In Episode 258, Lucas and Luna explore the enigmatic origins of Greek fire, the Byzantine Empire's most devastating naval weapon. We trace the story back to Kallinikos of Heliopolis, a Syrian engineer who fled to Constantinople around 673 CE during the Arab sieges. This episode details how this liquid flame, likely a mixture of naphtha, quicklime, and pine resin, was projected through bronze siphons to ignite enemy ships on the Golden Horn. Unlike earlier incendiaries, Greek fire could burn on water and resisted being extinguished by vinegar or sand. We examine the strict state secrets surrounding its formula, the military impact of the siege of 674-678, and why the Byzantines guarded the recipe with their lives. Join us as we uncover how one man’s invention helped preserve the Eastern Roman Empire for another six centuries.
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