Trihemiolia

• The Trihemiola was a War Galley of the Rhodian Navy between 305-46 BCE.

Description

• Trihemiolia meant three and a half. It was similar to a Trireme, but smaller, weighing approximately 40 tonnes.
• It had 144 crew (the Trireme had 200) of which only 120 were oarsmen.

History

• The Trihemiola was used as the main War Galley by the Rhodian Navy, the Athenian Navy, the Ptolemaic Navy and the Pergamum Navy.
• First mentioned during the Siege of Rhodes by Demetrius I Poliorcetes in 305-304 BCE.
• Demetrius had 200 vessels, including the Trihemiolia, 150 supply ships, and 1,000 independent vessels hoping for the spoils of war. After one year he signed a Peace Treaty and withdrew, after being unable to successfully Blockade the Port or destroy the Rhodian Walls.

Battle of Chios (201 BCE)

• In the Battle of Chios, the Trihemiolas were used by both sides.
• The battle was fought between Philip V of Macedon and the Pirates of Crete, against an alliance of the Rhodian Navy and the Navies of Pergamum, Cyzicus and Byzantium, who were victorious.