Once upon a Boat

Abstract

About 2,000 years ago, give or take a century, a master boat-wright set about building a boat on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. He had considerable experience in his trade. Perhaps he had gained it building ships on the Mediterranean or had learned it from someone, possibly a relative, who had. In any event, he brought to his task on these inland shores a knowledge and an understanding of Mediterranean hull construction techniques and traditions.

Phantom ships are on the sea, the dead of twenty centuries come forth from the tombs, and in the dirges of the night wind the songs of old forgotten ages find utterance again.

From The Innocents Abroad Mark Twain ¹