RAMSES III warship 1200 B.C.

[aukepalmhof]

In about 1200 BC Egypt was threatened by a large invasion force from “the people from the sea”, most probably tribes from Crete and the Philistines.
Ramses III defeated the enemy, on sea and on land, the battles were later portrayed in the temple of Medinet Habu.
It was the first known sea battle in history.
The stamp is designed after one of the warships depict in this temple.
The warship with a high bulwark which protected the seaman and soldiers from enemy fire.
The warship was fitted out with a ram which carried a leopard head.
The mast was stepped about amidships and carried a square sail, the sail could furled by drawing it towards the mast with brails, on top of the mast a crownest or top was fitted from which the archers were given instructions, or the crownest was used by the archers.
She was steered by one large steering paddle.
Rowed by around 24 oars.
Length about 24m, beam 4 m with a sail area of around 80 square metres.

Guinea-Bissau 1988 200p sg1055, scott730

Source: Sailing Ships by Björn Landström.