In ancient times, mankind's exploration and use of the sea reached an unprecedented height, and the emergence of various large ships not only reflected the shipbuilding technology at that time, but also reflected the social, cultural and military needs of the time. This article will reveal the true face of ancient shipbuilding techniques by comparing them with the size of the legendary treasure ships.
First, let's review the legendary treasure ship. According to historical records, the length of the treasure ship is about 44 zhang, which is a very staggering number. However, whether this data is accurate or not has been a point of contention in the academic community. Some scholars believe that such a size was difficult to achieve at the time, as it exceeded the maximum that the wood could withstand at that time. In addition, considering the risks of sailing at sea, such a huge ship can easily capsize in wind and waves.
Next, we turn our attention to several other famous ships of antiquity. For example, the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt once built a supership called the "Pharaoh's Mobile Palace". The length of the ship reached 280 cubits, the width was 38 cubits, the height of the side was 48 cubits, and four rudders were required to drive. Despite its staggering size, it could not actually go to sea and could only be used in the harbor as a water palace for kings.
Another example is the two megaships built by the ancient Roman emperor Caligula on Lake Nemi. One of them was discovered in the 16th century, and although only the skeleton of the bottom remains, its wreckage still shows a surprisingly large physique. According to contemporaneous Roman ships, the ship may have been 137 meters long and 58 meters wide in its intact condition, which is even larger than the legendary treasure ship.
Finally, we cannot ignore the armed merchant ships of the Dutch East India Company operating off the coast of Asia. Although these ships are usually smaller, in some cases they are also described as unusually large. For example, Zou Weilian, the governor of Fujian, claimed to have encountered a 50-zhang super-large ship armed with cannons capable of piercing stone walls during a battle with the Dutch. However, this description is most likely an exaggeration, since in the actual battle, the Dutch ships did not behave as formidally as described.
Enjoy the New Year
Summing up, we can see that large ships did exist in ancient times, but they may differ in size and function from the legendary treasure ships. The design and construction of these ships reflects the technical and cultural level of the society of the time, while also revealing the passion of the ancients for the exploration and exploitation of the sea. Through the study of these ships, we can better understand the development of ancient civilizations and how they influenced the history and culture of later generations.