this post was submitted on 02 Mar 2025
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submitted 1 week ago by PugJesus to c/historymemes
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[–] PugJesus 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Ptolemy Philopator built [a ship] of forty banks of oars, which had a length of two hundred and eighty cubits, and a height, to the top of her stern, of forty-eight; she was manned by four hundred sailors, who did no rowing, and by four thousand rowers, and besides these she had room, on her gangways and decks, for nearly three thousand men-at‑arms. But this ship was merely for show; and since she differed little from a stationary edifice on land, being meant for exhibition and not for use, she was moved only with difficulty and danger.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tessarakonteres

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Yes I'd just found that! That's insane.

At the end though the Controversy section implies it was probably exaggerated. Even as a show vessel it would have been grossly impractical with the technology at the time. Still, it's so fantastical, I love it!