Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World [Paperback]

Lionel Casson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1995

Lionel Casson's encyclopedic study is the first of its kind to use underwater archaeological data to refine and area of scholarship that had, for the most part, relied on ancient texts and graphic representations. Tracing the history of early ships and seamanship from pre-dynastic Egypt to the Roman empire, from skiffs and barges to huge oared warships and royal yachts, Casson describes not only the ships themselves, but also the make-up and training of the crews, placement of weaponry, how cargo was stored, methods of navigation, harbor facilities, and the ways ships were named.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A wonderful book made even better.

(Greece and Rome )

A bible for all interested in ancient ships, shipbuilding, and sailing techniques... it is a standard reference for every student of ancient history, not only for those interested in maritime matters.

(International Journal of Maritime History )

Lionel Casson's scholarship is impeccable and he adds data from underwater archaeological research. In this paperback edition much new material is included..The remarkable performance of the Kyrenia ship replica, for example, will facinate any sailing reader. Clearly they were nautical experts, these Kyrenia seafarers of 300 BC!

(Lloyd's List )

Casson is one of those rare individuals able to make a highly technical subject not only understandable to the general reader, but interesting as well... This is unquestionably the finest general reference on the subject of ancient seafaring; copiously illustrated, erudite, and always readable, [it] belongs in the library of anyone with even a passing interest in the roots of maritime enterprise.

(American Neptune )

This fine book... should remain the standard authority on ancient ships for many years to come.

(Classical Philology )

A comprehensive and up-to-date work of reference... [Casson's] extremely thorough study of representations of boats and vessels is complemented by his vast knowledge of text references.

(Archaeological Journal )

About the Author

Lionel Casson is professor emeritus of classics at New York University. He is the author of Daily Life in Ancient Rome, Daily Life in Ancient Egypt, Illustrated History of Ships and Boats, and Travel in the Ancient World, the last available from Johns Hopkins.

Product Details

• Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press (December 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801851300
• ISBN-13: 978-0801851308
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #526,419 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolute must for nautical archaeology, September 13, 2004

By 

D. Slane-Ozturk "daslane" (Columbia, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World (Paperback)

Casson's book is an essential read for anyone interesting in the history of seafaring. It has been used as a text for nautical archaeology for decades now and has a well-deserved reputation for clarity and completeness. I noticed that the other reviewer of this text took exception to the inclusion of original Greek and Latin sources. In fact, the inclusion of these texts, along with the publication of often hard-to-find illustrations, is one of the great strengths of Casson's book. For those interested in seeing what the ancients actually wrote, Casson has saved us searching the texts out ourselves.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything there is to know, June 25, 2009

By 

J. Keith - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World (Paperback)

If you are turned off by foot notes that take at times three quarters of the page, don't get it. This is a scientific work, but never dull.

15 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars ships and seamanship in the ancient world, August 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World (Paperback)

This book is an overview of the evolution of ships in the ancient Mediteranean and middleast from rafts and inflated animal skins to behemoth grain carriers that plied courses from Alexandria to Rome. I thought the chapter that dealt with the ships built by the inheritors of Alexander the Great's empire was amazing in their size. However, I felt that the use of footnotes which were in some instances quotations of ancient Geographers and Historians could have been better incorporated into the subject matter. I also felt that the photos and illustrations while valuble as visual aids to the book should have been included in the relevant chapters rather than an appendix at the end of the book. The use of several pages of Greek followed by the translation I felt was a waste of bookspace. But as an introduction to a somewhat neglected facet of ancient history I feel this book has definite merits.