Glossary · Term · weapon
Greek fire
Greek fire was an incendiary weapon used by the Byzantine Empire, typically projected from siphons on warships, and able to burn on water. Its exact composition was a closely guarded secret and remains uncertain. It played an important part in Byzantine naval defence, notably against Arab fleets of the Umayyad Caliphate during the sieges of Constantinople.
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Cite this entry
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Greek fire. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/greek-fire
- MLA
- “Greek fire.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/greek-fire. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Greek fire.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/greek-fire.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Greek fire’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/greek-fire (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻