aft.[1] The existence of ornamentation in the form of a snake figure-head indicates that the type had been brought to some considerable state of finish and that the boat was already an evolved article.
By B.C. 1000, judging by the relative sizes of men and ships, considerable advance had been made in size, lateen sails were in vogue, and, in the case of warships the fighting top (or else a look-out station) had appeared, as well as an armoured breastwork to protect
Egyptian Ship about 2500 B.C.
the rowers. These last two features may be presumed to be the result of experience gained in unknown sea fights. A glance at the illustrations taken from the monument which records the first historical naval battle gives us the warship qua warship, already something that had differentiated from the every-day merchant vessel for a specific purpose.
- ↑ I am indebted to Mr. Cecil Torr M.A. for permission to reproduce the first four illustrations in this chapter from his Ancient Ships (Cambridge University Press).
