Acrostolium
An acrostolium is a decorative feature found on the bows of ancient Roman, Greek and other nations' galleys, in an upward-curving extension of the ship's stem, often terminating in a helmet, shield or animal motif. A precursor to ship figureheads, the acrostolium was a semi-religious object intended to draw favour from sea gods or ward off evil weather.[1]
Versions of acrostolia were also featured in rostral columns marking notable seaborne events.[2]
References
- ^ *Kemp, Peter, ed. (1993). The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 4. ISBN 0192820842.
- ^ Curl, James Stevens; Wilson, Susan (2016). Oxford Dictionary of Architecture. Oxford University Press. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-19-967499-2.