Olympias

Olympias is a reconstructed ancient Greek warship docked at the Hellenic Navy Museum in Piraeus. Built from wood, it features three levels of oars stacked above one another, and the entire vessel spans 37 meters (121 feet) in length with space for 170 rowers on board.

The Hellenic Navy launched this vessel in 1987 to recreate the warships Athens used to defeat the Persian fleet at Salamis. That sea battle took place in 480 BCE and changed the course of Mediterranean history.

The name honors the mother of Alexander the Great and recalls the golden age of Athenian naval power. Demonstrations show how rowers coordinated their movements, and visitors can see the techniques Greek sailors used to navigate their warships across the Mediterranean.

Tours run from March through October, and visitors can walk around the wooden hull to see the three-level rowing system up close. The tour also includes naval warfare equipment used during ancient sea battles.

Researchers studied ancient pottery, texts, and architectural remains to determine the exact measurements and details for construction. The finished vessel sailed out to sea several times to test its performance under real conditions.