GALLEY OF H1ERO. 570 



SECTION II. 



Galley of lliero. 



IT is to Hiero that Syracuse was indebted for those amazing 

 machines of war, which the Syracnsians made use of when be. 

 sieged by the Romans. The public buildings, Such as palaces, 

 temples, arsenals, &c. which were erected in Syracuse by his 

 orderj and under the direction of Archimedes, were the greatest 

 ornaments of that stately metropolis. He caused also an infinite 

 number of shi|>s to be built for the exportation of corn, in which 

 the whole riches of the island consisted. We are told of a galley 

 built by his order, which was looked upon as one of the wonders of 

 that age. Archimedes, who was overseer of the work, spent a 

 whole year in finishing it, Hiero daily animating the workmen with 

 his presence. This ship had twenty benches of oars, three spacious 

 apartments, and all the conveniencies of a large palace. The floors 

 of the middle apartment were all inlaid, and represented in various 

 colours the stories of Homer's Iliad. The cieliogs, windows, and 

 all other parts, were finished with wonderful art, and embellished 

 with all kinds of ornaments. In the uppermost apartment there 

 was a spacious gymnasium, or place of exercise, and walks, with 

 gardens and plants of all kinds, disposed in wonderful order. Pipes, 

 some of hardened clay, and others of lead, conveyed uaterall 

 around to refresh them. But the finest of the apartments was that 

 of Venus, the floors being inlaid with agats, and other precious 

 stones, the inside lined with cypress-wood, the windows adorned 

 with ivory, paintings, and small statues. In thjs apartment there 

 was a library, and a bath with three great coppers, and a bathing 

 vessel made of one single stone of various colours, and containing 

 two hundred and fifty quarts. It was supplied with water from a 

 great reservoir at the head of the ship, which held an hundred thou- 

 sand quarts. The vessel was adorned on all sides with fine paint, 

 ings, and had eight towers of equal dimensions, two at the head, 

 two at the stern, and four in the middle. Round these towers 

 were parapets, whence stones might be discharged against tin- 

 enemy's vessels when they approached. Each tower was constantly 

 guarded by four young men completely armed, and two archers. 

 To the side of the vessel was fastened an engine made by Archi. 

 medes, which threw a stoue of three hundred weight, and an arrow 

 of eighteen feet, the distance of a stadium, or an hundred and 

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