The biggest cruise ship yet builthas just been launched, but in like-for-like terms, it comes nowhere near the Syracusia,built c. 240 bc on theorders of the Sicilian tyrant Hiero II. A small ancient Greek freighter mightbe about 45ft long, a trireme 120ft, a large merchantman 130ft. The Syracusiawas nearly three times longer, constructed out of enough material to build 60triremes.