Trireme
A trireme was a ship with three banks of oars. Mediterranean war ships had masts and sails, but they also had rams for offense, and oars for speed and maneuverability. Since they were meant for combat, there was little room for supplies.Reference: John Lazenby "ancient naval warfare" The Oxford Companion to Military History. Ed. Richard Holmes. Oxford University Press, 2001.
Return to Ancient History Glossary
Graphics courtesy of Clipart.com
