Hidden in the hills and forests surrounding the Czech city Prerov, an uncommon construction of wood and bronze is standing against the clear blue sky. Weeks of hard labour and precise planning are finally starting to bear fruit - shapes of a "bireme", an Ancient Greek mid-level warship are becoming much clearer with each passing day.

In the summer 2008, the Knights Errant Association - a Living History group from Trencin, Slovakia has decided to undertake a difficult, yet innovative task of recreating a functional Ancient Greek ship capable of river and off-shore travel with full crew. Interesting as it may be, this surely raises a question about what connection would a project such as this have to this small country in Central Europe. This question itself explains the reasons best - to raise the public awareness of what was going on in this part of the world during the times when the Classical Greece was booming as an European centre of culture.

Contrary to the common belief that the lands were inhabited by clans of uneducated, fur-wearing barbarians who rarely interacted with other than their own, the Knights Errant Association aims to explain and demonstrate in an interesting and very attractive way that the area was full of life and trade, having complex relationships and interconnections with the rest of the world, even with the traders of the distant Ancient Greek city states.

Having a good half of the work finished from their own resources, the Association is still looking for both companies and individuals willing to support the project to successful completion currently planned for mid-summer 2009. Teaming up with the project is a great way to gain public attention and prestige not only locally, but even beyond during international events abroad, as this project is a world-wide rarity.

For more information or sponsorship please visit www.bludni.sk