William Smith, A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, John Murray, London, 1875. p 783-792.

The prow (prwvra or mevtwpon, prora) was generally ornamented on both sides with figures, which were either painted upon the sides or laid in. It seems to have been very common to represent an eye on each side of the prow (Böckh, Urk. p102; Becker, Charikles, vol. ii p60). Upon the prow or fore-deck there was always some emblem (paravshmon, insigne, figura) by which the ship was distinguished from others. At the head of the prow there projected the stovloV, and its extremity was termed ajkrostovlion, which was frequently made in the shape of an animal or a helmet. It appears to have been sometimes covered with brass and to have served as an embole (ejmbolhv) against the enemy's vessels (Aeschyl. Pers. 414). The ajkrostovlion is sometimes designated by the name of chnivskoV (from chvn, a goose), because it was formed in the shape of the head or neck of a goose or swan. The cheniscus was often gilt and made of bronze (Lucian, Ver. Hist. 41, Jup. Trag. 14). A cheniscus of bronze is preserved in the Royal Library at Paris (Millin, Dict. des beaux Arts). [INSIGNE]