12-06-2003, 03:57 PM
Well, Jasper, nor do I know what was inside Caligula’s head (better that way, surely ) but I tend to think that lake Nemi ships were not ‘pleasure barges’. If you wanted to go yachting orgy after orgy, maybe the waters around Capri would be more adequate. Nevertheless, lake Nemi was a mysterious sacred place in Roman times, devoted to Diana. Caligula identified Diana with his sister Drusilla, therefore, the ships could fit better with a present/sacred offering.<br>
Why catapults? (I insist that no definite trace of artillery was recovered from lake Nemi, it is just one idea) Perhaps because the model from which the ship was replicated possessed them. I include here the complete description of Hieron’s Syracusia, as appears on Athenaeus’ ‘Philosophers at dinner’:<br>
<br>
"The ship was designed along the lines of a merchant ship [or possibly designed for 20 rowers in each bank of oars"], but had three gangways. The lowest, used for handling cargo, could be reached by a number of companionways. The second was designed to provide access to those wishing to ach their cabins. The last and highest was for soldiers. Along the middle gangway, along both sides of the ship, were 30 cabins for the men, each big enough for four couches. The owner's cabin was big enough for 15 couches and had three chambers of three-couch size; the aft kitchen served these. All had their floors laid with mosaic in many different kinds of stones, in which was recounted marvellously the whole story of the Iliad. The fittings, ceilings, and doors were all carefully worked. Along the uppermost gangway there was an exercise area and promenades laid out in accordance with the scale of the ship. Along the promenades were gardens of all sorts, wonderfully luxuriant with plants, which were watered by hidden lead pipes. There were also arbours of white ivy and vines planted in large pots filled with earth and irrigated in the same manner as the gardens. These arbours shaded the promenades. Next to these was built a shrine to Aphrodite, of three-couch size, with a floor made of agate and all the other most sought-after stones of Sicily. The walls and ceiling were panelled with cypress, the doors made of ivory and cedar. It was splendidly furnished with paintings, statues, and a service of drinking vessels.<br>
Adjacent was a reading room, of five-couch size, the walls and doors made of boxwood. There was a library there, and in the ceiling there was a hemispherical dome imitating the sundial of Achradina. There was also a bath of three-couch size with three bronze tubs and a wash-basin of variegated Tauromenian stone holding fifty gallons.<br>
There were also other accommodations for passengers and for those keeping watch over the bilge pumps. In addition, there were 10 stables along each side, and nearby were kept their fodder and the belongings of the riders and their slaves. There was a covered water tank at the bow which held 20,000 gallons, made of planks and pitched canvas. Next to it was a fish tank made of planks and lead sheeting; it was filled with sea water, and many fish were kept alive in it. Beams projected from both sides of the boat at equal intervals; on them were mounted wood bins, bread ovens and roasting ovens, grain mills, and other services. A row of supports shaped like giants, nine feet high, ran around the outside of the ship, all spaced at equal intervals to support the superstructure and triglyphs. Furthermore, the whole ship was decorated with appropriate paintings.<br>
There were eight towers equal in height to the ship's deck structures, two at the stern, another two at the prow, and the rest amidships. Each of these was fitted out with two booms terminating in small compartments from which stones could be dropped on any of the enemy that sailed beneath. Four fullyarmed young marines were stationed on each of the towers, along with two archers; the whole interior of the towers was full of stones and missiles. A raised platform with parapet and battlements was built across the ship on supports. On it was mounted a catapult capable of throwing a stone weighing 180 pounds o spear 18 feet long. Archimedes designed the device. lt could throw either type of projectile 600 feet. Nearby were protective screens made of thick leather straps and hung from bronze chains. Two stone-carrying booms were hung from end of the three masts, and grappling hooks or masses of lead could be let go attackers. An iron palisade encircled the ship as a protection against boarders, and all around it were hooked iron projectiles which, fired from catapults, could fasten on to enemy boats and drag them into striking range. Sixty young, fully armed marines were stationed on either side of the ship and an equal number around the masts with the stone-dropping booms. There were also men in the bronze crow's-nest structure at the masthead: three on the mainmast, then two and one respectively on the other two masts. Slaves kept these men supplied with stones and missiles by hauling them up to the fortified stations in baskets on lines rigged over pulleys.<br>
There were four wooden and eight iron anchors. As for the masts, the timbers for the fore and mizzen were found easily, but that for the mainmast was found with difficulty by a swineherd in the mountains of Bruttium. The engineer Philias of Tauromenium brought it down to the sea. Although the bilge was very deep, it was pumped dry by one man using a water-screw, an invention of Archimedes.<br>
The ship was named Syracusia, but when Hieron sent her off, he renamed her Alexandria. As ship's boats it had, first, a merchantman-like vessel of 3,000 talents burden, with a full set of oars, then some fishing-type vessels of 1,500 talents burden, and some small boats besides. The complement of the crew was not less than...[the number has been lost]. Besides those mentioned above there were 600 at the bow ready for orders.<br>
Sixty thousand measures of grain were loaded on board, 10,000 jars of Sicilian pickled fish, 20,000 talents of wool, and 20,000 talents of other cargo, besides this there were the provisions for the crew. When Hieron heard that, of all the harbours the ship [was to call at], some could not accommodate it at all and others only with great risk, he decided to send it to Alexandria as a present for King Ptolemy, for there was a shortage of grain in Egypt. He did so, the ship was sailed down to Alexandria, and there it was hauled out on land."<br>
<img src="http://www-atm.physics.ox.ac.uk/rowing/trireme/trieris.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
<br>
The more I read this description, the more I think that it fits well to Nemi I. Even it is possible that Syracusia had had oars, from the corrupt first phrase. Therefore, it is clearly possible that Nemi I was not a replica of a warship, given its wide beam. Anyway, as you pointed out, masts would have been superfluous for sailing in the lake and I would add that if the Syracusia seems to have been larger than Nemi I’s 70x20 m, perhaps the latter was somewhat scaled down by Caligula’s naval architects in order to give it more room to manoeuvre in the limited space.<br>
Those of lake Nemi weren’t the only juggernauts ordered by Caligula. His obelisk-carrying ship was 100x20 m!<br>
<p></p><i></i>
Why catapults? (I insist that no definite trace of artillery was recovered from lake Nemi, it is just one idea) Perhaps because the model from which the ship was replicated possessed them. I include here the complete description of Hieron’s Syracusia, as appears on Athenaeus’ ‘Philosophers at dinner’:<br>
<br>
"The ship was designed along the lines of a merchant ship [or possibly designed for 20 rowers in each bank of oars"], but had three gangways. The lowest, used for handling cargo, could be reached by a number of companionways. The second was designed to provide access to those wishing to ach their cabins. The last and highest was for soldiers. Along the middle gangway, along both sides of the ship, were 30 cabins for the men, each big enough for four couches. The owner's cabin was big enough for 15 couches and had three chambers of three-couch size; the aft kitchen served these. All had their floors laid with mosaic in many different kinds of stones, in which was recounted marvellously the whole story of the Iliad. The fittings, ceilings, and doors were all carefully worked. Along the uppermost gangway there was an exercise area and promenades laid out in accordance with the scale of the ship. Along the promenades were gardens of all sorts, wonderfully luxuriant with plants, which were watered by hidden lead pipes. There were also arbours of white ivy and vines planted in large pots filled with earth and irrigated in the same manner as the gardens. These arbours shaded the promenades. Next to these was built a shrine to Aphrodite, of three-couch size, with a floor made of agate and all the other most sought-after stones of Sicily. The walls and ceiling were panelled with cypress, the doors made of ivory and cedar. It was splendidly furnished with paintings, statues, and a service of drinking vessels.<br>
Adjacent was a reading room, of five-couch size, the walls and doors made of boxwood. There was a library there, and in the ceiling there was a hemispherical dome imitating the sundial of Achradina. There was also a bath of three-couch size with three bronze tubs and a wash-basin of variegated Tauromenian stone holding fifty gallons.<br>
There were also other accommodations for passengers and for those keeping watch over the bilge pumps. In addition, there were 10 stables along each side, and nearby were kept their fodder and the belongings of the riders and their slaves. There was a covered water tank at the bow which held 20,000 gallons, made of planks and pitched canvas. Next to it was a fish tank made of planks and lead sheeting; it was filled with sea water, and many fish were kept alive in it. Beams projected from both sides of the boat at equal intervals; on them were mounted wood bins, bread ovens and roasting ovens, grain mills, and other services. A row of supports shaped like giants, nine feet high, ran around the outside of the ship, all spaced at equal intervals to support the superstructure and triglyphs. Furthermore, the whole ship was decorated with appropriate paintings.<br>
There were eight towers equal in height to the ship's deck structures, two at the stern, another two at the prow, and the rest amidships. Each of these was fitted out with two booms terminating in small compartments from which stones could be dropped on any of the enemy that sailed beneath. Four fullyarmed young marines were stationed on each of the towers, along with two archers; the whole interior of the towers was full of stones and missiles. A raised platform with parapet and battlements was built across the ship on supports. On it was mounted a catapult capable of throwing a stone weighing 180 pounds o spear 18 feet long. Archimedes designed the device. lt could throw either type of projectile 600 feet. Nearby were protective screens made of thick leather straps and hung from bronze chains. Two stone-carrying booms were hung from end of the three masts, and grappling hooks or masses of lead could be let go attackers. An iron palisade encircled the ship as a protection against boarders, and all around it were hooked iron projectiles which, fired from catapults, could fasten on to enemy boats and drag them into striking range. Sixty young, fully armed marines were stationed on either side of the ship and an equal number around the masts with the stone-dropping booms. There were also men in the bronze crow's-nest structure at the masthead: three on the mainmast, then two and one respectively on the other two masts. Slaves kept these men supplied with stones and missiles by hauling them up to the fortified stations in baskets on lines rigged over pulleys.<br>
There were four wooden and eight iron anchors. As for the masts, the timbers for the fore and mizzen were found easily, but that for the mainmast was found with difficulty by a swineherd in the mountains of Bruttium. The engineer Philias of Tauromenium brought it down to the sea. Although the bilge was very deep, it was pumped dry by one man using a water-screw, an invention of Archimedes.<br>
The ship was named Syracusia, but when Hieron sent her off, he renamed her Alexandria. As ship's boats it had, first, a merchantman-like vessel of 3,000 talents burden, with a full set of oars, then some fishing-type vessels of 1,500 talents burden, and some small boats besides. The complement of the crew was not less than...[the number has been lost]. Besides those mentioned above there were 600 at the bow ready for orders.<br>
Sixty thousand measures of grain were loaded on board, 10,000 jars of Sicilian pickled fish, 20,000 talents of wool, and 20,000 talents of other cargo, besides this there were the provisions for the crew. When Hieron heard that, of all the harbours the ship [was to call at], some could not accommodate it at all and others only with great risk, he decided to send it to Alexandria as a present for King Ptolemy, for there was a shortage of grain in Egypt. He did so, the ship was sailed down to Alexandria, and there it was hauled out on land."<br>
<img src="http://www-atm.physics.ox.ac.uk/rowing/trireme/trieris.jpg" style="border:0;"/><br>
<br>
The more I read this description, the more I think that it fits well to Nemi I. Even it is possible that Syracusia had had oars, from the corrupt first phrase. Therefore, it is clearly possible that Nemi I was not a replica of a warship, given its wide beam. Anyway, as you pointed out, masts would have been superfluous for sailing in the lake and I would add that if the Syracusia seems to have been larger than Nemi I’s 70x20 m, perhaps the latter was somewhat scaled down by Caligula’s naval architects in order to give it more room to manoeuvre in the limited space.<br>
Those of lake Nemi weren’t the only juggernauts ordered by Caligula. His obelisk-carrying ship was 100x20 m!<br>
<p></p><i></i>
It\'s all an accident, an accident of hands. Mine, others, all without mind, from one extreme to another, but neither works nor will ever.
Rolf Steiner
Rolf Steiner
