Shipbuilding in Ancient Greece

The main types of ships Penteconters:

Description: Single-masted ships with 50 oars (25 on each side), used mainly for exploration and trade.
Features: About 30 meters long, light and maneuverable, could be used in both warfare and trade.

Triremes:
Description: The main warship of the Greeks, having three rows of oars on each side.
Features: About 37 meters long, with a crew of 200 men (170 oarsmen, 30 sailors and 10 officers). Triremes were fast and maneuverable, designed for ramming attacks.

Hexers and larger ships:
Description: Large warships with six or more rows of oars.
Features: Used in the late period to reinforce fleets, providing greater firepower and defense.

Building Materials and Technology

Materials:
Wood: The main material used to build ships was wood, mostly oak and pine. Cypress and cedar were also used.
Metals: Bronze and iron were used for fasteners and planking.

Building Methods:
Frame Construction: The Greeks used a method of construction in which the frame of the ship was first created and then the planking boards were attached to it.
Seams and joints: They used wooden wedges and metal nails to join the parts of the ship, and caulked the seams to make them watertight.

Navigation tools and technology

Instruments:
Astrolabe: A primitive navigational device for determining latitude.
Gnomon: Used to determine direction and time of day.
Charts and periples: Nautical charts and navigation manuals describing coasts and ports.

Navigational methods:
Astronomical navigation: Determining position by the stars and sun.
Coastal navigation: Following the coastline for orientation.