Page 57 - TINA Dergi Sayi 7

TINA TINA

Denizcilik Arkeolojisi Dergisi Maritime Archaeology Periodical

ter revealed that the Ereğli breakwater was quite large. makhos, one of the generals of Alexander the Great in
Based on these data, the head of breakwater was 70 order to support his fight against Antigonos Gonatas in
meters wide (Fig. 5). Although it is not much detailed, the middle of the 3rd century BC . The Hellenistic Pe-
7
the information provided by Hoepfner indicates that the riod represents an era of massive ships built by the gen-
Ereğli Harbor was quite functional and protected during erals (Diadochi) who divided the empire following the
the ancient period, especially during the Hellenistic and death of Alexander the Great for their own fleets .
8
Roman Periods. Memnon of Herakleia (51.3) reports Such an important harbor would naturally maintain
6
that the Herakleians sheltered in the harbor after losing its importance throughout the ages. Xenophon indi-
14 vessels during a sea battle with Roman Triarius, and cates that “It is a long day’s journey for a trireme to
the city was captured only after the logistic supply from row from Byzantium to Herakleia, and between the
the harbour was prevented to reach the city. two places there is no other city, either friendly or
In the light of this information, we believe that the Greek, only Bithynian Thracians; and they are said
city should have had a commercial port. However, to abuse outrageously any Greeks they may find ship-
even during the Hellenistic Period, Herakleia should wrecked or may capture in any other way.” (Anabasis
also have had a military harbor housing very large VI, VI 3-6). It maintained this feature until the Gen-
ships. Although not certain, it is likely that this mili- oese Period since there was no more important and
tary harbor was in the harbor pit where the Black Sea big harbor before it . As a matter of fact, Akçakoca
9
Regional Command is located at present. (Diapolis) lying to the west of Ereğli having one of
During the Hellenistic Period, Herakleia Pontike was the important Genoese castles can be considered as an
well known for a spectacularly large ship built for Lysi- evidence of the Genoese power in the region.

6 MEMNON Herakleia Pontike Tarihi, Translated by Murat Arslan, 2007.
7 The ship named Leontophoros is described as an octareme by the ancient resources. The ship had a length of 110 m and width of 10
m, and there were eight rowers per bench, rowing 100 oars on both sides, which means that there were 1600 oarsmen in the ship. There
were also 1200 marines and two helmsmen on the deck. Please see BASCH 1995, 59;
8 CASSON 2002, 83-103.
9 HOEPFNER 1966; BRATIANU 1929.

Fig. 5:
Ereğli An-
tik Mendi-
rek sonar
görüntüsü.
Fig. 5: A
sonar view
of the an-
cient bre-
akwater of
Ereğli.

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