GREEK FIRE

[hoplite14gr]

This topic opened in the Roman Military history section.
A member suggested to bring it to the Greek history section.
I agree and here is what I managed to discover on the subject:
Alexander used a more "traditional" naphtha mix in Tyros possibly
"Theion Lefcados". The Seleukidic army possily used the "tarry substance"
that exists even today in the sand of the Caspian sea.
This possibly was used later by the special incediary troops of
the Nabatteans.
The most volatile mix is attributed Julious Africanus.
His work survives only through fragments from Favrikius, Eusevious
and the SOYIDA lexicon.
He says that the mix must be made in dark places, kept in dark places
and make sure that it stays in sealed containers.
Roman Army did night operations. Bombarding a hillfort with catpults
through the night is no big deal. Nothing obvious happen in the night
but in the morning when sthe sun rays fell on the mix splatered on the
walls or other places the s---t hits the fun!
That possibly explains the charred wooden remains found by archeologists.
I am sure that our more scholarly friends can enlighten us more.
Kind regards