Read on Twitter
Greek fire was an incendiary weapon first used in Byzantine warfare in 678
by the Byzantine Greeks. It was made of several flammable compositions that were used in warfare in ancient and medieval times and became the most devastating weapon of Christendom for over 7 centuries.
by the Byzantine Greeks. It was made of several flammable compositions that were used in warfare in ancient and medieval times and became the most devastating weapon of Christendom for over 7 centuries.
The highly flammable liquid was made of secret ingredients, used in catapulted bombs and sprayed under pressure by launching flames at the enemy target using siphons. According chronicler Theophan Confessor, it was invented by Kallinikos, a craftsman and architect from Heliopolis
Some researchers believe that it is not possible for one human being to invent such a compound, and Kallinikos’ so-called invention would actually be one of the secrets of the Alexandria School of Chemistry. The compound had the property to burn even in water.
Even before the GF fire was discovered,Emperor Athanasius I used a chemical compound based on sulfur and lime in the naval battle that took place in 515 against Vitalian’s rebellions. It seems that the one who advised the emperor in using it an Athenian philosopher named Proclus.
As Constantine Porphyrogennetos' warnings show,the ingredients and the processes of manufacture of GF were carefully guarded military secrets mentioning that it was given by an angel to Constantine the Great.The composition of Greek fire still remains unknown to these days.
