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Greek
boat for war and business expedition,
VIII‚-VI‚ s.av J.-C.
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Scientific
investigations on the topic are increasing in number : archaeological excavations,
discoveries and inventories of boat wrecks and cargoes which ave sunk to
the sea bottom, attempts at reconstituting homeric boats after ceramic paintings
or sculptures found on monuments contribute to give a better knowledge,
through material objects, of the conditions under which Odysseus, his companions
and his contemporaries navigated in Homer's time. Moreover today we know
a good deal more about sea currents, wind patterns, storm formation. So,
we can evaluate the enormous challenges facing Odysseus' sailors in building
and maintaining their pentekontores, those famous boats with fifty
oarsmen; to find their way about, identify the coasts, anchor to take shelter
or haul up a boat on the beach; but also to find some food and keep up their
strength, to try new drinks and philtres composed of plants they did not
know. 
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