Archæologiæ græcæ: or, The antiquities of Greece. By John Potter, M.A. and Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxon

CHAPTER XIX. Of Naval Officers.

THERE were two sorts of Officers in all Fleets, one go∣vern'd the Ships, and Mariners; the other were entrusted with the Command of the Souldiers, but had likewise Power over the Ship-masters, and their Crew; these were,

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, praefectus classis, the Admi∣ral, whose Commission was different according to the Exigency of Times and Circumstances, being sometimes to be executed by one alone, sometimes in Conjunction with other Persons, as hap∣pen'd

to Alcibiades, Nicias, and Lamachus, who were sent with equal Power to command the Athenian Fleet in Sicily: Their Time of Continuance in Command was likewise limited by the People, and, as they pleas'd, prolong'd, or shorten'd. We read of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (a) 1.1, that finding his Country like to be brought into great Danger upon the Resignation of his Office, he held it four Months longer than he was commission'd to do, in which Time he put a new Face upon the Theban Affairs, and by his wife Management dispell'd the Fears they lay under; which done, he voluntarily laid down his Power, but was no sooner dive∣sted thereof, when he was call'd to account for holding it so long, and narrowly escap'd being condemn'd to Death; for it was fear'd that such a President might some Time or other be a Pretence to ambitious Spirits, having so great Power entrusted in their Hands, to enslave the Common-wealth. The same reason seems to have been the Cause of the Lacedemonian Law, whereby it was forbid∣den, that any Person should be Admiral above once (b) 1.2, which nevertheless stood them in no good st••ad, it thereby often hap∣pening that they were forc'd to commit their Fleet to raw and unexperienc'd Commanders.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (c) 1.3, sometimes call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, was Vice-admiral, or Commander in chief under the Admiral.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Captain of a Trireme, who commanded all the other Souldiers therein. The Captains of other Men of War were dignify'd with Titles taken from the Vessels they commanded, as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.

The Officers, that had Care of the Ships, were the following:

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, those, who were entrusted with the Care and Management of all marine Affairs, to provide commodious Harbours, to direct the Course of the Fleet, and order all other Things concerning it, except those which related to War.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Master, or Pilot had the Care of the Ship, and Government of the Sea-men therein, and sate at the Stern to steer: All Things were manag'd according to his Direction, 'twas there∣fore necessary that he should have obtain'd an exact Knowledge of the Art of Navigation, which was call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and chiefly consisted in these three Things: 1. In the right Ma∣nagement of the Rudder, Sails, and all the Engines us'd in Na∣vigation. 2. In the Knowledge of the Winds and celestial Bo∣dies, their Motions and Influences. 3. In the Knowledge of com∣modious Harbours, of Rocks, Quicklands, and other Occurrences

on the Sea: All these Acoetes in Ovid tells us he furnish'd him∣self with in order to become an accomplish'd Pilot (a) 1.4,

Mox ego, ne scopulis haerem semper in iisdem, Addidici regimen, dextra moderante carinam Flectere; & Oleniae sidus pluviale capellae, Taygetemque, Hyadasque oculis, Arctumque notavi, Ventorumque demo••, & portus puppibus aptos.

Left struck against a Rock, I there shou'd stay, Of steering well I learnt the usefull Way, Observ'd the Arctos, and the Hyais too, The Stars that round Tayg'tes glitt'ring Shew, Have mark'd th' Olenian Goat that Rain portends, And how a noisy Wind each Quarter sends, I learn'd the safest Ports, and best Retreats For tatter'd Vessels.—

Mr. Dechair.

As to the heavenly Bodies, they were observ'd by Sailors upon a two-fold Account, being of use to them in prognosticating the Seasons, and Guides which way to shape their Course. The prin∣cipal of those us'd in foretelling were Arcturus, the Dog-star, Arae, Orion, Hyades, Hoedi, Castor and Pollux, Helena, &c. It was like∣wise customary to take notice of various Omens offer'd by Sea∣fowl, Fishes, and divers other Things, as the Murmuring of the Floods, the shaking, and buzzing Noise of Trees in the neigh∣bouring Woods, the dashing of the Billows against the Shoar, and many more, in all which good Pilots were nicely skill'd. As to the Direction in their Voyage, the first Practitioners in the Art of Navigation, being unacquainted with the rest of the celestial Motions, steer'd all the Day by the Course of the Sun, at Night betaking themselves to some safe Harbour, or resting on the Shoar, and not daring to adventure to Sea 'till their Guide was risen to discover their Way: That this was their constant Custom may be observ'd from the ancient Descriptions of those Times, whereof I shall only observe this Instance (b) 1.5,

Sol ruit interca, & montes umbrantur opaci, Sternimur optatae gremīo telluris ad undam, Sortiti remos, passimque in littore sicco Corpora curamus, fessos sopor irrigat artus.

The hast'ning Sun had reach'd his wat'ry Bed, And Night the gloomy Mountains had o'erspread,

When, Lots resolving who shou'd Rowers be, Upon the Shore we lie just by the Sea, With Sleep our drooping Eyes we quickly close, And give our weary'd Bodies sweet Repose.

Mr. Dechair.

Afterwards, the Phanicians, whom some will have to be the first Inventors of Navigation, discover'd the Motions of some other Stars, as may be observ'd in Pliny (a) 1.6, and Propertius (b) 1.7,

Quaeritis & coelo Phoenicum inventa sereno, Quae sit stella homini commoda, quaeque mala.

—led by the Art, The wise Phoenicians found, and did impart, You mind what Stars are Signs of Good, or Harm.

The Phoenicians we find to have been directed by Cynosura, or the lesser Bear-star (c) 1.8, which was first observ'd (as some are of opi∣nion) by Thales the Milesian, who was originally a Phoenician (d) 1.9; whereas the Mariners of Greece, as well as other Nations, steer'd by the greater Bear, call'd Helice; whence Aratus,

—〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

Helice always is the Grecians Guide, When e'er they take a Voyage.—

For the first Observation of this they were oblig'd to Nauplius, if you will believe Theon, or, according to the Report of Flaccus (e) 1.10, to Tiphys, the Pilot of the famous Ship Argo. But of these, we are told by Theon, the former was the securer Guide, and there∣fore was follow'd by the Phoenicians, who for Skill in marine Af∣fairs outstrip'd not only all the rest of the World, but even the Grecians themselves.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, was next under the Master, and had his Place in the Head of the Ships, as his Name imports; To his Care was committed the Tackling of the Ship (f) 1.11, and the Rowers, who had their Places assign'd by him, as appears of Phaeax, who perform'd this Office in Theseus's Ships (g) 1.12: We find him every where assisting the Master at

Consultations concerning the Seasons, Places, and other Things (a) 1.13.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, portisculus, ageator, or hortator remigum, is by some in∣terpreted the Boat-swain; his Office was to signify the Word of Command to the Rowers (b) 1.14, and to distribute to all the Crew their daily Portion of Food (c) 1.15.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 was a Musician, who by the Harmony of his Voice, and Instrument rais'd the Spirits of the Rowers, when weary with Labour (d) 1.16, and ready to saint, as we read in Statius (e) 1.17;

Acclivis malo mediis intersona•• Orpheus Remigiis, ta••▪tosque jubet neseire labores.

Against the Mast the tunefull Orpheus stands, Plays to the weary'd Rowers, and commands The Thought of Toil away.—

Another, it may be the chief, Use of this Musick was to di∣rect the Rowers, that they, keeping Time therewith, might pro∣ceed in a regular and constant Motion, left by an uncertain Impulse of their Oars the Course of the Ship should be retarded (f) 1.18: Hence Flaceus in his Argonautics;

—carmine tonsas Ire docet, summo passim ne gurgite pugnent.

His Notes direct how ev'ry Oar shou'd strike, How they shou'd Order keep.—

••ilius also speaks to the same purpose (g) 1.19;

—mediae stat margine puppis, Qui voce alternos nautarum temperet ictus, Et remis dictet sonitum, pariterque relatis Ad numerion plaudat resonantia caerula tonsis.

One ready stands to sing a charming Song Unto the Sea-men as they row along, Whose lively Strains a constant Movement keep, And shew when ev'ry Oar shou'd brush the Deep, Who, as the beaten Water still resounds, Applauds their Labour with his Voice.—

Mr. Dechair.

This Musick was call'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (h) 1.20, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (h) 1.21.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, custodes navis, were oblig'd to take care that the Ship receiv'd no Dammage by bulging upon Rocks, or other ways (a) 1.22; whence, in the Night especially, we find them employ'd in sounding, and directing the Ship with long Poles;

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (b) 1.23.

As those who in the Night-time mind the Ship, Direct and guide it with long Poles.—

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 were either those that had the charge of the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Sides of the Ship, according to Turnebus (c) 1.24; or of the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. the Banks of Rowers.

Several other Names of Officers occurr in Authors; as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 who distributed to every Man his Share of Victuals, being usually the same with the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but sometimes, it may be, distinct from him. Homer mentions this Officer (d) 1.25;

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

And Officers embark'd, whose Care it was To give each Man his Victuals.—

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (e) 1.26 was a Person, whose Business lay 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, about the Fire, and therefore is by some thought to have been the Cook; by others the Priest, who offer'd Sacrifices.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, was the Bursar, who kept the Accounts, and registred all the Receipts and Expences of the Ship.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  Cornelius Netos in Epaeminonda.
• (b) 1.2

  Plutarchus Lysandro, Xenophon Hi∣stor. lib. II.
• (c) 1.3

  Xenophon Histor. lib. II & V. Tollux lib. I. cap. IX.
• (a) 1.4

  Metamorphos. lib. III in Fab. Bacchi.
• (b) 1.5

  Virgil. Aeneid. III. v. ••08.
• (a) 1.6

  Lib. VII.
• (b) 1.7

  Lib. II. v. 990.
• (c) 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Iliad •• A••••ianus Ex∣ped. lib VI.
• (d) 1.9

  Hyginus lib. II Poet. Astron. Eustathius II •• Theon. in A••atum.
• (e) 1.10

  Argon•• 1.
• (f) 1.11

  Xenophon Admin. dom. lib. V.
• (g) 1.12

  Athena••••s lib. XV.
• (a) 1.13

  Suidas, Plutarchus Agi••e, Xenephon Administ. dom. lib. V. Pollux.
• (b) 1.14

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Exped. Alex. lib. VI.
• (c) 1.15

  Suidas.
• (d) 1.16

  Censorinus cap. XII.
• (e) 1.17

  Theb••••d. V. v. 343.
• (f) 1.18

  Maximus Tyrius Dissert. XXIII.
• (g) 1.19

  Lib. VI. v. 361.
• (h) 1.20

  Aristophanes, ejusque Scholis Ran. Act. II. sc. V. Pollux.
• (h) 1.21

  Aristophanes, ejusque Scholis Ran. Act. II. sc. V. Pollux.
• (a) 1.22

  Ulpian. lib. LIII. cap. VI & VII Pollux lib. VII. cap. XXXI Eusta∣thius Iliad. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• (b) 1.23

  Sophocles 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• (c) 1.24

  Advers. lib. XXVIII. c. XLIII
• (d) 1.25

  Iliad. ••.
• (e) 1.26

  Pollux.