What is a Diekplus?

Diekplous. The diekplous was an ancient Greek naval operation used to infiltrate the enemy’s line-of-battle. The maneuver consisted of Greek ships, in line abreast, rowing through gaps between its enemy’s ships.

Did Triremes have sails?

A Trireme is an ancient oar-driven warship powered by about 170 oarsmen. It was long and slender, had three tiers of oars and one sail. On the bow was a battering ram that was used to destroy enemy ships.

Why did Greek ships have eyes?

Evidence for the function of ship eyes in Greek literature shows that the eyes of ships primarily served to mark the presence of a supernatural consciousness that guided the ship and helped it to avoid hazards.

What fighting techniques did the Greeks use?

The most successful strategy on the ancient battlefield was using hoplites in a tight formation called the phalanx. Each man protected both himself and partially his neighbour with his large circular shield, carried on his left arm.

Did Alexander create the phalanx?

The Macedonian phalanx (Greek: Μακεδονική φάλαγξ) is an infantry formation developed by Philip II and used by his son Alexander the Great to conquer the Achaemenid Empire and defeat armies of other kingdoms.

How did Rome beat the phalanx?

The phalanx relies on an unbroken front to be effective. The Romans, usually with their pilae or javelins, managed to open holes in the front of the phalanx, into which individual Roman soldiers could move, because they operated on a more flexible formation.

What is the offensive weapon of the trireme?

Triremes also possessed sails but they were not used during combat. A Trireme’s main offensive weapon was its “beak,” a stout piece of sharpened wood (often clad in metal) which protruded directly forward from its bow, at or below the waterline.

Can Greek fire be made today?

An ancient incendiary weapon used by the Byzantine Empire, Greek fire involved a heavily guarded formula that we still can’t figure out today. The Byzantine people used this 7th-century arsenal to repel Arab invasion for years, particularly at sea.