Letter: A river cannot match the pull of the ocean
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Sir: A trireme is rowed by 170 thalamians, zygians and thranites (English adaptations, after J. S. Morrison and J. F. Coates, 1986). I was a zygian in 1987 during the first sea trials in Greece. When I am out on the Thames in my sculling boat I am a sculler. However, when in a sweep-oared crew I am definitely an oarswoman. Though the term be rather a mouthful, this lady does not like being 'a rower']
Yours faithfully,
NICOLA WILBERFORCE
Thames Ditton, Surrey
16 June
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