A stone tablet (
Stele di Novilara) discovered near ancient Pisaurum (now
Pesaro) depicts a liburna in the midst of a naval battle. Dating back to the fifth or sixth century BCE, the image likely portrays a fictional clash between the
Liburnian and
Picene fleets. The liburna is depicted as a light vessel with a single row of oars, one mast, one sail, and a prow curving outward. Beneath the prow, a
rostrum was installed for striking enemy ships below the waterline. Initially resembling the
ancient Greek penteconter, It measured in length, in width, with a draft of . With two rows of oarsmen, each side had 18 oars. Under sail, the ship could achieve speeds of up to 14 knots, while rowing allowed for speeds exceeding 7 knots. Such a vessel, also employed as a merchantman, might carry passengers, as recounted by Lycinus in the second-century dialogue
Love Affairs (§6), traditionally attributed to
Lucian: "I had a speedy vessel readied, the kind of bireme used above all by the Liburnians of the Ionian Gulf." . After adopting the liburna, the Romans made modifications to incorporate rams and missile protection, enhancing its suitability for naval use. These enhancements offset the slight reduction in speed. Additionally, the regular Roman military unit needed simplification to ensure smoother operation of the ships. Each ship functioned independently, eliminating the need for the more complex organizational structure typically employed. It is likely that within the navy, liburnae of various sizes were utilized for specific tasks such as scouting and patrolling Roman waters against piracy. The Romans predominantly employed the liburna within the provinces of the empire, where these ships formed the core of the fleets. The liburna lent its name to a natural cove on the west coast of
Tuscany. Over time, the cove's name evolved into Livorna and later
Livorno—the name of a significant port city that emerged at the site long after the disappearance of this type of ship. ==See also==