Ancient Byzantine Weapon, 'Greek Fire,' Remains a Mystery to Modern Historians
For approximately 700 years, a powerful incendiary weapon known as 'Greek Fire' was instrumental in defending the Byzantine Empire, particularly Constantinople. The weapon, whose exact composition remains unknown, was reportedly brought to Constantinople in the 670s by a refugee named Callinicus from Syria. It was deployed from tubes mounted on Byzantine ships, spraying a burning liquid that ignited on contact and continued to burn even on water. This unique property made it highly effective against enemy fleets, notably turning back Arab sieges. The formula for Greek Fire was a closely guarded secret, known only to a select few and passed down orally, rather than being documented. This extreme secrecy ensured its effectiveness for centuries but ultimately led to the loss of its knowledge around 1200 AD, after which the formula vanished with its last practitioners. 
