Greek Fire: Secret Weapon of The Byzantine Empire

Greek fire was a devastating 7th century incendiary weapon invented by Callinicus of Heliopolis and used for years by the Byzantine Empire to defend against invaders.

Callinicus was a Jewish architect who fled Syria to Constantinople because of his concerns about the capture of his city by the Arabs.

A Byzantine ship using Greek fire. (Image credit: Wikipedia)

At first he experimented with a variety of materials until he discovered the perfect mix for an incendiary weapon. Then he sent the formula to the Byzantine emperor.

This secret weapon can be fired through pipes like a flamethrower or thrown as a grenade into pots. It would stick and burn everything and couldn't get disposable with water, which makes it especially useful in naval battles.

In 670 AD, the Byzantines repelled an Arab fleet attacking Constantinople with siphons mounted on their ships at the beginning of its reign in its arsenal, which allowed the empire to survive until the 15th century. After that this secret weapon mysteriously disappeared.

Although the use of the term "Greek fire" has been general in English and most other languages ​​since the Crusades, the original Byzantine sources referred to the substance by various names, such as "Sea Fire", "Roman Fire" "," War fire "," liquid fire "," sticky fire "or" manufactured fire ".

It is believed that naphtha or petroleum was the main ingredient, possibly with the addition of sulfur or pitch and other materials. 

Once ignited, the substance was very difficult to extinguish as it needed sand or vinegar to do so. The mixture was packed in siphons, which were mounted in front of the galleys.

The Byzantines also used pressurized nozzles to spray liquid on the enemy, similar to a modern flamethrower.

The most interesting fact about Greek fire is that the armies that captured the liquid mixture were unable to recreate it on their own.

They also failed to recreate the machine that delivered it.

After its creation, its ingredients became a state secret. the recipe was eventually lost. Its exact composition is still a mystery to this day.

References:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_fire
• https://allthatsinteresting.com/greek-fire
• https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/greek-fire
• https://www.historyextra.com/period/ancient-history/what-was-greek-fire-byzantine-invention-flamethrower-weapon-when/