[1] scapha, -ae [1/f]: skiff; light boat
(1) In translation, scapha may simply be rendered as
‘boat’ – but not ship, since the term does not convey a large vessel:
potuimus vix obtinēre scapham (Vulgate)
- we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat
(2) Comenius (1685) uses scapha to describe a way in
which sailors might escape from a ship-wreck i.e. in the equivalent of a
lifeboat (illustrated below):
Quīdam ēvādunt, vel tabulā (7), ac ēnatandō, vel
scaphā (8)
- Some escape, either on a plank, 7. and by swimming, or in the boat, 8.
This reflects the description given in Harper’s Dictionary
of Classical Antiquities:
“A skiff or cutter carried on large vessels to be lowered for
use as required” (Thurston Peck)
(3) Similarly, Caesar uses the term to refer to ‘skiffs’,
small boats that are attached to larger vessels:
quod cum animadvertisset Caesar, scaphās longārum
nāvium, item speculātōria nāvigia mīlitibus complērī iussit
- When Caesar had noticed this, he ordered the skiffs of the long ships, and likewise the reconnaissance vessels, to be filled with soldiers.
nāvigium speculātōrium: reconnaissance vessel
(4) This line from Plautus clearly indicates the difference in
size:
Illa autem virgō atque altera itidem ancillula
dē nāvī timidae dēsuluērunt* in scapham
* = desiluerunt
- The young girl, however, and another little maid likewise, both afraid, have leapt down from the ship into a little boat.
(5)
Intereā ex secundō commeātū quem ā Siciliā
mīserat Aliēnus, nāvis ūna in quā fuerat Q. Cominius et L. Ticida
equitēs Rōmānī, ab residuā classe cum errāvisset dēlātaque esset ventō
ad Thapsōn, ā Vergiliō scaphīs nāviculīsque āctuāriīs
excepta est et ad Scīpiōnem adducta. (Dē Bellō Āfricō)
- Meanwhile, from the second supply convoy which Alienus had sent from Sicily, one ship—in which the Roman knights, Quintus Cominius and Lucius Ticida, had been, since they had strayed from the rest of the fleet and had been carried by the wind toward Thapsus, was intercepted by Vergilius with skiffs and fast light-vessels, and brought before Scipio.
classis, -is [3/f]: fleet
commeātus, -ūs [4/m]: (supply) convoy
[2] cymba, -ae [1/f] / cumba, -ae [1/f]: small
boat; dinghy
< Anc. Gk. κύμβη [kúmbē]: [i] hollow of a vessel:
drinking cup, bowl; [ii] (Phoenician) boat.
Abī tū: appellant hūc ad mōlem nostram nāviculam
. . . Tum interibi locī cōnscendō cumbam piscātōriam, . . . veniō,
iacitur anchora, inhibent lēniter. (Afranius)
- Go on, you: they are bringing a small boat right here to our pier ... Then, meanwhile at that place, I board a fishing skiff ... I arrive; the anchor is cast; they gently row backwards."
mōlēs, -is [3/f]: (here) pier; jetty
[3] ratis, -is [3/f]: raft
hic subsecūtus quō modō trānsierit, utrum ratī
an piscātōriō nāvigiō, nēmō sciēbat (Rufus)
- How this man, having followed closely, crossed over – whether by raft or by a fishing boat – no one knew
[4] lembus, -ī [2/m]: small fast boat; cutter
Note that, in all three quotations below, general reference is
made to ships, but lembus is identified as a specific type. Some
translations may not specifically convey this. However, I have consistently
used ‘cutter’ to distinguish it from other ships.
(1) The size of the lembus in comparison with other
large warships which could have up to four banks of oars is shown by Livy’s
reference to this vessel’s limited number of oars:
nāvēs quās cīvitātibus maritimīs adēmisset redderet nēve ipse
nāvem ūllam praeter duōs lembōs, quī nōn plūs quam sēdecim rēmīs
agerentur, habēret (Livy)
He was to return the ships which he had taken away from the
maritime states, and he himself was not to have any ship except two cutters,
which were to be propelled by not more than sixteen oars.
(2) C. Popilius, …, postquam dēbellātum in Macedoniā et
statiōne summōtōs hostium lembōs audīvit, dīmissīs et ipse Attalī
nāvibus … nāvigāre Aegyptum pergit, … (Livy)
Gaius Popilius, … after he heard that the war in Macedonia had
been brought to an end and the cutters of the enemy had been removed
from their station, and once the ships of Attalus had been dismissed he himself
proceeded to sail toward Egypt, …
maritimus, -a, -um: maritime; pertaining to the sea
rēmus, -ī [2/m]: oar
(3) The noun can be associated with pirate ships, fast and
able to inflict damage:
From Plautus:
Nicobulus: Periī hercle, lembus ille mihi laedit latus.
- By Hercules, I’m ruined, that cutter is crashing into my side.
Chrysalus: Is erat commūnis cum hospite et praedōnibus. …
- It was jointly owned by your friend and pirates. …
Chrysalus: Is lembus nostrae nāvī īnsidiās dabat.
- This cutter was lying in wait for our ship.
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