HISTORY OF NAVIGATION. 9 



were often employed for reconnoitring ; smaller vessels, called cymhce, 

 were used for quick transportation. The vessels of war were manned with 

 rowers and marines, Roman citizens of the lower class. A quinquereme 

 counted four hundred rowers. The sea-captain directed the affairs of the 

 ship, but the soldiers had their own commander. The admiral's ship was 

 designated in the day by a flag, and in the night by lanterns. PL 1, figs. 

 11 and 12, represent smaller Roman triremes, as they are found on the bas- 

 relief of Trajan's pillar. Fig. 13 is a large trireme, ^g". 14, a quadrireme. 

 The principal difference between the ships of the Romans and those of the 

 Greeks and Phoenicians consisted in the greater length of the former, which 

 admitted two masts in the larger vessels. The masts were usually provided 

 with baskets, containing slingers and archers. 



Before leaving the subject of ancient navigation, we must briefly describe 

 the method of naval warfare, and of manoeuvring ships at sea. The crew 

 were summoned on board by a signal from the trumpet. First came the 

 rowers, and then the marines ; the crew of the transports came last. 

 Before sailing, sacrifices were offered, and also after returning from the 

 voyage. During an engagement, no use was made of the sails, and the ship 

 was moved only by the oars. In the order of battle, the largest ships took 

 the centre, the light ships took the wings, and others formed a reserve. 

 The ships were generally drawn up in the form of a half- moon, but some- 

 times in that of a wedge or circle. The admiral sailed through the fleet in 

 a light vessel, exhorting the men to courage. The sails were then furled, 

 and everything made ready for action, for which the signal was given by a 

 red flag from the admiral's ship. The signal for attack was then sounded 

 on the trumpet, the ships were driven against each other, the slingers and 

 archers took deadly aim at the crew of the enemy, and the rowers 

 endeavored to destroy the opposing vessels with the beaks of their own. 

 If this did not succeed, grappling irons were thrown out, the vessels were 

 drawn together, and the action became a personal conflict. It was often 

 attempted to fire the enemy's ships, either by fire-ships or by throwing 

 earthen vessels filled with burning pitch and sulphur. Fl. 1, fig. 16, repre- 

 sents a sea fight. The victorious ships returned home, adorned with flowers 

 and laurels. 



The warlike spirit of the Romans was cherished in their games and 

 amusements. Sea fights were exhibited in time of peace, and were called 

 Naumachia. These were introduced by Julius Caesar. The circus was so 

 arranged by Maximus that it could be filled with water to a considerable 

 depth. Ships were built on the arena, the water let in, and a regular battle 

 fought by slaves and prisoners, by whom the vessels were manned. These 

 mock engagements often resulted in dreadful slaughter on both sides. At 

 a later period, they were fought on the larger lakes, or artificial lakes were 

 prepared for their representation. An amphitheatre for this purpose was 

 erected by Domitian, of which pi. 2, fig. 12, gives a sketch. This structure 

 was elliptical, 1300 feet long, 200 feet broad, and had room for the manoeu- 

 vres of 30 triremes and a great number of smaller vessels. The avenues to 

 the building were richly ornamented ; the arena was placed under water 



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