According to the Ancient Greek historian, Thucydides, it was the Corinthians who first developed the trireme, possibly as early as the 7th century BC. (1.12.4 - 13.2) They in turn based their ...

The largest warships had three banks of oars and were called ‘triremes’. A trireme needed 170 men to row it - one man to each oar. It was steered by long oars at the stern or back of the ship.

The largest warships had three banks of oars and were called ‘triremes’. A trireme needed 170 men to row it - one man to each oar. It was steered by long oars at the stern or back of the ship.