What is greek fire

Greek Fire had the property of developing intense heat, spreading in all directions and burning on water! The use of the trebuchet and Greek Fire was featured in the movie Timeline, based on the book by Michael Crichton. This movie depicted the making of Greek Fire and how it was used, to devastating effect, during siege warfare between the English and the French. There were various formula for creating Greek Fire.

Some accounts of Greek Fire suggest that petroleum and oil was used as an ingredient. Other Greek Fire recipe or formula which seems far more likely include a combination, or composition of ingredients such as Quicklime, Saltpeter, Bitumen, Sulphur, Resin and Pitch.

No one, to date, has been able to successfully recreate the exact composition. This terrifying fiery substance stuck like glue to almost any surface and was nearly impossible to extinguish except with sand, salt, or urine. By Jamie Condliffe. The power of Greek fire is beyond doubt.

It was one of the most terrifying weapons ever made. Greek fire was a flaming mixture fired from the ships of the Byzantine empire from the 7th century. The fire would cling to flesh and was impossible to extinguish with water. Historical sources indicate that it was originally devised under the reign of Constantine IV Pogantus Accounts from the time speak of how Greek Fire would spontaneously catch fire and could not be put out using water.

On the contrary, it appeared to burn vigorously when in contact with water and would stick to anything it came into contact with. The incendiary concoction could be deployed in a variety of methods. It was either thrown in pots or discharged from siphoned handheld or ship-mounted tubes.

In the case of the latter, it can be, ostensibly, thought of as similar to a modern-day flamethrower. Interestingly, it does appear that it could be countered, at least in part. Arabian accounts from the time tell of the sticky liquid not adhering to heavy cloth or leather that had been soaked in vinegar. However, a similar substance is known to have existed long before Callinicus.

Callinicus probably used this as the foundation for Greek Fire but made it much more potent and easier to use. Although the exact recipe was a closely guarded secret light petroleum or naphtha are known to be one of the main ingredients.

This was probably sourced from the Crimea. It has been speculated that Greek Fire probably consisted of a mixture of petroleum, pitch, sulfur, pine or cedar resin, lime, and bitumen. Some have even speculated that it might have had gunpowder or "melted saltpeter" mixed in too. The addition of sulfur might well have given the mixture the booming noise that Greek Fire is said to have been noted for. The process for making the liquid must have been a very dangerous one indeed.

Especially if it was as volatile as contemporary accounts highlight. The distillation of petroleum, if it was used, would also have required a highly advanced technology for the time.