A Bireme was a Phoenician war galley. The Bireme was probably constructed of a hollowed-out tree trunk, about 27 metres long and propelled by a single square sail and about 30 pairs of oars. The Bireme carried archers and spearmen troops on an upper deck and the bow terminated in a spiked ram. Biremes were later adopted by the Greeks before being replaced by the Trireme. Research Bireme
The Quinquereme was a Roman war galley first recorded in the 4th century BC. The Quinquereme was similar to the Trireme in appearance, having three rows of oars and a single mast carrying a square sail. The Roman Quinquereme carried catapults and a compliment of 300 oarsmen and 120 marines. Research Quinquereme
A trireme was an ancient warship with three rows of oars propelled by 170 rowers. It was first used by the Greeks, and copied by the Romans. The Trireme was a large battleship, about 32 metres long, propelled by square sails mounted on two masts and rowers. The uppermost row of oars was known as the thranite and had 31 pairs, the middle row was known as the thalamist and the lowest row, close to the water line was known as the zygian, both the middle and lower rows having 27 pairs of oars a piece. It is believed that the Trireme could achieve a top speed of almost 12 knots and carried archers and marines. Research Trireme
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Abbreviations
Research Bireme
