Olympias (trireme)

History
Greece
NameOlympias
OwnerHellenic Navy
Ordered1985
Laid downJuly 27, 1987
LaunchedAugust 1987
CommissionedAugust 26, 1987
HomeportPalaio Faliro 37°56.057′N 23°41.11′E / 37.934283°N 23.68517°E / 37.934283; 23.68517
Statusserves as exhibit in dry dock and used in events
General characteristics
TypeTrireme
Displacement47 tonnes
Length36.9 m (121 ft 1 in)
Beam5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)
Draught1.25 m (4 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
  • Two large square sails
  • 170 oarsmen
Speed
  • Maximum (with oars) over 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph)
  • Continuous (crew rowing in turns) 4.0 kilometres per hour (2.5 mph) 2.15 knots (estimated).
Troops14 (10 Hoplites + 4 Archers)
Complement200 including 5 officers (in antiquity)
ArmamentBronze bow ram, ten spears, four archers

Olympias is a reconstruction of an ancient Athenian trireme and an important example of experimental archaeology. It is also a commissioned ship in the Hellenic Navy of Greece, the only commissioned vessel of its kind in any of the world's navies.