Unraveling the Mystery of the Medieval World's Terrifying Weapon.
Greek fire, a deadly weapon used by the Byzantine Empire in medieval times, was likely based on a crude or refined type of petroleum mixed with unknown ingredients. It was a closely guarded state secret, with only a few families knowing the formula. The weapon was a system composed of a ship, tube, caldron, and liquid, and its devastating effects could not be recreated without knowledge of how to wield it and build the equipment to pump and store it safely. The Byzantine compartmentalized knowledge of their system, making it difficult to ensure that the secret survived, and the technology was eventually lost.