Alexander Martin Model Ship Gallery

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Roman Galley

The Roman galley or bireme is one of the earliest of seagoing ships. They were fighting ships and during an action were propelled and maneuvered by the rowers who were slaves chained to the thwarts and under the lash of slave drivers who walked up and down the gangways with long, snake-like ships, and when a slave died, mostly from exhaustion, he was unchained and cast overboard.

The heavy ram bow spears and the curved stern were characteristic of the galley of this period. Notice the two steering paddles on each side of the stern. She could capture another craft by maneuvering alongside and breaking off the oars with her bow spears, making the victim helpless to escape and becoming the prisoner in action of the victor.

They had large glaring eyes on each side of the bow so the ship could look ahead and frighten an enemy.

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