Latest / The History of Greece: Philosophy, Empire, and Endless Reinvention — Fexingo History
The Greek Fire: Byzantium's Secret Weapon That Saved an Empire
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the legendary Byzantine weapon known as Greek fire — a mysterious, napalm-like substance that helped the Eastern Roman Empire survive centuries of siege. They discuss its invention by Kallinikos of Heliopolis, its first recorded use at the Siege of Constantinople in 673-678 CE, and the chemical debates about its composition (petroleum, sulfur, quicklime?). Lucas explains how the siphon projector worked on dromons, the terrifying psychological impact on Arab fleets, and the extreme secrecy that kept the formula lost for over a thousand years. The…
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