An ''actuaria'' (plural: ''actuariae''; a short form of ''navis actuaria'', "ship that moves") was a type of merchant

galley A galley is a type of ship that is propelled mainly by oars. The galley is characterized by its long, slender hull, shallow draft, and low freeboard (clearance between sea and gunwale). Virtually all types of galleys had sails that could be used ...

used primarily for trade and transport throughout the Roman Empire. In Greek, they were also known by the term ''akatos'' (ἄκατος; plural: ''akatoi''). The ''actuaria'' was equipped with sails as well as oars. It was more expensive to operate than merchant sailing ships, and was used where speed and reliability were prioritized. It could carry both passengers and wares such as honey, cheese, meat, and even live animals intended for

gladiator A gladiator ( la, gladiator, "swordsman", from , "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gla ...

combat.Casson, Lionel, "Merchant Galleys", pp. 119–123 in Morrison & Gardiner (1995) Variants of the ''actuaria'' were used as troop transports, for example in the

invasion of Britain The term Invasion of England may refer to the following planned or actual invasions of what is now modern England, successful or otherwise. Pre-English Settlement of parts of Britain * The 55 and 54 BC Caesar's invasions of Britain. * The 43 AD ...

. In 47 BC, Publius Vatinius equipped ''actuariae'' at

Brindisi Brindisi ( , ) ; la, Brundisium; grc, Βρεντέσιον, translit=Brentésion; cms, Brunda), group=pron is a city in the region of Apulia in southern Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Histo ...

with temporary

rams In engineering, RAMS (reliability, availability, maintainability and safety)Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...

's forces in Illyricum, on the other side of the Adriatic, though these were only suitable to combat smaller enemy vessels. ''Actuariae'' were also employed along the major rivers by

Germanicus Germanicus Julius Caesar (24 May 15 BC – 10 October AD 19) was an ancient Roman general, known for his campaigns in Germania. The son of Nero Claudius Drusus and Antonia the Younger, Germanicus was born into an influential branch of the Patric ...

in his campaigns against the Germanic tribes around 16 AD. A warship derivative of the ''actuaria'' known as a ''qit'a'' was possibly used by Arab fleets as late as the 8th century.Pryor, John H., "From Dromon to Galea: Mediterranean Bireme Galleys AD 500–1300" in Morrison & Gardiner (1995), p. 107

References

Bibliography

*Morrison, John S. & Gardiner, Robert (editors), ''The Age of the Galley: Mediterranean Oared Vessels Since Pre-Classical Times''. Conway Maritime, London, 1995 *Viereck, Hans D. L., ''Die römische Flotte: Classis Romana''. Koehler, Herford, 1975. .

See also

References

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Further reading