Syracusia (Greek:Συρακουσία,syrakousía, literally "ofSyracuse") was anancient Greek ship sometimes claimed to be thelargest transport ship of antiquity.[1] She was reportedly too big for any port in Sicily, and thus only sailed once fromSyracuse inSicily toAlexandria in thePtolemaic Kingdom ofEgypt, whereupon she was given as a present toPtolemy III Euergetes.[2] The exact dimension of Syracusia is unknown;[3] Historian Michael Lahanas put it at 55 metres (180 ft) long, 14 m wide, and 13 m high.[4]
Syracusia was designed byArchimedes and built around 240 BC by Archias ofCorinth on the orders ofHieron II ofSyracuse. The historian Moschion of Phaselis said thatSyracusia could carry a cargo of some 1600 to 1800 tons and a capacity of 1,942 passengers.[5] She reputedly bore more than 200 soldiers, as well as acatapult. She sailed only once toberth inAlexandria, where she was later given toPtolemy (Ptolemaios) III Euergetes ofEgypt and renamedAlexandreia (Greek:Αλεξάνδρεια, literally "ofAlexandria").[6][2]
A discussion of this ship, as well as the complete text ofAthenaeus (a late 2nd-century Greek writer who quotes a detailed description ofSyracusia from Moschion, an earlier, now lost, writer) is in Casson'sShips and Seamanship in the Ancient World.[5]
Of particular interest in the discussion of the construction of the ship is the detailed description of the efforts taken to protect the hull frombiofouling, including coating it withhorsehair andpitch.[2] This may be the first example of proactiveantifouling technology (designed to prevent the attachment of fouling organisms, rather than to remove them).
Not much is known about the outside appearance of the ship, but Athenaeus describes that the top deck, which was wider than the rest of the ship, was supported by beautifully crafted woodenAtlases instead of simply wooden columns.[2] Additionally, the top deck featured eight towers, equipped with two archers and four fully armed men.[2] On the bow of the ship was a raised platform for fighting, on top of which was a giant catapult.[2] 20 rows of oars would also have been visible from the outside, and possibly a promenade lined with flowers and tents for use by the passengers.[2]
In terms of passenger comfort,Syracusia would be the equivalent ofTitanic compared to other ships of the era.[7] Her innovative design and sheer size allowed for the creation of various recreational spaces aboard, including a garden and an indoorGreek bath with hot water.[2] The lower levels of the ship were reserved for the crew and the soldiers on board, while the upper levels were for the use of passengers.[1][2] According to Athenaeus, the ship was beautifully decorated using materials such asivory andmarble, while all public spaces were floored with mosaics depicting the entire story of theIliad.[1][2][8] The ship was also equipped with alibrary, a drawing room and agymnasium for use by the passengers, as well as a small temple dedicated toAphrodite.[1][2]
The eventual fate ofSyracusia is unknown.[9]Ptolemy's son sought to outdoSyracusia.[citation needed] He ordered the construction of ahuge warship, theTessarakonteres: 420 feet long, and bearing more than 4,000 oarsmen and 2,850 soldiers.[10] However, according toPlutarch, it was almost immobile.[11][12] British classical scholarArmand D'Angour has argued that the construction of the Syracusia by Archimedes at the behest of Hieron II underlies the story told byVitruvius that Hieron asked Archimedes to assess the metal content of a fabricated gold crown, leading to the latter's discovery of the buoyancy principleassociated with his name.
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