Chelandion

The Chela Dion (Greek χελάνδιον ) was a Byzantine galley of type a DROMONE, which was used as a troop transport.

History

The term comes from the Greek word chela Dion Keles, " hit", and first appeared in the 8th century in the sources. In medieval Latin the word Chelandium or Scelandrium was transcribed as it was called by the Arabs Shalandī (plural Shalandiyyāt ).

As a variant of the DROMONE Chela Dion was typically a bireme, that is equipped with two rows of oars, which were the primary driving means, although it also had two lateen sails. It could also be equipped with siphons, which fired the dreaded Greek fire, the secret weapon of the Byzantine fleet.

The term Chela Dion is used in medieval sources interchangeable with DROMONE, which led to confusion as to the precise difference between the former and an actual DROMONE. The Chela Dion seems to have its origins in horse transport ( Hippagōgon ). This would mean some differences to the design of a conventional DROMONE: probably there was a along the belly of the ship extending corral for horses.

In the 10th century Chelandia formed the backbone of the Byzantine fleet, where they were divided into two categories: the Chela Dion Ousiakon (Greek χελάνδιον οὑσιακόν ) or abbreviated Ousiakon or Ousiakos, which was manned by an ousia, ie 108 men, and the Chela Dion Pamphylon (Greek: χελάνδιον πάμφυλον ), or simply Pamphylon or Pamphylos, manned by 120-160 men, whose name refers either to an origin in Pamphylia or his crew through " selected crews " (from the Greek πᾶν φῦλον, " all the tribes " ).