Expert: Maria - 1/28/2005

Question
I'm trying to make a replica of a minoan trading vessel.  However, I have not been able to find resources on what they resembeled.  Could you please tell me what the Minoan merchant ships look like, and how they were rowed, that is, what were peoples role in powering them and how did they do so?  Thanks!!

Answer
Hello Emma,

First of all I must point out that no wreck of a Minoan ship has ever been found in order to provide a model, even if someone has tried to make a replica of ancient Minoan vessels, ‘relying on ancient drawings and using the same methods as the Minoans who lived on the Mediterranean island of Crete from around 3000 BC'.
See for example:
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_598535_03/10/2003_34767
http://www2.forthnet.gr/mar-museum-crete/Minoiko.htm
http://www.kfunigraz.ac.at/ub/ausstellungen/seefahrt/img/b-minoisch-01.jpg

With regard to resources  on the Minoan vessels,  here are two sites where you can see a fresco that was  discovered by the Greek archaeologist Spyridon Marinatos (1901-1974) at Akrotiri, an ancient city  of Thera island (today Santorini ), 70 miles to the north of Crete.

http://www.rgzm.de/Navis2/Home/FullImage.cfm ObjectCode=GR_0020&ObjectName=TheraFresco1

http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21121a/00/lk21a084.jpg

This fresco shows that the Minoans, who were the first navy power in Greece,  used around 1500 BC various types of ships.
Minoans have in fact large fleet and ruled over the seas (Greek, 'thalassocratia'=supremacy on the seas)which is typical for countries that have to protect large sea trade.  
So, in order to facilitate trade, the Cretans and their Aegean relatives developed the most advanced navy that had ever been seen.

As for the trade  ship features  we know that:

1- The oarsmen were used  in large numbers as speed  was very important  for trade.
2- The building material was usually cypress which was abundant in Crete.
See also:
http://www.greece.gr/CULTURE/CulturalHeritage/minoanvesselresurfaces.stm

This is what we can say about the Minoan ships as very little is known about this matter.

Anyway I hope this can be helpful to you.

Best regards
Maria