09-05-2008, 05:39 PM
Quote:Speaking of Greek fire. Has anyone seen these before or got a refernce for them. Grenades that were filled with liquid fire (Υγρό Πυρ) from the fortress of Chania (Χανιά) 10th and 12th century. National Historical Museum, Athens, Greece.
Greek fire grenades
I especially love those caltrops does anyone know of an archeological report or reference for this particular find - definitely part of an infantrymans kit.
The find is amazing. It is definitely a loss that so few Greek secondary sources are found at Wikipedia. This allows articles such as these, which put in doubt much of Byzantine warfare (grenades were know by the 9th c. even in the Arab Near East, but I cannot prove it without adequate sources).
Anyway, a starting point may be (grenades at the time of the crusades): Peter Pentz: A medieval workshop for producing 'Greek fire' grenades, Antiquity, Volume: 62 Number: 234 Page: 89–93
Stefan (Literary references to the discussed topics are always appreciated.)