Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
in modern transport-ships, prepared far carrying troops, it is a common estimate to allow a toll
and a half per man. On the whole, if we say that an ancient merchant-ship might range from 500
to 1000 tons, we are clearly within the mark.
•Steering apparatus .—Some commentators have fallen into strange perplexities from observing
that in (Acts 27:40) (“the fastenings of the rudders”) St. Luke uses the plural. Ancient ships were
in truth not steered at all by rudders fastened or hinged to the stern, but by means of two
paddle-rudders one on each quarter, acting in a rowlock or through a port-hole as the vessel might
be small or large.
•Build and ornaments of the hull.—It is probable that there was no very marked difference between
the bow and the stern. The “hold,” (Jonah 1:5) would present no special peculiarities. That
personification of ships which seems to be instinctive led the ancients to paint an eye on each side
of the bow. Comp. (Acts 27:15) An ornament of the ship which took Paul from Malta to Pozzuoli
is more explicitly referred to. The “sign” of that ship, (Acts 28:11) was Castor and Pollux; and
the symbols of those heroes were doubtless painted or sculptured on each side of the bow.
•Under-girders .—The imperfection of the build, and still more (see below, 6) the peculiarity of
the rig, in ancient ships, resulted in a greater tendency than in our times to the starting of the pranks
and consequently to leaking and foundering. Hence it was customary to take on board peculiar
contrivances, suitable called helps,” (Acts 27:17) as precautions against such dangers. These were
simply cables or chains, which in case of necessity could be passed round the frame of the ship,
at right angles to its length, and made tight.
•Anchors.—Ancient anchors were similar in form to those which we use now. except that they
were without flukes. The ship in which Paul was sailing had four anchors on board. The sailors
on this occasion anchored by the stern. (Acts 27:29)
•Masts, sails, ropes and yards . -The rig of an ancient ship was more simple and clumsy than that
employed in modern times. Its great feature was one large mast, with one large square sail fastened
to a yard of great length. Hence the strain upon the hull, and the danger of starting the planks,
were greater than under the present system, which distributes the mechanical pressure more evenly
over the whole ship. Not that there were never more masts than one, or more sails than one on the
same mast, in an ancient merchantman; but these were repetitions, so to speak, of the same general
unit of rig. Another feature of the ancient, as of the modern, feature of the ancient, as of ship is
the flag at the top of the mast. Isai l.c., and (Isaiah 30:17) We must remember that the ancients
had no compass, and very imperfect charts and instruments, if any at all.
•Rate of sailing .—St. Paul’s voyages furnish excellent data for approximately estimating this; and
they are quite in harmony with what we learn from other sources. We must notice here,
however—what commentators sometimes curiously forget-that winds are variable. That the voyage
between Troas and Philippi, accomplished on one occasion, (Acts 16:11,12) in two days, occupied
on another occasion, (Acts 20:6) five days. With a fair wind an ancient ship would sail fully seven
knots an hour.
•Sailing before the wind.—The rig which has been described is, like the rig of Chinese junks,
peculiarly favorable to a quick run before the wind. (Acts 16:11; 27:16) It would, however, be a
great mistake to suppose that ancient ships could not work to windward. The superior rig and
build, however, of modern ships enable them to sail nearer to the wind than was the case in classical
times. A modern ship, if the weather is not very boisterous, will sail within six points of the wind.
To an ancient vessel, of which the hull was more clumsy and the yards could not be braced so
685
William Smith