Description
There is a good deal of debate as to how large ancient warships worked; the principles are understood, but the details are not always so clear. A Roman 'quadreme' or Greek 'tetreres' would seem to have four rows of oars if the name is translated literally. However, it is unclear how four sets of oars each with one rower apiece could be used without them getting in a terrible tangle even with a magnificently trained crew, or how the top set of rowers would be able to handle the extremely long oars pitched at a steep angle and still produce any power. The chances are that the term 'oar' had become synonymous with 'rower' and that the lowest bank had more than one man per oar. The other option was to go back to a double row of oars, with two men apiece. Two banks of oars would also have made for a cheaper construction task for each ship. Either way, the result was a ship that could rival the lighter trireme in speed, yet had more deck space for a large fighting contingent or artillery pieces.
The Illyrian aristocracy advocated raiding for profit, leading to widespread piracy in the Adriatic for several centuries. Over the years, the Illyrians became formidable pirates who struck fear into many a trade ship captain’s heart. Attacks by Illyrian pirates on merchant shipping eventually prompted Roman intervention in the region, and later its total absorption into their growing empire. Like many 'barbarian' peoples, the Illyrians were fearsome fighters who frequently displayed suicidal bravery. Their natural, warlike temperament, along with a fine, long-standing seafaring tradition, made them well-suited to raiding and piracy. Marines were elite melee troops highly skilled in seaborne combat, where the ability to keep upright and balanced whilst fighting hand-to-hand was paramount.
