The
penteconter, alt. spelling
pentekonter, also transliterated as
pentecontor or
pentekontor (, fifty-oared) was an ancient
Greek galley in use since the
archaic period.
The penteconters emerged in an era when there was no distinction between merchant and war ships. They were versatile, long-range ships used for sea trade, piracy and warfare, capable of transporting freight or troops. A penteconter was rowed by fifty oarsmen, arranged in two rows of twenty five on each side of the ship. A midship
mast with sail could also propel the ship under favourable wind. Penteconters were long and sharp-keeled ships, hence described as
long vessels (,
nḗes makraí). They typically lacked
a full deck, therefore they were also called
unfenced vessels (,
áphraktoi nḗes).
According to contemporary calculations, penteconters are believed to have been between 28 and 33
meters long, approximately 4 meters wide and capable of reaching a top speed of 9 knots (18km/h). Ancient Greeks also used the triaconter (also triacontor, ), a vessel with 30 oars. There is a general agreement that the
trireme, the primary warship of
classical antiquity, evolved from the penteconter via the
bireme. The penteconter remained in use until the
Hellenistic period, when they became complemented and eventually replaced by other designs, such as the
lembos, the
hemiolia and the
liburnians.
See also
