Deceres or Ten
Large warships which were probably invented by Alexander's successors, around 320BC. Powered by two banks of oars with 5 men to each oar.

Octeres or Eight
This type of vessel was used as a warship mainly up to the Battle of Actium in 31BC. Powered by two banks of oars per side with four men to each oar.

Hepteres or Seven
One of the larger warships used mainly between 314BC and 31BC.

Hexeres or Six
Invented around 397BC. Powered by three banks of oars per side, double manned. Sixes were large enough to carry towers and up to 120 marines.

Roman Quinquereme or Five
Invented in 397BC, these vessels remained
in general use until 31BC.
Packet contents vary. Some have a corvus.

Carthaginian Quinquereme or Five
Invented in 397BC, these vessel remained
in general use until 31BC.

Siege Quinquereme
Two vessels lashed together to support a tower which would be armed with one or more catapults.

Quadrireme or Tetreres (or Four)
Invented by Carthage around 368BC and in general use until 31BC, although a limited number were used in later centuries. Propelled by two banks of oars per side, double manned.

Trireme or Three (Aphract, early)
Used from 600BC. With central gangway leaving oarsmen's heads exposed. Powered by three banks
of oars per side.

Trireme or Three (Aphract, later)
This design had light decking over oarsmen's heads. Used by all nationalities from around 580BC.

Trireme or Three (Cataphract)
This type of vessel was in use by 450BC.
The full deck meant that oarsmen were protected
from enemy fire.

Trihemiolia (Cataphract)
First mentioned in 350BC, these vessels were used as warships by all major states. They had two and a half banks of oars per side.

Bireme (Aphract)
With two banks of oars per side, biremes were used as warships and scouts in Mediterranean navies from 8th century BC.

Liburnian (Aphract)
With two oar banks. Used from around 300BC, initially as a pirate vessel. Later adopted by the Romans who used it as a standard warship. As a pirate, the vessel was usually painted blue-grey as a rudimentary form of camouflage.

Also available as a Cataphract vessel with covered deck.

Hemiolia (Cataphract)
With one and a half banks of oars per side. Initially used by pirates but soon incorporated into all major navies both as scouts and minor warships.

Pentecontor (Aphract)
The earliest type of Greek Warship, this vessel was rowed by a single bank of oarsmen.

Triaconter (Aphract)
A ship of 30 oars on one level. In use from 6th century BC up to the end of the Peloponnesian Wars, it was equipped with an early type ram.

20-Oared Galley (Aphract)
A small galley, used from the 8th century BC through to the 6th century BC, equipped with an early type ram.

Phoenician Bireme or Two (Aphract)
First mentioned in 8th century BC, this vessel was rowed on two levels by about 52 oarsmen.

Egyptian Warship of Ramses III (Aphract)
These vessels were in used in 1500BC. They were powered by 30 oarsmen or a square sail.

Egyptian Warship of Queen Hatshepsut
These aphract vessels were in use in 1500BC, powered by 30 oarsmen or a square sail drawn between two yards.

Warship of the Peoples of the Sea
An aphract vessel in use in the Mediterranean around 1200BC.

Merchant Galley
In use from 9th century BC until well into the 2nd century AD. Their main propulsion was oars, sometimes aided by sails. Our model depicts the hulls with oar banks, however, sails and masts are also included in the kit.

Merchant Vessel
Common throughout the Mediterranean during the Ancient period, this vessel was principally powered by sails. Our model therefore has no protruding oars. The kit contains sails and masts.

Roman Frumentariae or Grain Ship
Large vessels, up to 180ft or more in length, used for transporting corn from Alexandria to Rome. In times of war they were also used to transport legions to areas of conflict.
They would have been principally powered by sails and so our model has no protruding oars. The kit contains sails and masts.