Strength of a ram-to-ram strike: "As soon as enemy rams crashed against opposing rams, the ships recoiled back to their sterns." - Luc. 544-546. Damaged Egadi ram as an example (241 BCE).

Roman ships equipped with bronze rams sank dozens of Carthaginian ships during a major naval battle in 241 BCE – now we know how the rams were made newscientist.com/article/247627…

Hey look it’s my ram that was just published in the Journal of Archaeological Science! Making the news in New Scientist! newscientist.com/article/247627…

θάλαττα! θάλαττα! Picture Order: Dalian, China - Trapani, Sicily - Actium, Greece - Mallows Bay, USA.

Humbled that our experimental ram has sparked global curiosity, featuring in news across the US, UK, Australia, Russia, Turkey, Italy, Denmark, France, and the Netherlands! Ancient naval history isn’t just about battles—it’s a window into human creativity and resilience!

Picture of the ship from the new Odyssey film. As an ancient ship person, this is hilariously inaccurate. Consider adding a Roman or Punic three-bladed waterline ram kept at Favignana, where they are filming. Another naval component not present in Homer couldn't hurt, right?

Greeks, Romans, Etruscans—turns out everyone had a thing for naval crowns. Throw in some warship rams, and you’ve got ancient bling and some bragging rights.

Egadi 1 ram, recovered from the 241 BCE Battle of the Egadi Islands, features floral motifs around its fin plates. Does the “Crassus coin” (RPC I, 914, c. 46/45 BCE?) depict a naval ram adorned with a similar floral motif? Star? Could be a pretty cool Roman flower connection! 🌺

I will only go see the new Odyssey movie by Nolan if this is the popcorn bucket…

For anyone who might be interested in the Zuozhuan as military history but find it too time consuming, complicated, or expensive (all legitimate complaints), I do have a distillation of the over 600 military actions it documents in a report you can freely access.

Had a great time presenting at the WAWIC 2025! Huge thanks to the Iconography panel organizers, Marta Nicolas-Muelas and Julio Ruiz. In short, the evolution of the naval ram can be traced through the motif of Odysseus and the Sirens.

At the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE, Antony and Cleopatra commanded roughly 500 ships—mostly quinqueremes and a selected range of larger polyremes. Tons and tons of bronze was used to outfit these vessels with naval rams, yet only a breadbox-sized fragment survives today.

One year ago I left Texas for China, what a journey! This experience has challenged me, rewarded me, and reshaped my perspective on what “home” really is. Looking back, it's remarkable to think I've now lived, worked, or studied in 4 countries - the U.S., Greece, Italy, and China

Ναυμαχησείοντες: ready for naval battle; or those who are eager to fight at sea, having a desire for naval combat. -Suda 3.N.63.

Anyone have a pdf copy of these? Kapetanopoulos, E. 1992-1998. "Тhe Reform of the Athenian Constitution under Hadrian.” Horos 10-12 Lämmer, M. 1986-87. “Die Aktischen Spiele von Nikopolis.” Stadion 12/13, 27-38.

This pastry reminds me of… “Pyrrhus had not many teeth, but his upper jaw was one continuous bone, on which the usual intervals between the teeth were indicated by slight depressions.” -Plut. Pyrrh. 3.4

It’s out! This paper explores how the naval ram was more than just a weapon, it was a cultural symbol woven into almost every part of ancient Greek and Roman life. 🌊 ⚔️ jaha.org.ro/index.php/JAHA…