The triremes sail again

In 1985, construction on the only Trireme replica, HN Olympias, commenced under the Auspices of the Hellenic Navy. The reconstruction of the ancient Athenian vessel was a "rebirth" of liberty in the modern world. Olympias will launch a tour in Europe and in the United States to take part in a variety of educational and naval festivities.

The exact copy of the trireme, in its original size, was built between 1985-1987 in Greece, at Tzakakos shipyards in Keratsini, under a program implemented by the ministries of Defense and Culture in collaboration with the Greek National Tourism Organization and the Nautical Museum of Greece. Plans for its construction were provided by the “Trireme Trust” in Britain and the project was funded by the Greek Navy. The trireme was used during the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay.

The engineering drawings for the trireme were used as the basis for the graphics (CGI) of Greek ships in the film, in order to achieve the greatest accuracy possible.

The Hellenic Navy is uncomfortable with the fact that the ancient trireme is being exploited by a website which charges for the trireme’s photographs according to their quality.

A beacon of democracy and freedom, the ancient Athenian Trireme warships have beencited in poems and plays; studied by historians and architects and "replicated" by naval designers all over the world. These illustrious vessels played an imperative role during what is regarded as one of the most important battles of man kind, The Battle of Salamis.

The great Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote in Politics, "The common people, serving in the fleet, won the victory at Salamis, gave Athens power at sea, and this gave her an empire, and so they preserved democracy." The Battle of Salamis has obtained a "legendary" status in most circles. Perhaps because of the desperate circumstances of a Greek outnumbered-navy and the unlikely odds they would win.

al-enthusiast, philhellenes, and aspiring sailors to examine Olympias up close and discover its compelling fortitude.

It is with great excitement and anticipation that we invite you to explore the famed Trireme; chronicle its story from 4th century BC; its role in democracy, and appreciate its current reconstruction efforts.