Triremes in a sentence

According to Herodotus, Darius's canal was wide enough that two triremes could pass each other with oars extended, and required four days to traverse.

Bronze trireme ram Once the triremes were seaworthy, it is argued that they were highly decorated with, "eyes, nameplates, painted figureheads, and various ornaments".

But instead of the successful liburnians of the Greek Civil War, it was again centred around light triremes, but still with many marines.

Hanson (2006), p. 261 The commanders of the triremes also had to stay aware of the condition of their men.

He continued to advocate a strong Athenian navy, and in 483 BC he persuaded the Athenians to build a fleet of 200 triremes ; these would prove crucial in the forthcoming conflict with Persia.

Hence the triremes were often called "girded" when in commission.

Holland, p.318 The opposing forces The Greek fleet Greek Trireme Herodotus reports that there were 378 triremes in the Allied fleet, and then breaks the numbers down by city state (as indicated in the table).

Holland, pp.222–224 The most common naval tactics in the Mediterranean area at the time were ramming (triremes being equipped with a ram at the bows), or boarding by ship-borne marines (which essentially turned a sea battle into a land one).

On-board forces Unlike the naval warfare of other eras, boarding an enemy ship was not the primary offensive action of triremes.

Some historians have speculated that, since Rome lacked advanced naval technology, the design of the warships was probably copied from captured Carthaginian triremes and quinqueremes or from ships that had beached on Roman shores due to storms.

So the number in the type name did not refer to the banks of oars any more (as for biremes and triremes), but to the number of rowers per vertical section, with several men on each oar.

The Athenians and Eretrians sent a task force of 25 triremes to Asia Minor to aid the revolt.

The Athenians especially became masters in the art of ramming, using light, un- decked (aphraktai) triremes.

These experienced sailors were to be found on the upper levels of the triremes.

The term is sometimes also used to refer to medieval and early modern galleys with three files of oarsmen per side as triremes.

The triremes in Marathon were packed with 30 additional marines, for the purposes of the campaign.

They have been interpreted as two-decked warships, and also as triremes.

This appears a surprising development as, after the war, one of the terms of surrender restricted the Carthaginian fleet to only ten triremes.

Triremes' small size allowed for a limited number of marines to be carried aboard.

Triremes were generally armed with a large ram at the front, with which it was possible to sink an enemy ship, or at least disable it by shearing off the banks of oars on one side.