Roman Shipbuilding

  • Roman Shipbuilders used the Vitruvian method which consisted of building the shell of the ship first.
  • Rudders consisted of a pair of steering oars and square sails were used, raised by ropes running through a block and tackle.

Vitruvian Method of Shipbuilding

  1. First build the ship’s profile.
  2. Then build the Keel and flat bottom up to the second order of cincti.
  3. Next, build the sides up to the third whale.
  4. Lastly, build the Ribs, first those with crossbeams, then those without.

Roman Anchors

  • Roman Anchors found from the Republican Period resembled Greek Anchors, where a ship would carry multiple small stones or pieces of weighted wood with a hole to thread the anchor rope.
  • In the first century CE, iron tipped flukes started to be used in a design similar to the modern admiralty anchor.

Roman Rudder

  • The Romans did not use a central Rudder, but instead used a pair of steering oars.
  • These were positioned either side of the stern and could be raised if the vessel had to be beached.

The Roman Square Sail

  • The Square Rig dominated design in the ancient world.
  • It could not sail more than 60 degrees into the wind, meaning it required a forward mast and sail, the Artemon, to turn it through the wind.
  • As the vessel approached 60 degrees to the wind, the spritsail and mast helped it to turn through the wind by being angled in the opposite tack to catch the wind, this would then carry the bows round through the wind and the mainsail could be put on the opposite tack.
  • This did not work in strong winds and the vessel had to ‘wear about’ to turn. ‘Wearing about’ could be done in any wind. This was common practice by square riggers until they were replaced by steam in the 19th century.

Block and Tackle

  • The square sail required at least nine ropes per sail, which were all attached using the Block and Tackle to rings along the sides of the vessel. This way, raising and lowering the sail could be done relatively easily from the main deck.

Ballast

  • Sometimes Lead was used as ballast to line the hulls of Roman vessels.
  • Usually, Rocks and stones were used on empty sectors, then thrown overboard when no longer required.

Roman Shipwrecks

  • A number of shipwrecks from the Roman Period and Classical Antiquity have been discovered and preserved in various museums which are listed below.

Ship Museums

A number of shipwrecks from the Roman Period have been discovered and preserved in various museums, which has enabled archeologists to understand how Roman ships were constructed.

  • Mainz Ancient Ship Museum Germany
    • The wrecks of Roman river vessels excavated from the Rhine have been reconstructed in the Mainz Ancient Ship Museum in Germany.
  • Lake Nemi Roman Shipwrecks, Rome.
    • The Lake Nemi Roman Shipwrecks found near Rome have been also reconstructed as models.
  • Pisa Museum of Ancient Ships, Italy.
    • In 1998, over 30 Roman ships were excavated in a remarkable state of preservation. They dated from the Roman Period between 3rd century BCE to 7th century CE. The ships are now in this museum opened in 2019.
  • Ecomuseum of Cape Cavalleria in Minorca
    • The museum is dedicated to underwater archeology, and holds artefacts from multiple shipwrecks such as amphorae and anchors found on the seabed of Sanitja harbour.
  • Museo Archeologico di Olbia
    • On display in the museum are the timbers of one Roman shipwreck and one Medieval shipwreck, and there is a reconstruction of the Roman ship’s cross section.
    • Also in the collection are two oak masts measuring 26 feet (7.8m) and 24 feet (7.3m), the only Roman masts ever found, and dated to the reign of Nero (54-68 CE). Their bases were octagonal to secure them into the hull.
    • Four Roman Rudders were excavated, similar in size to the rudders from the Lake Nemi Roman Shipwrecks.

Roman Shipping

  • Alexandrian Grain Fleet
    • The Alexandrian Grain Fleet was a Roman cargo fleet based in Alexandria, Egypt.
    • Every year, the fleet brought 20,000 Modii of grain to Rome, and supplied one third of its grain requirement.
    • The Ships were known as ‘Navis Frumentaria’ meaning ‘Corn Ship’.
    • These cargo vessels were able to travel on long journeys, because they carried a cistern of fresh water, which meant they could take large numbers of passengers.
  • African Grain Fleet
    • The African Grain Fleet was a Fleet of Roman Grain ships carrying Grain from North Africa to Rome. It’s home port was Carthage in modern Tunisia.
    • By 50 BCE it is thought that Africa was the most important source of Rome‘s Grain supply. Africa Proconsularis supplied Rome’s Grain for 8 months of the year.

 

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