Greek Fire

Greek Fire was one of the most powerful weapons ever created in history. Its composition was a such well guarded secret that we don't know how it was made. Many people have tried to recreate it, but all failed.

— Lecturer at the Warsaw Academy for Magical Arts

Greek Fire was an incendiary weapon used by the Byzantine Empire. It was a flame-throwing weapon which emitted a flammable substance which could ignite on water. Exact information on how it worked is lost to time. There are many theories about it. Some people say it was based on naphta and quicklime, while others say that it was fire modified by pyromancers.

Chemical hypothesis

For a long time the most popular theory was that the main ingredient was Saltpeter and it was an early form of gunpowder. The inability to extinguish Greek Fire with water (some even said that water intensified it) is commonly associated with the explosive reaction between water and quicklime. However, many scientists dismiss that claim because the effect of that reaction wouldn't be strong enough in the open sea. Most scientists agree that if there was no magic in the Greek Fire naphta was the main ingrediant.

Pyromancy hypothesis

The pyromancy hypothesis states that Greek Fire was made by magically enhancing natural fire. Some people would like to believe that it was Bloodfire, but there is no evidence of human sacrifice related to greek fire. The spell used to enhance the fire hasn't been discovered yet. The modified fire was then placed inside an object which today is most commonly described as a modified Enchanted Box. According to ancient texts, that object was round in shape and looked like a granate.

Inventor(s)

The exact inventor of Greek Fire is unknown. The only known information about him is that he lived in Constatinople in the second half of the 7th century CE when the city was being besieged by Arabs.

Complexity

No matter which hypothesis is true, Greek Fire was a complicated technology. The Byzantine navy had specialized soldiers who were trained in preparing Greek Fire and operating the flamethrowers.

Discovery

7th century CE

Greek Fire by Unknown author - Codex Skylitzes Matritensis, Bibliteca Nacional de Madrid, Vitr. 26-2, Bild-Nr. 77, f 34 v. b. (taken from Pászthory, p. 31), Public Domain,