Sailing from Polis to Empire : Ships in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Hellenistic Period

"This book represents a significant contribution to the fields of Hellenistic archaeology, Hellenistic economy, naval architecture and shipping in the eastern Mediterranean. It asks (and answers) questions that are often simply assumed and not systematically investigated. -- Dr. Conor Trainor, University of Warwick What can the architecture of ancient ships tell us about their capacity to carry cargo or to navigate certain trade routes? How do such insights inform our knowledge of the ancient economies that depended on maritime trade across the Mediterranean? These and similar questions lie behind Sailing from Polis to Empire, a fascinating insight into the practicalities of trading by boat in the ancient world. Allying modern scientific knowledge with Hellenistic sources, this interdisciplinary collection brings together experts in various fields of ship archaeology to shed new light on the role played by ships and sailing in the exchange networks of the Mediterranean. Covering all parts of the Eastern Mediterranean, these outstanding contributions delve into a broad array of data - literary, epigraphical, papyrological, iconographic and archaeological - to understand the trade routes that connected the economies of individual cities and kingdoms. Unique in its interdisciplinary approach and focus on the Hellenistic period, this collection digs into the questions that others don't think to ask, and comes up with (sometimes surprising) answers. It will be of value to researchers in the fields of naval architecture, Classical and Hellenistic history, social history and ancient geography, and to all those with an interest in the ancient world or the seafaring life." Sailing from Polis to Empire, a fascinating insight into the practicalities of trading by boat in the ancient world. Contents 6 Preliminary Notes 8 Authors 10 Preface 12 Bibliography 18 1. The Hellenistic Merchantmen: A Contribution to the Study of the Mediterranean Economies 20 Bibliography 25 2. Evolutions of the Representation of the Eastern Mediterranean in the Hellenistic Period 30 2.1. Granularity of Information 33 2.2. Distances and Maritime Experience 35 2.3. Seasonality of Weather Indications 37 2.4. Influence of Weather Conditions Over Navigation 39 2.5. Granularity and Quality of Information: The Problem of Salience 40 2.6. Salience and Visually Distinctive Features: The Case of Cape Pedalion 43 2.7. Conclusion 43 Bibliography 44 3. Naval Architecture. The Hellenistic Hull Design: Origin and Evolution 46 Bibliography 70 4. Naves Pingere: ‘Painting Ships’ in the Hellenistic Period 74 4.1 Naval Issues Before the Reign of Alexander 75 4.2. Ship Painters 79 4.3. Conclusion 86 Bibliography 87 Primary Sources 87 Manuscripts 87 Literary sources 87 Ceramic sources 89 Secondary Sources 90 5. The Rise of the Tonnage in the Hellenistic Period 94 5.1. The Sources 95 5.2. An Initial Rise in the First Part of the Second Century? 99 5.3. A Second Rise from the End of the Second Century to the Beginning of the First Century? 101 5.4. The Common Reasons for the Two Increases 103 5.5. Conclusion 105 Bibliography 105 Primary Sources 105 Literary Sources 105 Inscriptions 105 Papyri 106 Archaeological Excavations 106 Secondary Sources 107 6. A Note on the Navigation Space of the Baris-Type Ships from Thonis-Heracleion 110 6.1. Main Characteristics of the Baris as per Herodotus and New Archaeological Data 112 6.2. Navigation Area of the Baris-Type Ships 113 6.2.1. Written Sources 113 6.2.2. Context of Ships from Thonis-Heracleion 114 6.2.3. Direct Evidence from Ships’ Construction 117 6.2.4. Reconstruction of the Hull: Supplementary Data 118 6.2.5. Longitudinal Structure 118 6.2.6. Shallow Draft 119 6.2.7. Stability 120 6.2.8. Reconstruction of Steering and Propulsion Systems 121 6.2.9. The Particular Case of Ship 17 from Thonis-Heracleion 123 6.2.10. Traces of Shipworms? 124 6.2.11. Keel’s Erosion? 125 6.3. Conclusions 125 Bibliography 129 Literary Sources 129 Secondary Sources 129 List of Tables and Illustrations 138 Chapter 2 138 Chapter 3 138 Chapter 5 140 Chapter 6 141 Index 142 Hellenistic archaeology,Hellenistic economy,naval architecture,shipping in the eastern Mediterranean,maritime trade,the Mediterranean "What can the architecture of ancient ships tell us about their capacity to carry cargo or to navigate certain trade routes? How do such insights inform our knowledge of the ancient economies that depended on maritime trade across the Mediterranean? These and similar questions lie behind Sailing from Polis to Empire, a fascinating insight into the practicalities of trading by boat in the ancient world. Allying modern scientific knowledge with Hellenistic sources, this interdisciplinary collection brings together experts in various fields of ship archaeology to shed new light on the role played by ships and sailing in the exchange networks of the Mediterranean. Covering all parts of the Eastern Mediterranean, these outstanding contributions delve into a broad array of data - literary, epigraphical, papyrological, iconographic and archaeological - to understand the trade routes that connected the economies of individual cities and kingdoms. Unique in its interdisciplinary approach and focus on the Hellenistic period, this collection digs into the questions that others don't think to ask, and comes up with (sometimes surprising) answers. It will be of value to researchers in the fields of naval architecture, Classical and Hellenistic history, social history and ancient geography, and to all those with an interest in the ancient world or the seafaring life."--Publisher's website What can the architecture of ancient ships tell us about their capacity to carry cargo or to navigate certain trade routes? How do such insights inform our knowledge of the ancient economies that depended on maritime trade across the Mediterranean? These and similar questions lie behind Sailing from Polis to Empire, a fascinating insight into the practicalities of trading by boat in the ancient world. Allying modern scientific knowledge with Hellenistic sources, this interdisciplinary collection brings together experts in various fields of ship archaeology to shed new light on the role played by ships and sailing in the exchange networks of the Mediterranean. Covering all parts of the Eastern Mediterranean, these outstanding contributions delve into a broad array of data - literary, epigraphical, papyrological, iconographic and archaeological - to understand the trade routes that connected the economies of individual cities and kingdoms. Unique in its interdisciplinary approach and focus on the Hellenistic period, this collection digs into the questions that others don't think to ask, and comes up with (sometimes surprising) answers. It will be of value to researchers in the fields of naval architecture, Classical and Hellenistic history, social history and ancient geography, and to all those with an interest in the ancient world or the seafaring life. [Elib].