Scratch built 1/50 scale Byzantine dromon model.
An Australian ship modeler, who goes by the pen name "Louie Da Fly" posted his Model Ship World project on Facebook of a Byzantine dromon (Greek name for runner) that was in existance during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos about the year 1098 AD.
This model is based on the information from the researched book,"Age of the Dromon" by professor John Pryor, who took part on the archaerological dig of a Byzantine galley in the silted harbor of Theodosius I at Yenikabi, Istanbul, Turkey.
The Byzantine Empire, also known as Easter Roman Empire, began in 361 AD when the Roman Emperor Constantine I tranferred his capital from Rome to Byzantium, later known as Constantinople, now modern Istanbul, Turkey. The empire ended when Constantine XI was killed leading the defence of Constantinople on May 1453, from the invading Turks.
For over a thousand years, the Byzantine Empire had a wide impact on Western Civilization, but sadly little was known about Byzantine ships and their construction. In 1988, all this changed when a railroad system was constructed under the Bosphorus channel. The construction exposed the Great Harbor, built by Emperor Theodosius I in 413 AD. Over the centuries, silt had accumulated rendering the habor useless into dry land. But, under this silt, archeologists found the remains of 36 Byzantine wrecks spanning the period from the 5th century to the 12th century.
The vast majority of the wrecks were merchant ships. But, good fortune, exposed the long sort after dromon and its gold mine of information, which this model is based upon. From a design after the Roman liburian, the dromon was the main warship of the Byzantine navy from the 5th to the 12th century until surplanted by galleys of Ventian design.
The dromon wreck featured a narrow planked on frame vessel with 100 oars arranged in two banks of 25 oars on each side. Instead of the oars on outriggers, as was the case on Roman galleys, the dromon wreck had bulwarks flared out on the gunwales to accomodate oars. Two lanteen angled masts held sails for auxiliary propulsion. The craft was steered by dual steering rudders.
Rather than a ram to puncture the enemy ship, the late dromon had a bow spur to break the opposing oars that rendered the enemy ship without power to maneuver. Offensive weapons included marines firing showers of arrows and spears assisted by ballistas hurling heavy stones. But the most feared weapon was Greek fire, located on the bow of the ship.
Greek fire was an incendary device first used in 673 in defence of Constantinople from the invading Arabs. It was a liquid inflammible mixture fired by a pump after ignition located on the bow of the dromon. This liquid mixture would still burn on the surface of the water offering no ecape for those jumping overboard to escape their burning ship. The formula for this flammable liquid is still uncertain, but is though to be a combination of naphta, quick lime and phosphorus.
For those wanting to learn more about the Byzantine dromon visit, https://modelshipworld.com/.../2166-byzantinedromon.../
Happy modeling Crackers