Trireme Olympias

The H.N. Olympias is a full-scale, working replica of the legendary 170-oared Athenian trireme of the 5th century B.C. The "Intrepid" of its day, the trireme laid the foundation for democracy and western civilization.

As Aristotle wrote in the Politics, "The common people, serving in the fleet, won the victory at Salamis, gave Athens power at sea, and this gave her an empire, and so they preserved the democracy."

Ancient tales praised triremes' great speed and maneuverability. However, because no ship remains have ever been found, historians consider them "one of the greatest mysteries of ancient times." In the late 1980s, a group of British scholars, naval architects and the Greek government joined forces to construct Olympias -- bringing ancient history to life. Sea-trials were held to test the ship's capabilities. An international crew, including many Americans, participated. The unique archaeological project allowed scientists to learn a great deal about the triremes' speed and strength, as well as the battle tactics of the ancient Athenians.

Today, Olympias is housed at the Naval Tradition Park in Athens. The Hellenic Navy has agreed to allow Olympias to be transported to America and rowed and sailed in New York Harbor, providing the public an opportunity to witness something truly unique and exhilarating. Additional sea-trials will be conducted, helping to further unravel the mystery of the triremes. To return Olympias to full sea-worthy condition, hull repairs will be made in Athens in 2012, followed by additional ship re-fitting in New York.