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
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.
Exactly! Also it’s in line with the upper wale timers which kinda supports that argument. But I have seen good arguments for and against. In any case, a beautiful piece and I wonder how much of it originally had color? One of the few depictions of a prow castle or ship siege tower as well.
November 3, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Exactly! Also it’s in line with the upper wale timers which kinda supports that argument. But I have seen good arguments for and against. In any case, a beautiful piece and I wonder how much of it originally had color? One of the few depictions of a prow castle or ship siege tower as well.
I have! When it was in the Vatican museum a few years ago. I always took the crocodile as a *very* stylistic proembolion (upper ram) like other stag, wolf, etc examples.
November 3, 2025 at 12:29 AM
I have! When it was in the Vatican museum a few years ago. I always took the crocodile as a *very* stylistic proembolion (upper ram) like other stag, wolf, etc examples.
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…
Long awkward thread because I’m waiting for this 3D ram to finish to use for an upcoming invited lecture 😅
October 29, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Long awkward thread because I’m waiting for this 3D ram to finish to use for an upcoming invited lecture 😅
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!
October 20, 2025 at 12:36 AM
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!
Ha! I was just thinking of Pryor as well. There are also some good thesis and dissertations on iconographic topics that complement the new archaeology.
October 16, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Ha! I was just thinking of Pryor as well. There are also some good thesis and dissertations on iconographic topics that complement the new archaeology.
I can see where this is going.
October 16, 2025 at 12:37 AM
I can see where this is going.
Little desk pieces coming together! Featuring a 3D-printed amphora pen holder, an Egadi ram, a possible Actian ram, and a lost-wax cast bronze Egadi ram mini.
October 15, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Little desk pieces coming together! Featuring a 3D-printed amphora pen holder, an Egadi ram, a possible Actian ram, and a lost-wax cast bronze Egadi ram mini.
Four years since starting the Ancient Naval Casting Project! Finishing the bow, the beeswax model, and casting it was the highlight of my PhD. Hopefully future projects will be as rewarding.
October 13, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Four years since starting the Ancient Naval Casting Project! Finishing the bow, the beeswax model, and casting it was the highlight of my PhD. Hopefully future projects will be as rewarding.
The new Age of Empires 2: Alexander the Great campaign comes out next week — and in the intro video there’s a Roman Egadi ram from the First Punic War in 241 BCE. Think I wouldn’t notice! 👀
October 10, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The new Age of Empires 2: Alexander the Great campaign comes out next week — and in the intro video there’s a Roman Egadi ram from the First Punic War in 241 BCE. Think I wouldn’t notice! 👀
I tried it once and that’s it…no more AI for me or for ancient navies.
October 9, 2025 at 12:16 PM
I tried it once and that’s it…no more AI for me or for ancient navies.
Every time I say I’m done gaming and I’ll just focus on writing, they pull me back in with stuff like this…
September 17, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Every time I say I’m done gaming and I’ll just focus on writing, they pull me back in with stuff like this…
Now that it’s in Italian news, I can share: a new inscription has been found on Egadi Ram 25.
It reads SER SOLPICIO C F QUAISTOR PROBAVE[T] — “Servius Sulpicius, son of Caius, Quaestor, approved (this).”
This likely refers to the son of Caius Sulpicius Galus, Roman consul in 243 BCE.
It reads SER SOLPICIO C F QUAISTOR PROBAVE[T] — “Servius Sulpicius, son of Caius, Quaestor, approved (this).”
This likely refers to the son of Caius Sulpicius Galus, Roman consul in 243 BCE.
September 7, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Now that it’s in Italian news, I can share: a new inscription has been found on Egadi Ram 25.
It reads SER SOLPICIO C F QUAISTOR PROBAVE[T] — “Servius Sulpicius, son of Caius, Quaestor, approved (this).”
This likely refers to the son of Caius Sulpicius Galus, Roman consul in 243 BCE.
It reads SER SOLPICIO C F QUAISTOR PROBAVE[T] — “Servius Sulpicius, son of Caius, Quaestor, approved (this).”
This likely refers to the son of Caius Sulpicius Galus, Roman consul in 243 BCE.
Another picture or two!
August 29, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Another picture or two!
That makes 33 three-bladed waterline rams! Nearly 45 years after the 1980 discovery of Athlit, 32 more have been discovered, 27 from the Egadi, plus Acqualadroni, Bremerhaven, Follonica, and Piraeus. This latest example is badly damaged, but still shows sharp fin ribs and an elongated tailpiece!
August 29, 2025 at 12:25 PM
That makes 33 three-bladed waterline rams! Nearly 45 years after the 1980 discovery of Athlit, 32 more have been discovered, 27 from the Egadi, plus Acqualadroni, Bremerhaven, Follonica, and Piraeus. This latest example is badly damaged, but still shows sharp fin ribs and an elongated tailpiece!
I can’t believe I somehow missed this back in 2021! A bronze naval ram was recovered from the Bay of Naples. It’s noticeably smaller than the Egadi examples, likely from a trireme, or perhaps even smaller. Too early to say for certain. Word is that a full publication on the ram is coming soon!
August 29, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I can’t believe I somehow missed this back in 2021! A bronze naval ram was recovered from the Bay of Naples. It’s noticeably smaller than the Egadi examples, likely from a trireme, or perhaps even smaller. Too early to say for certain. Word is that a full publication on the ram is coming soon!
This coin may depict one of the rams from the Actian monument. It was minted in Nikopolis after the battle, and I like to think the absence of the aft cowl curvature (seen on the larger rams) reflects the artist’s inspiration: a ram lying in its socket, where that curve wouldn’t have been visible.
August 18, 2025 at 1:20 PM
This coin may depict one of the rams from the Actian monument. It was minted in Nikopolis after the battle, and I like to think the absence of the aft cowl curvature (seen on the larger rams) reflects the artist’s inspiration: a ram lying in its socket, where that curve wouldn’t have been visible.
Released recently
August 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Released recently
To be just a footnote in history…
August 1, 2025 at 9:54 AM
To be just a footnote in history…
You have that one which some Italian articles are sure is a proembolion like you said but maybe not. We also have the Canellopoulos “ram”. Housed in the Canellopoulos museum in Athens though it’s very small and questionable if a “ram”. But has a lot of boars head imagery in my opinion.
July 24, 2025 at 6:54 AM
You have that one which some Italian articles are sure is a proembolion like you said but maybe not. We also have the Canellopoulos “ram”. Housed in the Canellopoulos museum in Athens though it’s very small and questionable if a “ram”. But has a lot of boars head imagery in my opinion.
According to Morrison et al (2000), two pieces were found around the Athenian Acropolis in the late 1800s. The sketch of the bow was drawn in the early 1600s (below). So a 200 year gap and the pieces were separated and lost.
July 24, 2025 at 12:22 AM
According to Morrison et al (2000), two pieces were found around the Athenian Acropolis in the late 1800s. The sketch of the bow was drawn in the early 1600s (below). So a 200 year gap and the pieces were separated and lost.
The Lenormant Relief, from the late 5th c. BCE, offers a rare glimpse of a Greek trireme. Though much is lost, later sketches suggest key bow features, possibly a chisel-style ram, an unusual choice for a time when three-bladed rams were expected, though multiple ram types likely coexisted.
July 23, 2025 at 4:03 PM
The Lenormant Relief, from the late 5th c. BCE, offers a rare glimpse of a Greek trireme. Though much is lost, later sketches suggest key bow features, possibly a chisel-style ram, an unusual choice for a time when three-bladed rams were expected, though multiple ram types likely coexisted.
It’s a unique depiction. There are 2 eyes. 1 upper: the ships eye and 1 lower: likely an eye associated with the ram. What makes it unique is that we do not see many depictions of three-bladed waterline rams with lower eyes. That seems to be more of a boars head ram thing. See 2 👀 below:
July 23, 2025 at 5:15 AM
It’s a unique depiction. There are 2 eyes. 1 upper: the ships eye and 1 lower: likely an eye associated with the ram. What makes it unique is that we do not see many depictions of three-bladed waterline rams with lower eyes. That seems to be more of a boars head ram thing. See 2 👀 below: