Has the Greek Fire recipe been discovered?

Because the formula was only handed down from Emperor to Emperor little else is known about Greek Fire. This precaution was so successful that it was kept a secret for over 700 years and has since been lost to history. Despite this, some partial recipes have been found by historians from Byzantine sources.

Did Greek Fire really exist?

Greek fire, any of several flammable compositions that were used in warfare in ancient and medieval times. In later centuries saltpetre and turpentine made their appearance, and the resulting flammable mixtures were known to the Crusaders as Greek fire or wild fire.

Can Greek Fire burn water?

According to the ancient accounts, Greek fire, developed in 672, was a substance that was easily ignited. Once lit, it burned extremely hot and could even stay burning under water. Because the substance was so powerful, the formula for making it was closely guarded.

What is the closest thing to Greek Fire?

The closest replication of Greek Fire was by the Arabian Armies sometime between the mid-seventh and tenth centuries. Though the weapon proved to be terribly devastating, it was still only a shadow of the original byzantine formula.

When was the secret of Greek fire lost?

In the AD 670s, the Byzantines repelled an Arab fleet attacking Constantinople with siphons mounted to their ships – the beginning of its dominance in its arsenal, which helped the empire survive until the 15th century. But then Greek fire disappeared.

Is Greek fire still used today?

An ancient incendiary weapon used by the Byzantine Empire, Greek fire involved a heavily guarded formula that we still can’t figure out today.

Why was Greek fire called Greek fire?

Interestingly, the main reason why it’s known as Greek fire today is because that’s what the crusaders called it. To other people who experienced its terrible power — such as the Arabs, Bulgars, and Russians — a more common name was actually “Roman fire,” since the Byzantines were a continuation of the Roman Empire.