The original recipe for the Greek fire used by the Byzantine Empire was a closely guarded state secret, and today the matter is still contentious among historians. The general consensus on the primary ingredients is a mixture of oil, bitumen, naphtha, resin and sulphur. It could be sprayed like a rudimentary flame thrower, or lobbed in sealed pots. To maximize the life of its infamously resilient flame, Greek fire was likely heated before use, which would have made handling incredibly dangerous. Soldiers and marines who handled Greek fire wore protective leather armor. Ships and equipment used a unique mixture of vinegar, alum and talc to remain fireproof.

In time, enemies could devise strategies to counteract the deployment of Greek fire, and other civilizations would create similar thermal weapons, but it remains one of the most prestigious icons of Byzantium in the antiquity.

 

^(Herrin, Judith. Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire. England: Penguin Books, 2008.)

^(Rautman, Marcus. Daily Life in the Byzantine Empire (The Greenwood Press Daily Life Through History Series)^(. Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2006.)