Stephen DeCasien, Ph.D.
@sdecasien.bsky.social
Nautical Archaeologist & Ancient Historian • Greek & Roman Maritime History & Archaeology • Naval Warfare, Warships, & Naval Rams • Postdoc Research Fellow at Dalian University of Technology (DUT), China • PhD from TAMU.
http://stephendecasien.com
http://stephendecasien.com
Pinned
Welcome new followers! I’m Stephen, an ancient maritime historian and archaeologist focused on naval warfare, from technology to battle tactics. I’ve worked on sites in Italy and Greece and enjoy connecting with others. I’m always open to collaborations and joint pieces—feel free to reach out!
Option A: sail or row around.
Option B:
“…he held the naturally formed mole that lay in the way, which had almost made the town into an island, and he hauled four biremes into the inner harbor, pushing them along with crowbars, with rollers placed underneath.” -Caes. BCiv. 3.40.2-3.
Option B:
“…he held the naturally formed mole that lay in the way, which had almost made the town into an island, and he hauled four biremes into the inner harbor, pushing them along with crowbars, with rollers placed underneath.” -Caes. BCiv. 3.40.2-3.
January 21, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Option A: sail or row around.
Option B:
“…he held the naturally formed mole that lay in the way, which had almost made the town into an island, and he hauled four biremes into the inner harbor, pushing them along with crowbars, with rollers placed underneath.” -Caes. BCiv. 3.40.2-3.
Option B:
“…he held the naturally formed mole that lay in the way, which had almost made the town into an island, and he hauled four biremes into the inner harbor, pushing them along with crowbars, with rollers placed underneath.” -Caes. BCiv. 3.40.2-3.
I love reading Caesar and seeing just the blatant bias toward deck fighting and personal valor over crew organization and ship maneuvers. Like: “Sure, they sheared some oars… but HOLD ON, this one marine threw a grappling hook, yanked the enemy ship over, and started killing people.”
January 18, 2026 at 10:53 AM
I love reading Caesar and seeing just the blatant bias toward deck fighting and personal valor over crew organization and ship maneuvers. Like: “Sure, they sheared some oars… but HOLD ON, this one marine threw a grappling hook, yanked the enemy ship over, and started killing people.”
Reposted by Stephen DeCasien, Ph.D.
Incredible shot of the Hellenic Navy's new frigate Kimon being welcomed yesterday by the trireme Olympias and the armoured cruiser Averof (photo by Nick Dendris)
January 16, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Incredible shot of the Hellenic Navy's new frigate Kimon being welcomed yesterday by the trireme Olympias and the armoured cruiser Averof (photo by Nick Dendris)
“At Terracina, the praetor M. Claudius perished in flames when his ship was struck by lightning.” - Julius Obsequens, Prodigiorum liber, 24.
When asking AI 🤖 for an image of this event we get this hilarious scene:
When asking AI 🤖 for an image of this event we get this hilarious scene:
January 16, 2026 at 11:29 AM
“At Terracina, the praetor M. Claudius perished in flames when his ship was struck by lightning.” - Julius Obsequens, Prodigiorum liber, 24.
When asking AI 🤖 for an image of this event we get this hilarious scene:
When asking AI 🤖 for an image of this event we get this hilarious scene:
“ἀλλὰ θέαν μόνην ἐκείνη παρέσχε…”- Plut. Demetr. 43.4.
December 22, 2025 at 11:45 PM
“ἀλλὰ θέαν μόνην ἐκείνη παρέσχε…”- Plut. Demetr. 43.4.
All the Odyssey movie “inaccurate” versus “who cares” arguments are both fun and exhausting. But the trailer shows them rowing a clinker built Viking ship. That is like depicting Columbus crossing the Atlantic in a Chinese junk.
December 22, 2025 at 10:50 PM
All the Odyssey movie “inaccurate” versus “who cares” arguments are both fun and exhausting. But the trailer shows them rowing a clinker built Viking ship. That is like depicting Columbus crossing the Atlantic in a Chinese junk.
Our new paper is out. It is always a privilege to work with Dr. Murray. Even more so to share a paper on a topic we both probably spend way too much time thinking about. Hopefully this is the first of many!
Toward a Uniform Terminology for Three-Bladed Waterline Rams
The discovery of the Athlit ram in 1980 and its analysis by J. Richard Steffy (1991) established the first systematic nomenclature for three-bladed waterline rams. Subsequent studies of similar ram...
www.tandfonline.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Our new paper is out. It is always a privilege to work with Dr. Murray. Even more so to share a paper on a topic we both probably spend way too much time thinking about. Hopefully this is the first of many!
Still unclear how I ended up in a nationals-level quiz bowl question at the 2025 Chicago Open, but I’m not complaining. I wonder if anyone got it right. Bonus points to the writer for getting my last name’s pronunciation correct!
December 16, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Still unclear how I ended up in a nationals-level quiz bowl question at the 2025 Chicago Open, but I’m not complaining. I wonder if anyone got it right. Bonus points to the writer for getting my last name’s pronunciation correct!
Reposted by Stephen DeCasien, Ph.D.
I wrote this blog post to offer some initial reflections on a topic that I hope others will find as exciting as I do! The aim is to spark broader interest among students and scholars in comparative studies of seafaring and naval warfare in antiquity. 🌊⚔️🐏
Today on the blog, Stephen DeCasien (@sdecasien.bsky.social) discusses the parallel evolution of two ancient warships, one from Greece and one from China.
www.classicalstudies.org/scs-blog/ste...
www.classicalstudies.org/scs-blog/ste...
December 12, 2025 at 11:20 PM
I wrote this blog post to offer some initial reflections on a topic that I hope others will find as exciting as I do! The aim is to spark broader interest among students and scholars in comparative studies of seafaring and naval warfare in antiquity. 🌊⚔️🐏
I wrote this blog post to offer some initial reflections on a topic that I hope others will find as exciting as I do! The aim is to spark broader interest among students and scholars in comparative studies of seafaring and naval warfare in antiquity. 🌊⚔️🐏
Today on the blog, Stephen DeCasien (@sdecasien.bsky.social) discusses the parallel evolution of two ancient warships, one from Greece and one from China.
www.classicalstudies.org/scs-blog/ste...
www.classicalstudies.org/scs-blog/ste...
December 12, 2025 at 11:20 PM
I wrote this blog post to offer some initial reflections on a topic that I hope others will find as exciting as I do! The aim is to spark broader interest among students and scholars in comparative studies of seafaring and naval warfare in antiquity. 🌊⚔️🐏
Slowly reached 2,000 followers, and I want to thank everyone who has joined me here! I post mostly about ancient naval warfare, so it means a lot to see others enjoy it too, whether you are scholars, students, or simply curious readers.
Picture of the Piraeus ram just cause!
Picture of the Piraeus ram just cause!
December 8, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Slowly reached 2,000 followers, and I want to thank everyone who has joined me here! I post mostly about ancient naval warfare, so it means a lot to see others enjoy it too, whether you are scholars, students, or simply curious readers.
Picture of the Piraeus ram just cause!
Picture of the Piraeus ram just cause!
Tomorrow is the start of the workshop, and I can’t wait for the faculty lectures and student presentations. You’ll never guess what I’m talking about… hint below! 🐏🌊⚔️
December 7, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Tomorrow is the start of the workshop, and I can’t wait for the faculty lectures and student presentations. You’ll never guess what I’m talking about… hint below! 🐏🌊⚔️
I’d have to agree that this is…very interesting…
Así es cómo este equipo de expertos logró recrear un espolón naval de bronce idéntico al de las naves grecorromanas. Un hito de la arqueología experimental.
Por primera vez en 1500 años, los investigadores logran reproducir con fidelidad el espolón de una nave de guerra de la antigüedad grecorromana
muyinteresante.okdiario.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:53 PM
I’d have to agree that this is…very interesting…
I had a great time giving a lecture at the Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations (IHAC). The best part was not the naval ram discussion but the energy/curiosity of the faculty and students. I feel grateful for the chance to spend time with such a warm and welcoming community!
November 28, 2025 at 10:45 PM
I had a great time giving a lecture at the Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations (IHAC). The best part was not the naval ram discussion but the energy/curiosity of the faculty and students. I feel grateful for the chance to spend time with such a warm and welcoming community!
So looking forward to this on Friday! Students are about to find out that the naval ram wasn’t only a weapon of war but popped up in almost every aspect of Greek and Roman life, from sex jokes to monumental displays, from women’s attire to amphora stamps….everywhere!
I’m happy to be invited to give a lecture on my naval ram research at the Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations (IHAC) at Northeast Normal University in Changchun, China. Looking forward to visiting and exchanging ideas next month!
November 26, 2025 at 5:03 AM
So looking forward to this on Friday! Students are about to find out that the naval ram wasn’t only a weapon of war but popped up in almost every aspect of Greek and Roman life, from sex jokes to monumental displays, from women’s attire to amphora stamps….everywhere!
New poster! Only two weeks until my workshop “Sails, Silk, and Ancient Seas”. I am happy that so many students have taken an interest in ancient Mediterranean and Chinese seafaring. Reviewing their work and helping them refine their posters has taught me a lot about Chinese maritime history as well.
November 22, 2025 at 11:27 PM
New poster! Only two weeks until my workshop “Sails, Silk, and Ancient Seas”. I am happy that so many students have taken an interest in ancient Mediterranean and Chinese seafaring. Reviewing their work and helping them refine their posters has taught me a lot about Chinese maritime history as well.
I’m enjoying Anno 117: Pax Romana, but what is going on with the ship designs? There are no proper naval rams and it feels off…one dangling oar out the back which I assume is the steering oar though its facing the wrong direction and angle. So far, no ramming warfare, just projectiles
November 18, 2025 at 12:28 PM
I’m enjoying Anno 117: Pax Romana, but what is going on with the ship designs? There are no proper naval rams and it feels off…one dangling oar out the back which I assume is the steering oar though its facing the wrong direction and angle. So far, no ramming warfare, just projectiles
Putting in the work and seeing results. Four articles accepted or published (all Q1) and two book chapters submitted in under ten months. Feeling accomplished today/tired, and there is still so much more to explore in the world of ancient naval warfare.
a cartoon cat is holding a camera in his hands and looking at it .
ALT: a cartoon cat is holding a camera in his hands and looking at it .
media.tenor.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Putting in the work and seeing results. Four articles accepted or published (all Q1) and two book chapters submitted in under ten months. Feeling accomplished today/tired, and there is still so much more to explore in the world of ancient naval warfare.
Reposted by Stephen DeCasien, Ph.D.
This week on the blog: Hoplites! We're taking a crack at explaining the long-running debate over the nature and significance of the ancient Greek heavy infantryman, the hoplite, and the phalanx in which he (mostly) fought.
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part I: The Othismos over Othismos
This week (and next) we’re looking at hoplites, the heavy infantry of the ancient Greek poleis in the (early? mid? late?) Archaic and Classical periods, into the Hellenistic. In particular, I…
acoup.blog
November 15, 2025 at 3:09 PM
This week on the blog: Hoplites! We're taking a crack at explaining the long-running debate over the nature and significance of the ancient Greek heavy infantryman, the hoplite, and the phalanx in which he (mostly) fought.
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
I was watching an episode of the new show Talamasca: The Secret Order and even though it was just a split second in a scene, I spotted a classically inspired three-bladed waterline ram… I might have a problem. Or the worst superpower.
November 12, 2025 at 12:37 PM
I was watching an episode of the new show Talamasca: The Secret Order and even though it was just a split second in a scene, I spotted a classically inspired three-bladed waterline ram… I might have a problem. Or the worst superpower.
Yuanmingyuan (the Old Summer Palace) in Beijing, China.
November 8, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Yuanmingyuan (the Old Summer Palace) in Beijing, China.
Co-teaching a course comparing Ancient Greece/Rome with ancient China has been a blast so far. In just a few weeks we’ll reach the unit on ancient warships, and my students have no idea what’s about to hit them… they’re about to find out that naval ramming was a global and ancient phenomenon.
November 3, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Co-teaching a course comparing Ancient Greece/Rome with ancient China has been a blast so far. In just a few weeks we’ll reach the unit on ancient warships, and my students have no idea what’s about to hit them… they’re about to find out that naval ramming was a global and ancient phenomenon.
Currently finishing a chapter that includes a small section on the possible modeling and casting methods, as well as the materials used to make the largest rams for the Ptolemaic fleet at Actium (31 BCE). Just thinking how much I miss working there and need to work on that ship classification paper…
November 2, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Currently finishing a chapter that includes a small section on the possible modeling and casting methods, as well as the materials used to make the largest rams for the Ptolemaic fleet at Actium (31 BCE). Just thinking how much I miss working there and need to work on that ship classification paper…
Naval thought of the day:
I think what’s becoming increasingly apparent is that the evidence points to a wide range of ram designs such as conical, boar’s head, and chisel types before the emergence of the three-bladed form.
I think what’s becoming increasingly apparent is that the evidence points to a wide range of ram designs such as conical, boar’s head, and chisel types before the emergence of the three-bladed form.
October 29, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Naval thought of the day:
I think what’s becoming increasingly apparent is that the evidence points to a wide range of ram designs such as conical, boar’s head, and chisel types before the emergence of the three-bladed form.
I think what’s becoming increasingly apparent is that the evidence points to a wide range of ram designs such as conical, boar’s head, and chisel types before the emergence of the three-bladed form.
Looking at the Egadi rams, I can’t help but feel they reveal how strained the Carthaginian fleet had become by 241 BCE. Some appear unfinished, with beeswax seams still visible and tool marks left in place, as if they were rushed straight from the foundry to the ships.
October 27, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Looking at the Egadi rams, I can’t help but feel they reveal how strained the Carthaginian fleet had become by 241 BCE. Some appear unfinished, with beeswax seams still visible and tool marks left in place, as if they were rushed straight from the foundry to the ships.