In the Hellenistic age some very large ships were built, although it is unclear how effective they were; see W.M. Murray, "The Age of Titans", p. 184 ( Google Books ). The most famous big ships were built by Ptolemy IV; see Athen. 5.203-206 . But some remarks of Athenaeus ( 5.203.d ) make it clear that this inscription records ship-building in the reign of Ptolemy II.
King Ptolemaios honours Pyrgoteles son of Zōēs, architect of the thirty-bank ship { triakontērēs} and the twenty-bank ship { eikosērēs }.
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