Answer: The Greek fire siphon
Greek fire was a secret weapon of the Byzantine Empire, first used in naval battles in the 7th century. It was a mysterious, incendiary liquid projected through siphons—essentially, ancient flamethrowers mounted on ships or city walls. What set Greek fire apart was not just its destructive power, but the way it upended the very idea of safety in combat.
To the men who witnessed it, Greek fire seemed supernatural. Eyewitness accounts described a liquid that clung to wood, flesh, and even water, burning with an intensity that nothing could extinguish. Water—normally a sailor’s only hope against fire—only made it worse. Stories spread of entire fleets ignited, panicked crews abandoning ship, and men leaping into the sea only to be engulfed by flames on the water’s surface.
The psychological effect of Greek fire cannot be overstated. Soldiers and sailors who might have faced arrows, swords, or siege engines with grim determination often broke at the mere sight of the Byzantine siphons. Rumors about Greek fire’s properties spread quickly, amplifying its terror. There were tales of it burning in rainstorms and even on the waves, of its smoke blotting out the sun, of the screams of men who could not escape.
What made Greek fire so terrifying was its utter unpredictability and the sense of helplessness it created. It seemed to defy nature and logic. There was no way to prepare for it, no effective shield, no guaranteed defense. The fear was not just of death, but of an agonizing, all-consuming destruction that no amount of bravery or skill could overcome.
Greek fire left a permanent scar on the psyche of the medieval world. Its formula was so closely guarded that it was lost to history, adding to its mythic status. But for centuries, just the threat of Greek fire kept enemies at bay and cemented the Byzantines’ reputation for military genius and ruthless innovation. For those who faced it, Greek fire was more than a weapon. It was a force of terror that changed the meaning of war itself.
