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Description
This programme looks at the part played by water transport during both peace and war in Classical Greece. They also examine and demonstrate the evidence for the construction of ships and harbours i...n that period and consider what we know about trade and naval tactics. Using underwater film of the Kyrenia ship excavations, professor Katzev shows how the original vessel was constructed and sailed and the likely uses to which it had been put. Naval tactics are also examined and illustrated and the influences of sea warfare on the political history of Greece are outlined.
Metadata describing this Open University video programme
Module code and title: A292, Greece 478-336BC
Item code: A292; 07
First transmission date: 19-06-1979
Published: 1979
Rights Statement:
Restrictions on use:
Duration: 00:22:53
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Producer: Mary Hoskins
Contributors: Alexander John; Michael Katzev
Publisher: BBC Open University
Keyword(s): Harbours; Naval warfare; Trade routes
Footage description: The programme opens with aerial views of the Greek coastline. Vase paintings of ships, over which Kilgarriff reads Sophocles' tribute to seafaring. More vase paintings of ships, over which John explains the differences between Greek warships and trading vessels, two types of ships. Drawings of the two types of ship. Interview with Michael Katzev, the marine archjaeologist, who directed the 1968-69 excavation of the Greek merchant ship wrecked at Kyrenia. Film of the underwater excavation, over which Katzev and John describe the operation. Shots of recovered timbers and a model of the hull. Katzev describes how a Greek ship was built. A drawing shows mortice and tenon construction. Various shots of the ship's hull, which Katzev describes. He talks about the ships' steering oar and sail. Shots of a working model of the ship demonstrating the use of the sail. Vase painting and drawing of a merchant ship. Maps of Corinth showing harbours and location within Greece. John describes Corinths facilities for sea trade. Shots of the Diolkos, which is described in detail. Aerial views of Athenian harbours, over which John describes Themistocles' expansion of the Athenian navy. Using a reconstruction of Piraeus he explains the uses of the harbour of Zea as it is today. Using drawings and stills John describes the Athenian dockyards at Zea. Diagrams and ancient representations of triremes. John describes these warships in some detail. He explains how they were manned and how they were used in war. Relief map of Greece showing the locations of sea battles. Animated diagrams show naval war tactics in general and those employed by Athens at the Gulf of Corinth in 429 B.C. Kilgarriff reads Thucydides description of this battle, over appropriate vase paintings. Views of Greek coastlines. John explains the vulnerable aspects of the Athenian navy. Vase paintings depicting trade over which John describes the kinds of goods that comprised the sea trade. Film shows the cargo of the sunken Kyrenia ship. An animated map traces the route of the ship. In interview Katzev explains how the ship can be dated from its cargo. Shots of kitchenware from the Kyrenia ship. Katsev uses this evidence to describe the ships' crew and their lifestyle at sea. Katsev concludes the programme with observations on the significance of the Kyrenia excavation. Shots of the reconstructed ship.
Production number: FOUA025K
Videofinder number: 817
Available to public: no