Trierarchy
Encyclopedia
A Trierarchy is a debt similar to a tax
, and a duty similar to being conscripted
, in the Navy
of ancient Athens
this type of obligation is called a liturgy. The person (or persons) up on whom the duty fell is called a Trierarch
. The Trierarch is responsible for the outfitting, maintenance, operation and leadership of a warship known as a triremes, the hull
and mast
of the ship are provided by the State. The responsibility could be that of one person or a combination of persons known as a syntrierarchy. The cost of a whole Trierarchy was not less than forty minas
nor more than a talent
with the average being 50 mimas. The responsibility of the Trierarchy as a liturgy was so great that during some eras no other liturgy could be assessed in the same or the following year.
(460 BCE). Starting with the 48 naucrarias of Solon
(638 BCE–558 BCE) and the 50 naucrarias of Cleisthenes
each naucraria was obliged to equip a ship. When the naval force was gradually increased to 200 vessels which was the number at sea at the time of the Battle of Salamis
the trierarchs also became more numerous.
and stenched from 357 to 341 BCE. During this period up to 16 individuals might form a trierarchy known as a symmoriea. They would share the burden in equal shares regardless of their actual wealth. The supervision of the whole business would be left to the wealthiest individual, who would often contract a commander for the whole sum from their colleagues so that many in reality paid nothing and yet were exempted by the trierarchy from all other liturgies.
who being well aware of the defects of the third form or symmoriea brought forward new law that improved funding and operation of the Trierarchy. The trierarchy were rated for a trireme according to their property as stated in the register in such a manner that one trireme
was required from 10 talent
s. If their wealth was valued at a higher than 10 talents they would be assigned up to three triremes and one auxiliary vessel. Those who had less than 10 talents were to unite in syntelia
s until they made up that sum.
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
, and a duty similar to being conscripted
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
, in the Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
of ancient Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
this type of obligation is called a liturgy. The person (or persons) up on whom the duty fell is called a Trierarch
Trierarch
Trierarch was the title of officers who commanded a trireme in the classical Greek world. In Athens and a few other states this officer was also required to pay for the outfitting and maintenance of the ship. Trierarchs thus had to be men of considerable means, since the expenses incurred could...
. The Trierarch is responsible for the outfitting, maintenance, operation and leadership of a warship known as a triremes, the hull
Hull (watercraft)
A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...
and mast
Mast (sailing)
The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall, vertical, or near vertical, spar, or arrangement of spars, which supports the sails. Large ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship...
of the ship are provided by the State. The responsibility could be that of one person or a combination of persons known as a syntrierarchy. The cost of a whole Trierarchy was not less than forty minas
Mina (unit)
The mina is an ancient Near Eastern unit of weight equivalent to 60 shekels. The mina, like the shekel, was also a unit of currency; in ancient Greece it was equal to 100 drachmae. In the first century AD, it amounted to about a fourth of the wages earned annually by an agricultural worker...
nor more than a talent
Attic talent
The Attic talent , also known as the Athenian talent or Greek talent, is an ancient unit of mass equal to 26 kg, as well as a unit of value equal to this amount of pure silver. A talent was originally intended to be the mass of water required to fill an amphora . At the 2009 price of $414/kg, a...
with the average being 50 mimas. The responsibility of the Trierarchy as a liturgy was so great that during some eras no other liturgy could be assessed in the same or the following year.
Four eras of Trierarchy
The Trierarchy's can be divided into four distinct eras, each having a distinct time period and obligation and implementation.First Trierarchy
The beginning of the trierarchy dates from before the time of HippiasHippias
Hippias of Elis was a Greek Sophist, and a contemporary of Socrates. With an assurance characteristic of the later sophists, he claimed to be regarded as an authority on all subjects, and lectured on poetry, grammar, history, politics, mathematics, and much else...
(460 BCE). Starting with the 48 naucrarias of Solon
Solon
Solon was an Athenian statesman, lawmaker, and poet. He is remembered particularly for his efforts to legislate against political, economic and moral decline in archaic Athens...
(638 BCE–558 BCE) and the 50 naucrarias of Cleisthenes
Cleisthenes
Cleisthenes was a noble Athenian of the Alcmaeonid family. He is credited with reforming the constitution of ancient Athens and setting it on a democratic footing in 508/7 BC...
each naucraria was obliged to equip a ship. When the naval force was gradually increased to 200 vessels which was the number at sea at the time of the Battle of Salamis
Battle of Salamis
The Battle of Salamis was fought between an Alliance of Greek city-states and the Persian Empire in September 480 BCE, in the straits between the mainland and Salamis, an island in the Saronic Gulf near Athens...
the trierarchs also became more numerous.
Second Trierarchy
The second form began in 409 BCE. It was during this time the trierarchy began being shared by more than one Trierarch, this arrangement known as a syntrierarchy may have been because there were not enough citizens of sufficient wealth to support the 400 triremes in use every year. The command of the ship would be as worked out between the two, amongst themselves. The ships improvements that had been funded by a previous Trierarch were often left with the ship with the new Trierarch(s) being responsible to reimburse the previous Trierarch for the improvements.Third Trierarchy
The third form was extablished by PerianderPeriander
Periander was the second tyrant of Corinth, Greece in the 7th century BC. He was the son of the first tyrant, Cypselus. Periander succeeded his father in 627 BC. He died in 585 BC....
and stenched from 357 to 341 BCE. During this period up to 16 individuals might form a trierarchy known as a symmoriea. They would share the burden in equal shares regardless of their actual wealth. The supervision of the whole business would be left to the wealthiest individual, who would often contract a commander for the whole sum from their colleagues so that many in reality paid nothing and yet were exempted by the trierarchy from all other liturgies.
Fourth Trierarchy
Is attributed to DemosthenesDemosthenes
Demosthenes was a prominent Greek statesman and orator of ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prowess and provide an insight into the politics and culture of ancient Greece during the 4th century BC. Demosthenes learned rhetoric by...
who being well aware of the defects of the third form or symmoriea brought forward new law that improved funding and operation of the Trierarchy. The trierarchy were rated for a trireme according to their property as stated in the register in such a manner that one trireme
Trireme
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 required from 10 talent
Attic talent
The Attic talent , also known as the Athenian talent or Greek talent, is an ancient unit of mass equal to 26 kg, as well as a unit of value equal to this amount of pure silver. A talent was originally intended to be the mass of water required to fill an amphora . At the 2009 price of $414/kg, a...
s. If their wealth was valued at a higher than 10 talents they would be assigned up to three triremes and one auxiliary vessel. Those who had less than 10 talents were to unite in syntelia
Syntelia
Syntelia is a genus of middle-sized beetles, the only genus in the family Synteliidae.The characteristics of the family and genus include geniculate antennae with 3-segmented club, elongate body, narrowly separated coxae and tarsi with bisetose empodia. Only one abdominal segment is exposed behind...
s until they made up that sum.
External links
- "T" Classic Technology Center (includes a Hear it wav of "Trierarchy")