The displacement and draft of these ships were large. A second inclined mast was placed on the bow it was lower than the first and carried a rectangular or triangular sail especially convenient in a storm.
At first the Greeks did not distinguish between merchant and warships except that those galleys that were intended for war had a crew armed with darts spears axes.
The strength of the rowers made it possible to go forward even against the wind without removing the sails.
Later when the interests of Greek colonization required the creation of a more powerful fleet merchant ships began to be made larger so that they could carry many goods and people and sails finally replaced oars which were already used only for maneuvering in ports.
The Greeks built their merchant ships on the model of the Phoenicians and Cretans.
Since the Greeks did not have resin and a number of other materials needed in shipbuilding they were forced to order their ships in the Phoenician port of Tire.