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

[Tarbicus]

hock: Nasty

[Robert Vermaat]

That possibly explains the charred wooden remains found by archeologists.
I am sure that our more scholarly friends can enlighten us more.

Are you possibly referring to the 'vitrified forts' found in Scotland?

[hoplite14gr]

Yes I do. I think they were mentioned when the post was in the Roman section.
Kind regards

[Robert Vermaat]

Yes I do.

Then I must say I doubt very much that this effect can be ascribed to Roman warfare. For one, why would this have been done to just a few forts in the north of Britain, and not to any hillfort in Britain or elsewhere?
And why would the Roman army have not used this secret weapon after that?
Furthermore, I can't think of any description in the sources where the use of this stuff is described..

All in all, I still gamble on an explanation where the builders of the forts managed to strengthen them in a yet not fully understood method.

That, or we have a local group of forts that burned down after struck by lightning!

[hoplite14gr]

Well Roam history is not my strong subject.
But the "nasty staff" was known in the Roman times so its use cannot be excluded. The art of its production was lost in the dark ages and it took the appearence of Kalinikos to re-indroduce it to emperor Leo III.
Kind regards

[Philhellene]

...Favrikius, Eusevious
and the SOYIDA lexicon.

Who is Favrikius?

He says that the mix must be made in dark places, kept in dark places
and make sure that it stays in sealed containers.

Can you give the exact reference?

[hoplite14gr]

Please allow me some time for more references because it is not in Electronic format.
Kind regards