TravelFeedTravelFeed Logo
Names of  ships. Before the beginning of the journey

Names of ships. Before the beginning of the journey

June 2018 · 4 min read · Kostroma

IMG_5409.jpg

A name is written on the ship. The ship is called "Dalniy". It means far.

The names of the ships - this is a whole story.

The tradition of giving names to ships dates back to the times of Ancient Egypt. Known are the names of the ships of the pharaohs "Appearance in Memphis" and "Wild Bull." These vessels were terrifying on the seas 3500 years ago.

Initially, the right to own name was possessed only by warships, since during the fighting it was necessary to know which ships participate in the battle, who were sunk, and who eventually emerged victorious. Civil ships began to acquire names only in the middle of the XIX century.

In Russia, the tradition to give names to ships was finally established only at the end of the reign of Peter I, although before it happened, some ships were given names. The first in Russia vessel, named after, was the ship "Frederik", built in 1636 in the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich and named in honor of the Duke of Holstein. The first Russian battle ship was called "Eagle".

Peter I attached great importance to the names of ships, understanding their great political importance. This is a reflection of the greatness and power of the Russian state, promoting the rise of international prestige, as well as maintaining national patriotism and high military spirit, preserving the memory of the military victories of the army and navy.

Names are a part of culture. For a sailor, the name of his ship is more important than the name of his mother. A very famous Russian poet Osip Mandelstam has poems ...

Insomnia. Homer. The sails - stretched out.
I’ve read the catalogue of ships halfway:
This lengthy brood, this train of cranes
That soared from Hellas up into the clouds.

A wedge of cranes toward a foreign land –
The heads of kings sprayed by the godly foam -
What’s Troy to you, if more than Helen’s home,
Where are you sailing, Achaean men?

The sea and Homer – all are moved by love.
Whom should I heed? Now Homer has grown mute,
Black sea, orating, nears me, resolute,
And thunders by my headboard, loud and rough.

August 1915

By Osip Mandelstam
Translation by Andrey Kneller

Reading the names of ships in books, you involuntarily plunge into history. For example, in St. Petersburg there is the cruiser Aurora on the Neva.
This Aurora is a cruiser of the 1st rank of the Baltic Fleet of the type "Diana". It was named after the sailing frigate Aurora, famous during the defense of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky during the Crimean War.
During the Russo-Japanese War, participated in the march of the Second Pacific Squadron, which ended in the Battle of Tsushima. The cruiser also took part in the First World War. A blank shot from the Aurora was a signal for the storming of the Winter Palace; The cruiser became one of the main symbols of the October Revolution.

It's name the cruiser Aurora get from the sailing frigate Aurora.

Aurora is a sailing frigate of the Russian Imperial Fleet of the type "Hurry" of the 44-gun class, but in practice had in service at different times from 54 to 58 guns. Aurora the last of the Russian military sailboats made in the middle of the XIX century round-the-world voyage.

There is an opinion that the name of the frigate was given personally by Emperor Nicholas I. Some sources claim that he ordered to name the new ship "in honor of one of the most beautiful women of Petersburg" - Aurora Karlovna Demidova-Karamzina, the maid of honor of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.
Other sources claim that the frigate was named, as it was then fashionable, in honor of the Roman goddess of the dawn of the Aurora.

Starting to learn the names of ships, you study history

Travel Resources for your trip to Russia

Recommended by TravelFeed

Flights: We recommend checking Kiwi.com to find the best and cheapest flights to Russia.

Accomodation: Explore the best places to stay in Russia on Booking.com, Agoda and Hostelworld.

Transportation: Use 12go and Omio to find detailed bus and train schedules, making travel planning easier.

Car Rental: For hassle-free car hiring, DiscoverCars is our trusted choice with a wide selection of vehicles.

Internet: Got an eSIM compatible phone? Airalo is perfect for reliable internet access during your trip. Just install it before you go, and you're set!

Day Trips & Tours: We recommend GetYourGuide for a variety of well-organized and enjoyable activities.

Tickets: Save on entrance fees in Russia with Klook and Tiquets.

Travel Planner: Need a hand planning? Our free travel planner chatbot is your personal guide to Russia. Chat now.

Disclosure: Posts on TravelFeed may contain affiliate links. See affiliate disclosure.


Share this post