Ancient Greek Galley - Penteconter

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The Pentekontor - was an ancient Greek galley that sailed the seas since the dawn of the archaic period. Emerging in a time when merchant and war ships blurred into one, these versatile vessels plied their trade for sea commerce, piracy, and warfare with equal ease, transporting goods or troops across the waves. Rowed by fifty skilled oarsmen, they formed a formidable force on the high seas, their oarsmen lined up in perfect rows of twenty-five on each side of the ship. A sturdy midship mast and sail combination could also harness the wind to propel the Pentekontor forward with remarkable speed under favorable conditions. Long and sharp-keeled, these vessels cut through the waves like a hot knife through butter, earning them the nickname long ships. With their open decks and lack of fencing, they were often referred to as unfenced vessels, free to roam the seas as they pleased.