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Greek Fire

Type Object Region Byzantine Empire Time c. 670–1200

Greek fire was the Byzantine Empire's secret naval incendiary weapon, typically sprayed through siphons or hurled in jars, burning on water and devas…

Timeline

  1. c. 670–800Constantinople · Byzantine EmpireIn the 7th-8th centuries, Byzantium perfected the Greek fire formula and siphon projection devices in the naval workshops of Constantinople; its composition and preparation were classified as state secrets, known only to the imperial family and senior naval officials, forming a core technological barrier to imperial sea power.
  2. 1141Aegean Sea and the Dardanelles · Aegean SeaIn the 1140s, Byzantine fleets still carried Greek fire on Aegean patrols and against Norman and Seljuk maritime threats; during Manuel I's naval rebuilding it was standard armament for flagships and fire ships, used for strait blockades and coastal operations.
  3. c. 1150–1200Naval dockyards of Constantinople · Byzantine EmpireIn the second half of the 12th century, Byzantine finances and naval strength contracted and the Greek fire formula suffered breaks in transmission; the empire's division after the Fourth Crusade further weakened production systems, and by the 13th century combat records had markedly declined, making it one of the most mysterious lost technologies in medieval military history.

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