Drawing of a boat

((:navis))


Description of Drawing (English): boat
Findspot: Smyrna, Basilica (Agora.1)
Drawing Category: Boats
Writing Style: Graffito/incised
  • Graffito Height: 47
  • Graffito Length: 66
Bibliography: Bagnall, R. S. et al., Graffiti from the Basilica in the Agora of Smyrna (2016): 403.
Commentary: Painted and incised graffito of a ship, located on the eastern face of Pier A84, at the vault spring. Partially damaged by lacunae, it depicts a medium-sized commercial vessel with a combination of painted (mostly the ship’s sail) and incised (the ship’s hull and rows) details. The ship, sailing on port tack, has a large trapezoidal sail defined by a series crisscrossing lines, most probably meant to indicate the brailing ropes as well as the ropes that connect the sail to the mast and the ship’s sides. The mast is not recognizable, but the long yard (κέρας) is clearly visible. The keel is flat and the stern rounded, while the prow, possibly oblique, is damaged by a large lacuna. At the stern one of the two πηδάλια, characterized by a large triangular blade, is visible.
Suggested Citation: AGP-SMYDP0842, The Ancient Graffiti Project, <http://ancientgraffiti.org/Graffiti/graffito/AGP-SMYDP0842> [accessed: 29 Mar 2024]
Contributions:

Editor: Roger S. Bagnall

Principal Contributor: Roger S. Bagnall

Last Revision: 2016-10-03