Archaeology
Chinese emperor Shi Huangdi, or Ch'in Huangu Ti, is buried with more than 6000 statues of soldiers to guard his grave, which also features a relief map of his empire with the rivers formed from flowing mercury and the heavens depicted above. See also 1600 bce Construction.
TransportationThe largest naval vessel of the classical age is built by Ptolemy IV (Philopater) [ruled 221-205 bce, d. 205 bce] of Egypt. It has 4000 rowers in 40 banks, and carries as many as 3250 others as crew and fighting marines. This supergalley is a catamaran over 120 m (400 ft) long. It is never used in battle, however. See also 200 bce Transportation.
As a result of the largest naval vessel being built by Ptolemy IV (Philopater) of Egypt, the dry dock is invented to launch it, since the usual means of launching by dragging across land by crews of workers would be too difficult. Instead, the ship is built in a channel that is connected to the sea so that when the ship is complete the channel can fill with water and launch the ship. Technically, this is the reverse of the more common function of a dry dock, which usually admits the ship to the channel, then the water is removed, leaving the ship "dry" for repairs.
