Bireme

Bireme

A bireme is a ship probably invented by the Phoenicians [cite book | last = Casson | first = Lionel | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World | publisher = The Johns Hopkins University Press | date = December 1 1995 | location = | pages = 57-58 | url = http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=sDpMh0gK2OUC&oi=fnd&pg=PA3&dq=+bireme+Assyrian+Casson&ots=SzGT0dkwlq&sig=zyJHXe3O3BzTfuNZjMtm7NaoXNw#PPA57,M1 | doi = | id = | isbn = 978-0801851308 ] whose best known use was as an ancient greek naval ship that was 80 feet (24 metres) long with a maximum beam length of around 10 feet (3 metres). It was modified from unireme (a ship that had only one set of oars on each side) but the bireme had two sets of oars on each side, hence the name. It also had a large square sail. This ship was also used by the Romans frequently and were used during the second of Caesar's invasions of Britain. It evolved into the trireme. Often there would be a group of marines and a unit commandant (the commandant was given a tent on the open deck).

We first find it recorded in ancient history on 8th century Assyrian reliefs. [cite book | last = Casson | first = Lionel | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World | publisher = The Johns Hopkins University Press | date = December 1 1995 | location = | pages = 57-58 | url = http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=sDpMh0gK2OUC&oi=fnd&pg=PA3&dq=+bireme+Assyrian+Casson&ots=SzGT0dkwlq&sig=zyJHXe3O3BzTfuNZjMtm7NaoXNw#PPA57,M1 | doi = | id = | isbn = 978-0801851308 ]

The name bireme comes from "bi-" meaning two and "-reme" meaning row.

Notes


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bireme — Birème Maquette de birème romaine …   Wikipédia en Français

  • birème — [ birɛm ] n. f. • 1541; lat. biremis, de remus « rame » ♦ Galère de l Antiquité à deux rangs de rames de chaque côté. ● birème nom féminin (latin biremis) Navire de l Antiquité romaine à deux rangées de rames. ⇒BIRÈME, subst. fém. ANTIQUITÉ… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Bireme — Bi reme, n. [L. biremis; bis twice + remus oar: cf. F. bir[ e]me.] An ancient galley or vessel with two banks or tiers of oars. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Birēme — (lat.), Zweiruderer, Schiff (Galeere) mit zwei Reihen Ruderbänken …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Bireme — Birēme (lat.), zweirudriges Schiff; Galeere mit zwei übereinander liegenden Reihen Ruderbänken …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • birème — BIRÈME. s. f. Vaisseau ancien qui svoit deux rangs de rames de chaque côté …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • bireme — [bī′rēm΄] n. [L biremis < bi , BI 1 + remus, oar: see ROW2] a galley of ancient times, having two rows of oars on each side, one under the other …   English World dictionary

  • Birème — Maquette de birème romaine Birème assyrienne vers le …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bireme — Phönizischer Zweiruderer auf einem Relief aus Ninive Bireme, Teilabbildung Ein …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bireme — Bi|re|me 〈f. 19〉 antikes Kriegsschiff mit zwei Ruderreihen übereinander [<frz. birème „Zweiruderer“; <lat. bis „doppelt“ + remus „Ruder“] * * * Bireme   [aus gleichbedeutend lateinisch biremis zu bi... und remus »Ruder«] die, , n,… …   Universal-Lexikon

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