4267) Did You Know Series (125): The “World’s First Cruise Liner - The Syracusia” was Designed by Archimedes, Greek inventor: Second Century AD:
Syrakosia - An Artist’s conception of the Syracusia, viewed from dockside.
The Syracusia:
The “World’s First Cruise Liner” was Designed by Archimedes.
The world’s first colossal ship, not unlike a modern cruise liner in form and function, was designed and built by the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes.
The massive sea vessel was constructed in the third century BC and was commissioned by Hiero II of Syracuse, the last Hellenistic (Greek) monarch of Sicily.
The ship, which was dubbed the Syracusia, was possibly the largest sea vessel to set sail in antiquity. It was so large that no port in Sicily could contain it. It was constructed with luxury in mind and contained several recreational spaces including a garden and an indoor bathhouse with hot water.
Archimedes and the world’s first cruise liner:
During the ship’s conception and construction, Archimedes was appointed mechanikos, or master engineer, meaning that he was likely in charge of solving logistical problems and special applications. He also probably designed the ship, although some sources claim a man called Archias of Corinth was the chief architect responsible for its design.
The main surviving literary source describing the Syracusia dates back to the second century AD. Athenaeus of Naucratis in the fifth book of his work Deipnosophistae, described the ship in great detail in a quote ascribed to the ancient Greek tragic poet Moschion.
The dimensions of the ship were massive. The hull supposedly contained enough timber to build 60 quadriremes. Quadriremes were four-banked warships with two levels of oarsmen used in the navies of the Greeks, Carthaginians, and Romans.
The Syracusia had three levels of gangways and was lavishly decorated:
- The crew quarters were bedecked with mosaics depicting scenes from the Iliad and
- the upper deck was supported by towering figures of Atlas.
- Archimedes also made sure that guests on the luxury vessel did not go out without entertainment. A bathhouse, gymnasium, garden area, library, and 20 stables were all on board the ship. The ship was also said to possess a 20,000-gallon water tank and a saltwater fish tank.
- The ship was well-protected as well.
8 artillery towers provided it with defensive capabilities and bronze-clad mast tops functioned as lookout points for marines.
- It took about a year to build the Syracusia.
Six months were needed to construct the lower hull before the ship was then completed afloat over the course of a further six months. 300 craftsmen and their assistants were employed to complete the project.
Syracusia sets sail:
After about a year of construction, the Syracusia was ready to set sail. Hiero II (c. 308 BC – 215 BC) who was a Greek tyrant of Syracuse, Greek Sicily, and the illegitimate son of a Syracusan noble, Hierocles, who claimed descent from Gelon.
He was a former general of Pyrrhus of Epirus and an important figure of the First Punic War. He figures in the story of famed thinker Archimedes shouting "Eureka").
He had commissioned the project and ruled over the Greek city state of Syracuse, and he sent the vessel as a gift to Egypt as a gift for Ptolemy III.
Once in Egypt, the Ptolemies renamed the ship the Alexandris and it may have served in the Ptolemaic navy.
Upon taking the throne, Ptolemy III’s son, also named Ptolemy sought to outdo the Syracusia and ordered the construction of an even greater vessel called the "Tessarakonteres".
However, according to Plutarch, Ptolemy IV’s ship was so excessive in weight and size that it was rendered practically immobile.
2) Some ancient coins depicting Greek mythology & history
13) Ancient Greek Theatres, Greece: Hellenic Post has brought out a set of five stamps featuring the Ancient Theatres of Dodona, Nocopolis, Kassope, Amvrakia and Gitana (all in Epirus): Stamp issue date: 08.04.2020
14) "MYRTIS", Greece: A 5 Euro Silver Coin dedicated to an 11 year old girl who was a victim of the Plague of Athens (430-426 BC) issued by the Bank of Greece: Coin issue date: 25.02.2020
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
Other interesting posts on Greek Coinage and Commemorative Coins:
2) Some ancient coins depicting Greek mythology & history
13) Ancient Greek Theatres, Greece: Hellenic Post has brought out a set of five stamps featuring the Ancient Theatres of Dodona, Nocopolis, Kassope, Amvrakia and Gitana (all in Epirus): Stamp issue date: 08.04.2020
14) "MYRTIS", Greece: A 5 Euro Silver Coin dedicated to an 11 year old girl who was a victim of the Plague of Athens (430-426 BC) issued by the Bank of Greece: Coin issue date: 25.02.2020
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
No comments:
Post a Comment