Drawing of a boat

((:navis))


Description of Drawing (English): boat
Findspot: Smyrna, Basilica (Agora.1)
Drawing Category: Boats
Writing Style: charcoal
  • Graffito Height: 15
  • Graffito Length: 28
Bibliography: Bagnall, R. S. et al., Graffiti from the Basilica in the Agora of Smyrna (2016): 146.
Commentary: Dipinto of a ship located in the lower right quadrant of the back wall of Bay 11. It partially overlaps dipinto D11.4. Most of the drawing is now faded: the only clearly discernible element of the ship is a series of crisscrossing lines that define the mainsail with its rigging. The sail is tied to a straight mainyard (κέρας). At the yard’s right end are visible two diagonal lines to be interpreted as the ὑπέραι, the ropes that came down toward the stern. This suggests that the ship was drawn as sailing on a starboard tack. Part of the straight mast (ἱστός) is also still visible, though very poorly preserved.
Suggested Citation: AGP-SMYD00116, The Ancient Graffiti Project, <https://ancientgraffiti.org/Graffiti/graffito/AGP-SMYD00116> [accessed: 21 Nov 2024]
Contributions:

Editor: Roger S. Bagnall

Principal Contributor: Roger S. Bagnall

Last Revision: 2016-10-03