The deadly weapon known as “Greek Fire” seems to defy the laws of physics and has puzzled scientists for centuries.
The Most Terrifying Weapon of the Middle Ages
An illustration depicting the Greek Fire weapon. (Photo: Greek City Times).
“Greek Fire” refers to a type of incendiary weapon used by the Byzantine Empire starting in 672 AD. This weapon was primarily used to set enemy ships ablaze during naval battles, launching a flammable compound that was difficult to extinguish with water.
For centuries, scientists have attempted to unravel the mystery surrounding this terrifying incendiary weapon, including its composition and usage. However, even today, we still do not fully understand what it was or how it operated.
According to a record from around the 8th century, this weapon was described as follows: “The ships unleashed a liquid fire from all sides, including the bow, stern, and both sides. Crew members engulfed in flames had no choice but to jump into the sea. Those in armor drowned, while those who could swim suffered severe burns.”
This weapon was used to burn enemies in naval battles. (Photo: iStock).
Another Roman military document describes this weapon as resembling dragons swimming on the sea, spewing forth brilliant flames and making noises like thunder.
Some contemporary documents confirm that “Greek Fire” actually existed in liquid form, projected from a special pipe system located at the bow of the ships.
Most scholars believe that the flammable compound that constituted this fearsome medieval weapon may have included crude oil or naphtha—a flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture—operating similarly to a medieval napalm bomb.
Other hypotheses suggest that the formula for the weapon could have included pitch, animal fat, tar, sulfur, lime, asphalt, and more. However, even with today’s technology, we still cannot replicate the characteristics of this ancient weapon.
A National Secret Too Well Protected?
Historians believe that the reason “Greek Fire” remains a mystery to this day is that the Byzantine Empire protected it too strictly.
Alex Roland, Emeritus Professor of History at Duke University and an expert on world military history, states: “Greek Fire was considered the national weapon of the Byzantine Empire and was kept a secret at the highest level.”
“Only two families knew the exact chemical composition of Greek Fire,” Professor Roland shared. “However, even with this knowledge, one could not replicate the most dangerous weapon in history because it was a complex system.”
“Greek Fire” was a nightmare for those daring to confront the Byzantine Empire during its golden age. (Photo: Reddit).
This is because many factors determined the success of this weapon, including the design of the ship, the explosive containment system, the pumping mechanism, and the method of igniting the liquid to keep the ship safe…
“The Greeks did an excellent job of ensuring that their number one weapon did not fall into enemy hands. The secret was that no one knew everything about the ship,” Professor Roland remarked. “The engineers who created the weapon seemed to know only a small and fragmented part. Even if they recorded their knowledge, it would have been completely worthless.”
He described this as akin to the rule of “not putting all your eggs in one basket,” which we often refer to today.
Ironically, the overly perfect secrecy surrounding “Greek Fire” indirectly contributed to the downfall of the Byzantine Empire, as their ultimate weapon was quickly forgotten over time and was no longer widely used in the military.
