PREHISTORIC NAVAL ARCHITECTURE. 529 



The skeleton ot the ship consists of the keel and the ribs. The keel 

 is a strong, square beam corres|)onding- to the length of the ship.' 

 To this is secured a stout plank, the false keel, which serves iu the two- 

 fokl capacity of strengthening the keel and protecting it from injury. 

 In war vessels, oak was generally employed for the keel. Its ends, 

 slightly elevated, served as a basis for the stem and stern posts; the 

 ahnost perpendicular prow was strengthened by an apron, and carried 

 ;i top-piece'^ with an ornament. The sternpost, too, was strengthened 

 by an apron, and carried a top piece.' The (j-i^lJ^i^ped ribs, seldom con- 

 sisting of one piece, were made of pieces exactly fitted and bolted 

 together.^ In order to secure firmness and prevent lateral displace- 

 ment of the ribs, they were provided with notches into which the keel 

 fitted; a longitudinal movement was ])revented by the keelson, which 

 fitted into the intervals between the ribs, and thus kept them in place 

 and i)ressed them firmly against the keel.-^ 



The aprons of the prows joining the keelson at an angle, it required 

 here a knee, whicli, while supporting the former upon tlie inner side, 

 connected them firmly with the keelson. These knees, made of stout, 

 crooked timber, imparted the strength and power of resistance to the 

 prows es])ecially required by the stem for ramming. 



The form of the hull is thus given by the ribs; the ship may be built 

 sharp upon the keel or its l)ottom may exhibit a shallow curve. It is 

 sliown, however,*' that the war-vessels of anticiuity cannot have l)een 

 built sharp upon the floor, but that even the largest of them nuist have 

 ]iad a flat bottom. 



The frame having been made, the hull was formed by the planks, 

 which, parallel with the keel, were nailed t > the ribs. The planks were 

 placed upon edge, forming a smootli surface (carvel), although the 

 freight ships of the Egyptians were clinker built.^ 



A beam covered the heads of the ribs (the gunwale) into which the 

 tholes were inserted, which by means of leather straps offered a sup- 

 port to the oars that were fastened to them. 



Many of the ships represented upon the Pompeian pictures and the 



nologie. C. Voigt : Das System der Riemeu-Ansleger un Klass. Altertb. Iu Was- 

 sersport, 1880. ^Issmann: Seeweseii. luBaumeister, Deukmalev, iii. Assmanii, Enisf : 

 Zur Kenutniss der attischen Schiftc. Iu Jahib. d. Kais. Deut. Arch. lu.st., 1889. 

 Hans Droysen: Griecliisclie Kiiegsaltertliiimer. Iu K. F. Hermauns Lehrbucli, ii, 2, 

 "Axatos": Festschrift, 3.5 Philol. Versammluug zu Stettiu. 



' lireuHing : Nautik der Altcu, p. 28. 



- Aniimanii: Secweseu, p. 1602. 



■• I'olhix, i, 90. 



' /{rcKuhig: Nautik der Alteu, \k 33; CartaitU : La tricrc Athdu, p. 49. Assmann : 

 Seeweseu, p. 1601; Homer: Od. xii, 229; xiii, 74. 



^ Breusing : Nautik der Alteu, p. 30, 33. 



''AHsmunn: Seewesen, p. 1601, 1626. Berlin. i)hil()l. Wochenschrift, 1888, No. 1, p. 

 28. 



"^ liiiding: Allgein, Worterl). d. Mariue. Breusing: Nautik der Alteu, p. 35. Her- 

 adot, li, 96. 



gMDl, VT'-i 34 



