Nemi ships

The Nemi ships were two ships, one larger than the other, built under the reign of the Roman emperor Caligula in the 1st century AD at Lake Nemi.

In 1927, the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini ordered Guido Ucelli to drain the lake (Lake Nemi, in the Lazio region of Italy) and recover the ships. With the help of the Regia Marina, the Italian Army, industry and private individuals, an ancient Roman underground water conduit linking the lake to farms outside the crater was reactivated. The conduit was connected to a floating pumping platform on 20 October 1928 and the lake level began dropping. By 28 March 1929, the water level had dropped 5 metres (16 ft), and the first ship (prima nave) broke the surface.

By 10 June 1931, the prima nave had been recovered and the second ship (seconda nave) was exposed. By this time the water level had dropped more than 20 metres (66 ft) with over 40 million cubic metres of water removed.

The boat had a pointed bow and a square stern. It had been loaded with stones in order to sink it. It is believed to be contemporaneous with the ships. Due to technical problems, the seconda nave could not be recovered until October 1932. A purpose-built museum constructed over both ships was inaugurated in January 1936.

Although the purpose of the ships is only speculated upon, the larger ship was essentially an elaborate floating palace, which contained quantities of marble, mosaic floors, heating and plumbing and amenities such as baths.

Both ships featured technology thought to have been developed historically much later. It has been stated that the emperor was influenced by the lavish lifestyles of the Hellenistic rulers of Syracuse and Ptolemaic Egypt.

The first ship recovered was 70 metres (230 ft) long with a beam (width) of 20 metres (66 ft). The second ship recovered was the larger at 73 metres (240 ft) in length and with a beam of 24 metres (79 ft).

The ships were destroyed by fire in World War II on the night of 31 May 1944.[9] Several shells of the United States Army hit the museum around 8 pm, causing little damage but forcing the German artillery to leave the area. Around two hours later, smoke was seen coming from the museum. There are conflicting views on which side was responsible for the destruction.

At that time, Allied forces were pursuing the retreating German army northward through the Alban Hills toward Rome. On May 28, a German artillery post was established within 400 feet (120 m) of the museum … An official report filed in Rome later that year described the tragedy as a willful act on the part of the German soldiers. A German editorial blamed the destruction on American artillery fire. The true story of what happened that night will probably never be known.

More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemi_ships