Drawing of a boat

((:navis))


Description of Drawing (English): boat
Findspot: Smyrna, Basilica (Agora.1)
Drawing Category: Boats
Writing Style: Graffito/incised
  • Graffito Height: 2
  • Graffito Length: 6.5
Bibliography: Bagnall, R. S. et al., Graffiti from the Basilica in the Agora of Smyrna (2016): 405.
Commentary: Very schematic graffito of a ship, located on the southern face of Pier A84, looking into the Basilica’s southern corridor. The keel is rockered, while the bulwark is flat. Though there is no clear distinction between the prow and the stern, both missing their finials (i.e., aplustre and cheniscus), the ship is probably sailing on port tack. There are four rectangular sails, suggesting that the vessel might have two masts, each decorated with a cross. Two diagonal lines reaching down from the yard to the boat’s extremities are probably indications of the πρότονοι. No oars are visible.
Suggested Citation: AGP-SMYDP0844, The Ancient Graffiti Project, <http://ancientgraffiti.org/Graffiti/graffito/AGP-SMYDP0844> [accessed: 19 Apr 2024]
Contributions:

Editor: Roger S. Bagnall

Principal Contributor: Roger S. Bagnall

Last Revision: 2016-10-03