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Semaphore flags were for communication between ships.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_semaphore

Or if your Monty python restaging whuthering heights




Still are, as far as I'm aware.

Smoke signals are literally the oldest known semaphore, and fire is recorded to have been used to telegraph signals over 700km per hour in the Byzantine Empire.


> 700km per hour in the Byzantine Empire

Interesting that Byzantine light seems to have been slower than modern light.




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