simply "forty" was a very large galley built in the Hellenistic period
. The name "forty" refers to the number of rowers on each column of oars that propelled it. It was the largest ship constructed in Antiquity, and possibly the largest human-powered vessel ever built.
in the 3rd century BC, and described by Callixenus of Rhodes
. The passage survives in Athenaeus
's Deipnosophistae
in the 2nd century AD. Plutarch
also mentions that Ptolemy Philopater owned this immense vessel in his Life of Demetrios, commenting:
was the main Greek
warship up to and into the Hellenistic period (i.e., at the beginning of the 4th century BC), during which several new galley types were introduced, such as tetrēreis (i.e., "fours", sing. tetrērēs) and pentēreis (i.e., "fives", sing. pentērēs). This led up to the mid-4th century BC innovations of "sixes", "sevens" and so on, even up to "thirteens" and, by the 3rd century BC, a "sixteen". This trend culminated with the tessarakonteres. Little evidence survives about all these ships, and their names have proved difficult to interpret.
During this period ships were increasingly designed as artillery platforms, with enclosed sides and a complete deck. The additional weight all this involved was probably the design imperative for adding extra rowing capacity.
Ships of this type were depicted with up to three banks of oars, so that they were really just larger versions of the bireme and trireme with more than one rower per oar. From galleys used more recently, in the 17th and 18th centuries AD, it is known that the maximum number of men that can operate a single oar efficiently is eight.. A "sixteen" is one of the large galleys most frequently mentioned. This could have had two banks of oars on each side, with each oar operated by eight men. However, this theory still leaves the problem of the "forty" without a satisfactory explanation.
-jointed planks (strakes), which "certainly goes back to 14th century BC and very probably before that".
The average trireme was well short of this scale, intended as it was to be fast in the water and light enough to be hauled up on the beach by the crew. The large scale of the ship's rams that could be cast in the ancient world was determined from a monument that once displayed them.
, Ptolemy's forty was an oversize catamaran
galley, measuring 128 m (420 ft). The twin hull arrangement with a central working platform was designed for stability in sea battles with catapults and could carry 3,000-4,000 marines.
Hellenistic period
The Hellenistic period or Hellenistic era describes the time which followed the conquests of Alexander the Great. It was so named by the historian J. G. Droysen. During this time, Greek cultural influence and power was at its zenith in Europe and Asia...
. The name "forty" refers to the number of rowers on each column of oars that propelled it. It was the largest ship constructed in Antiquity, and possibly the largest human-powered vessel ever built.
Sources
The forty was built for Ptolemy IV of EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in the 3rd century BC, and described by Callixenus of Rhodes
Callixenus of Rhodes
Callixenus of Rhodes was a Hellenistic author from Rhodes. He was a contemporary of Ptolemy II Philadelphus. He wrote two works, both of which are lost.-"Peri Alexandreias":...
. The passage survives in Athenaeus
Athenaeus
Athenaeus , of Naucratis in Egypt, Greek rhetorician and grammarian, flourished about the end of the 2nd and beginning of the 3rd century AD...
's Deipnosophistae
Deipnosophistae
The Deipnosophistae may be translated as The Banquet of the Learned or Philosophers at Dinner or The Gastronomers...
in the 2nd century AD. Plutarch
Plutarch
Plutarch then named, on his becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus , c. 46 – 120 AD, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia...
also mentions that Ptolemy Philopater owned this immense vessel in his Life of Demetrios, commenting:
Number of rows of oars
The triremeTrireme
A trireme was a type of galley, a Hellenistic-era warship that was used by the ancient maritime civilizations of the Mediterranean, especially the Phoenicians, ancient Greeks and Romans.The trireme derives its name from its three rows of oars on each side, manned with one man per oar...
was the main Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
warship up to and into the Hellenistic period (i.e., at the beginning of the 4th century BC), during which several new galley types were introduced, such as tetrēreis (i.e., "fours", sing. tetrērēs) and pentēreis (i.e., "fives", sing. pentērēs). This led up to the mid-4th century BC innovations of "sixes", "sevens" and so on, even up to "thirteens" and, by the 3rd century BC, a "sixteen". This trend culminated with the tessarakonteres. Little evidence survives about all these ships, and their names have proved difficult to interpret.
During this period ships were increasingly designed as artillery platforms, with enclosed sides and a complete deck. The additional weight all this involved was probably the design imperative for adding extra rowing capacity.
Ships of this type were depicted with up to three banks of oars, so that they were really just larger versions of the bireme and trireme with more than one rower per oar. From galleys used more recently, in the 17th and 18th centuries AD, it is known that the maximum number of men that can operate a single oar efficiently is eight.. A "sixteen" is one of the large galleys most frequently mentioned. This could have had two banks of oars on each side, with each oar operated by eight men. However, this theory still leaves the problem of the "forty" without a satisfactory explanation.
Construction
A hull of such size would involve great bend-induced stresses, which were dealt with using strake edge jointing. The plank shear issue was more directly addressed in the ancient practice of mortise and tenonMortise and tenon
The mortise and tenon joint has been used for thousands of years by woodworkers around the world to join pieces of wood, mainly when the adjoining pieces connect at an angle of 90°. In its basic form it is both simple and strong. Although there are many joint variations, the basic mortise and tenon...
-jointed planks (strakes), which "certainly goes back to 14th century BC and very probably before that".
The average trireme was well short of this scale, intended as it was to be fast in the water and light enough to be hauled up on the beach by the crew. The large scale of the ship's rams that could be cast in the ancient world was determined from a monument that once displayed them.
Specifications
According to an estimation by Lionel CassonLionel Casson
Lionel Casson was a classicist, professor emeritus at New York University, and a specialist in maritime history. Casson earned his B.A. in 1934 at New York University, and in 1936 became an assistant professor. He went on to earn his Ph.D. there in 1939...
, Ptolemy's forty was an oversize catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
galley, measuring 128 m (420 ft). The twin hull arrangement with a central working platform was designed for stability in sea battles with catapults and could carry 3,000-4,000 marines.
- Length: 280 Greek cubitCubitThe cubit is a traditional unit of length, based on the length of the forearm. Cubits of various lengths were employed in many parts of the world in Antiquity, in the Middle Ages and into Early Modern Times....
s (128 m, 425 ft) - Beam: 17.5 m (58 ft )
- Height from tip of sternpost to waterline: 24 m (80 ft)
- Length of steering oars: 13.5 m (45 ft 6 in)
- Longest rowing oars used: 18 m (57 ft 8 in)
- Oarsmen: 4,000
- Marines: 2,850
Record-holder
The Guinness Book of Records recognizes it as the world's Largest Human Powered Vessel.Sources
- Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World, Lionel CassonLionel CassonLionel Casson was a classicist, professor emeritus at New York University, and a specialist in maritime history. Casson earned his B.A. in 1934 at New York University, and in 1936 became an assistant professor. He went on to earn his Ph.D. there in 1939...
, Johns Hopkins University PressJohns Hopkins University PressThe Johns Hopkins University Press is the publishing division of the Johns Hopkins University. It was founded in 1878 and holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously running university press in the United States. The Press publishes books, journals, and electronic databases...
1995, p29 - The Ancient Mariners, Lionel CassonLionel CassonLionel Casson was a classicist, professor emeritus at New York University, and a specialist in maritime history. Casson earned his B.A. in 1934 at New York University, and in 1936 became an assistant professor. He went on to earn his Ph.D. there in 1939...
, 2nd Ed., Princeton University Press, 1991, p108 - The Age of the Supergalleys, Chapter 7 of Ships and Seafaring in Ancient Times, Lionel CassonLionel CassonLionel Casson was a classicist, professor emeritus at New York University, and a specialist in maritime history. Casson earned his B.A. in 1934 at New York University, and in 1936 became an assistant professor. He went on to earn his Ph.D. there in 1939...
, University of Texas Press; 1st University edition, March 1994 ISBN 029271162X.
External links
- http://www.worldwideflood.com/objections/ancients_incapable.htm
- http://www.fofweb.com/Onfiles/Ancient/AncientDetail.asp?iPin=HLAG0360