Jefferson wrote: > Ibrahim wrote: > > > But keep in mind that the Med. had the ongoing Christian-Muslim conflict to > supply large numbers of slaves. > > >>A fleet of forty light galleys (using the Venetian example above, which >>had 120 oars) would require some 28000 rowers to power them. > > > I get 14,400 (minimum). > > The whole question of oarsmen on galleys is a complicated one. It starts out simple enough: a bireme has two banks of oars, one man to an oar, while a trireme has three banks of oars, one man to an oar. After that, it gets messy. Quadriremes were built in three different configurations: one bank of oars, four men to an oar; two banks of oars, two men to an oar; and three banks of oars, two men on the top oar, and one man each to the lower oars. Quinquiremes were usually built in a 2-2-1 configuration, with two men each on the top two oars, and one man on the bottom oar. The quinquereme was a favorite of the Romans, due to its ability to carry a large number of marines (about 120 per ship). The Deceres or "Ten" was the largest practical warship of the ancient period, and was usually built in a 4-3-3 configuration, 4 men on the top oar, three men each on the two bottom oars. Larger warships were built; one of the Ptolemies built a "Forty" (most likely a catamaran design created by joining two "Twenties") which required a crew of about 7,250 to operate. Deceres & larger ships were generally used for laying siege to ports rather than fleet engagements; they mounted large catapults. Adding to the fun, there are not necessarily an equal number of oars in each bank on any of these galleys besides the bireme. Andrew ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
