RIPE
FOR THE
TAKING
the merchant ship known as the navis oneraria was Rome’s cargo vessel
of choice in late antiquity, designed to carry huge loads. An impressive
example of a navis oneraria was discovered in the Mediterranean off
Madrague de Giens in southeast France. Dating to the first century b.c.,
it could hold 400 tons and was much larger than most other types of
navis oneraria. On the ship’s final voyage it was carrying 7,000 to 10,000
amphorae of southern Italian wine to Gaul. On excavation, archaeologists
saw evidence that divers had plundered some of the cargo after it sank.
Although it is not known if pirates had attacked this ship, the slow-moving
progress of this class of vessel made it the perfect target for brigands.DBO DESIGN-DAVID BOCQUELETA RECONSTRUCTION (BELOW) OF A TYPICAL
IMPERIAL ROMAN-ERA NAVIS ONERARIA