Q&A: Were ancient naval manpower totals inflated?

Were ancient historians inflating naval manpower totals by orders of magnitude?

Large totals need not be inflated: a galley's people supplied both its propulsion and fighting force, and these states could organize and build large fleets.

An ancient galley's crew supplied both propulsion and combat power. Rowers had to accompany the soldiers because the hull and fittings supplied neither motive power nor an independent fighting force. The size and organization of the participating states, together with the speed of galley construction, help explain the enormous fleets. Large figures alone therefore do not establish that an ancient historian multiplied the numbers.