Athenian sacred ships
Athenian sacred ships were ancient Athenian ships, often triremes, which had special religious functions such as serving in sacred processions (theoria) or embassies or racing in boat races during religious festivals.[2] Other notable ships included one possibly named the Delia (Δηλία), a triakonter (thirty-oared galley) believed to be the ship in which Theseus had sailed to Crete, and which was involved in several traditional theoria to Delos; the vessel was constantly repaired by replacing individual planks to keep it seaworthy while maintaining its identity as the same ship.[5] Most probably the name of the ships derive from: The Paralus and the Salaminia, and possibly some other sacred ships, served in the Athenian combat fleet.Those two vessels, being particularly swift, were used as scout and messenger ships, but also fought in the line of battle.[6] The Paralus and Salaminia, meanwhile, also performed various tasks for the government; the Paralus appears to have carried most diplomatic missions,[7] and the Salaminia carried official state messages;[8] most famously, it was sent to arrest Alcibiades while that politician was commanding the Sicilian Expedition.