Lembus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A lembus was an ancient Illyrian galley, with a single bank of oars and no sails. It was small and light, with a low freeboard. It was a fast and maneuverable warship, capable of carrying 50 men in addition to the rowers.[1] It was the galley used by Illyrian pirates,[2] and by Philip V of Macedon during the First Macedonian War.[3]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Wilkes, p. 157; Polybius, 2.3.
  2. ^ Wilkes, p. 163.
  3. ^ Walbank, p. 69, Polybius, 5.109.

[edit] References

  • Polybius, Histories, Evelyn S. Shuckburgh (translator); London, New York. Macmillan (1889); Reprint Bloomington (1962).
  • Walbank, F. W. (1940) Philip V of Macedon
  • Wilkes, John, The Illyrians (Peoples of Europe), Blackwell Publishers, (December 1, 1995) ISBN 0-631-19807-5