DELPHIS
DELPHIS (
δελφίς), a mass of lead
armed with bronze or iron, perhaps in the shape of a dolphin, used for
sinking an enemy's ship. (Aristoph.
Ep. 759;
Thuc. 7.41; Schol.
ad loc.;
Hesych. sub voce) In action, the delphis was
hauled up from the deck to the point of a yardarm, which was swung round by
braces till over the hostile deck; the machine was then instantly let fall,
after which it was again drawn up and deposited on board. The
νῆες δελφινοφόροι were probably only of the
transport class (
ὁλκάδες), as swift
(
ταχεῖαι) triremes would have been
impeded by the great weight. (B. Graser,
de Veter. Re
Navali, pp. 82, 83: cf.
fistucae,
Vitr. 3.3, and 10.3;
machinationes,
Caes. Gal. 4.17.)
[
J.M]
