Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Triremis

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

TRIRE'MIS (τριήρης). A trireme or war-galley furnished with tree banks (ordines) of oars on each side, disposed diagonally one over the other (Plin. H. N. vii. 57. Virg. Aen. v. 119. Ascon. in Verr. ii. 1. 20.), as exhibited by the annexed figure (Triremis/1.1), from an ancient fresco-painting, representing the flight of Paris and Helen, discovered in the early part of the past century amongst some ruins in the Farnese gardens at Rome, but no longer in existence, as the colours evaporated shortly after it was exposed. (Turnbull, Treatise on Ancient Painting, &c fol. 1740.) A similar arrangement of the three banks of oars is also indicated in some of the sculptures on Trajan's column. In a trireme each rower plied a single oar, and sat upon a separate seat (sedile), fixed against the sides of the vessel in the directions indicated by the oar-ports, and not upon a long thwart (transtrum), as was the case when several worked upon the same oar. Those on the top bank had the longest oars, the most labour, and consequently the largest pay: they were termed θρανῖται by the Greeks, the oar they used κώπη θρανίτης, and the thowl on which it rested σκαλμός θρανίτης. Those on the lowest rank had the shortest oars, least work, and lowest pay: they were termed θαλαμίται. Those who occupied the middle bank were termed ζευγίται, and had their oars of a medium length, and their pay regulated accordingly.

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  Triremis/1.1