New Insights into the Origins of the Venetian Gondola, and its Ancient Military Use

What is it about?

This paper considers the birth and evolution of the gondola from its origins to the 1700s, when it took on its final appearance, or close to it. The study is based on written and iconographic sources. The gondola is the evolution of the cymbula, the flat-bottomed Roman boat that was used in the lagoons of the North Adriatic from Ravenna to Altino. The name was mentioned for the first time in the 11th century, but its shape remains unknown. Iconography shows that there was a first major transition in form after Marco Polo’s return, first in a fresco by Giotto's school in 1340 in Bolzano, and then in 1370 when it can be seen depicted by Lorenzo Veneziano and Giusto de’ Menabuoi. It remained unchanged until the early 1500s, represented by Carpaccio, Bellini, Mansueti and many others, including Leonardo who applied it to a mud-digging machine. A second major transformation occurred in 1509, when it was equipped with sharpened rostrums to be engaged in river battles against Ferrara and the allies of the League of Cambrai. It has been found that in the antiquity, the name ‘dolphin’ was given to a war machine for breaking through the hulls of enemy ships, as described by Thucydides; in addition, it was the nickname for Tyrrhenian pirates, derived from the dolphin-shaped snout of the rostrums of their ships. A third transformation occurred between the end of 1600s and early 1700s, when it took on the familiar appearance handed down to us by the paintings of Canaletto and the other Venetian Vedutists. This research considers not only the technical aspect, but also the perception handed down by literature, starting with Dante and Petrarch, and the connections with Asia suggested by Marco Polo. Since the military use of the gondola is little known, this issue was also addressed, reporting ancient literature explaining its engagement in the field, and the various war reports describing its actions.

Featured Image

Photo by Mark Welsby on Unsplash

Photo by Mark Welsby on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This is the first complete reconstruction of the gondola, its use and transfornmations since the Middle Ages