A steering pole is a light
spar extending from the
bow of a straight
deck ship
A ship is a large watercraft, vessel that travels the world's oceans and other Waterway, navigable waterways, carrying cargo or passengers, or in support of specialized missions, such as defense, research and fishing. Ships are generally disti ...
which aids the
wheelsman in steering.
Ancient literature indicates that steering poles have long been part of boat construction, and are referred to in ancient texts such as the
Epic of Gilgamesh
The ''Epic of Gilgamesh'' () is an epic poetry, epic from ancient Mesopotamia. The literary history of Gilgamesh begins with five Sumerian language, Sumerian poems about Gilgamesh (formerly read as Sumerian "Bilgames"), king of Uruk, some of ...
.
References
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Shipbuilding