Trireme "Olympias"

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:29 am • Post subject:

Beatiful work. A very nice build. Super precise.

Enjoyable to look at.

Chuck

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:00 am • Post subject:

Hi Richard,

your model looks amazing, awesome precision.

I have to admit I do not know terribly much about these vessels and I have never come across construction drawings. What kind of plans have you been working on? Can you tell us something about the way how these ships were built?

Please keep the pics coming!!!!

Cheers

Ushant

Able Rate Joined: 04 Oct 2009 Posts: 15 Country: uk

The wood I have used is lime or "Basswood" chosen because it has a relatively low density, similar to that used to build the full size vessel. As this is to be a working model weight is critical as the waterline has to be in the right place relative to the oars.

The drawings I am using I got from John Coats who designed the full size trireme replica "Olympias" that undertook sea trials in the 1980's. There is still a relatively acitve community researching these fascinating warships:
http://www.atm.ox.ac.uk/rowing/trireme/
The method of attack with triremes was ramming and the hull platform was therefore the weapon system relying on high acceleration and manoeverability for success. This was achieved by packing 170 oarsmen into a relatively short (35m) and very light hull. It required advanced shipbuilding skills (to achieve the required hull strength) and highly trained and motivated crews.

The Athenians maintained fleets of up to 200 triremes crewed by free Athenian citizens and were therby able to dominate the Mediteranean sea and maintain an extensive island empire.

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:34 pm • Post subject:

Very nice progress Conrad!

As for research material, the people who built the replica and did research on it published a book called "The Athenian Trireme", published by Cambridge University Press if I'm not mistaken. But you probably already have that one Smile

Able Rate Joined: 04 Oct 2009 Posts: 15 Country: uk

A piece by one of the people who built Olympias (Boris Rankov) can be found at the following link:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/lessons-of-history-the-good-ship-democracy-the-building-of-a-trireme-warship-fleet-had-a-deep-effect-on-athenian-society-boris-rankov-explains-1491503.html

Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:37 pm • Post subject:

Excellent workmanship, Richard. The craftsmanship is second to none. Loved the video.
Aitch

Able Rate Joined: 04 Oct 2009 Posts: 15 Country: uk

I have now converted the building jig into a cradle to hold the hull in alignment while I am fitting the internal stringers, beams and other internal structure:

The following photograph shows the forward section of the port middle stringer steamed into shape and notched to fit over the floors and onto the futtocks:

I have added a link on my website (links section) to part of a documentary that shows some sequences of the full size trireme replica underway off Athens. It gives an indication of how dramatic it must have been when a fleet of up to 200 triremes (each manned by 200 men) set sail from ancient Athens!

Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 1:55 pm • Post subject:

Hello Richard,
thank you for sharing your interesting and entrancing build . It appears to be very light and fragile and beautifuuly executed. I hope you continue to post nore pictures of your progress.
Kip

Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 2:22 pm • Post subject:

Richard,

That is a stunning model of a trireme. Beautiful work.

Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:44 pm • Post subject:

Nice to see you back Richard. That looks a fiendishly complex hull shape to build - and it looks very nice indeed!

John