Saturday, June 14, 2008

"Argo" sails again.

I stumbled across an article about a replica of the "Argo" this morning. How I wish we could be in Greece today to see this reconstruction of the legendary ship that carried Jason and the Argonauts to recover the Golden Fleece.

Knowing that we can't be in Greece today, I'll console myself by reading the myth to Ben and Shira instead.

The modern-day Argo is a reconstruction of an ancient Greek penteconter with a ram (a ship with one tier of 50 oars, 25 on either side) and a simple sail that was built of half-cured wood cut from forest timber.

It is built along the line of prehistoric ships of the Greek mainland in the 14th century B.C. and belongs to the same family as Homer's long ships and the later ram-bearing warships of antiquity.

The present-day penteconter Argo is expected to travel between 10 and 15 nautical miles a day until it reaches its final destination in Venice, stopping at 37 ports on the way. It will be accompanied by the ship Hellenic Seaways, where the rowers of the penteconter will eat, wash, dress and receive medical treatment.

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