The principal warship of antiquity from the 6th to the late 4th century bc. A type of galley with three banks of oars, it was lightly built for speed and manoeuvrability and unable to venture very far from land; each trireme carried a crew of some 200 men, the majority being rowers. They were probably seated three to a bench, the bench being angled so that each rower pulled a separate oar. A beak of metal and wood was set at the front of the galley, ramming being the principal aim of the steersman. Athens’ fleet of triremes played a major part in the Greek victory at Salamis and was instrumental in controlling the Athenian empire.