The Trireme was originally a Greek built ship that the Romans incorporated into their Navy. The trireme was actually a battering-ram with a ship built around it. The ship was powered by two sails and several rows of oarsmen. The ship was long and slender, enabling it to reach astonishing ramming speeds of 10 knots. The oarsmen sat on three benches that were located above each other. These benches sloped so as to ensure a maximum number of rowers could fit into the slender boat. The trireme was big enough for as many as 170 oarsmen who brought the ship to its amazing speed. The rhythm and speed was decided by a rowmaster who got his orders from the captain. The rowmaster then shouted them through the ship to the slaves positioned on the oars.
See also: The Greek Trireme
