The Egyptians, Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans all prospered in the ancient Mediterranean thanks to their mastery of the sea which allowed them to fish, trade, win naval battles and establish new cities far from their own coastal waters. In this collection of 32 images we showcase depictions of maritime vessels in ancient art, modern reconstructions, and examples of the surviving equipment and decorations used on ancient ships.
Image Gallery
Egyptian Funerary Boat
Model of a funerary boat, 12th Dynasty, c. 1985–1795 BCE, provenance unknown, sycamore fig wood, EA 9525.