Greek fire was a fearsome weapon used by the Byzantines. It had the ability to keep burning even while on water. As such, it was often used in naval battles, and was a terrifying weapon against other ships.
The secret behind Greek fire was a closely guarded secret and has now been lost. Historians agree it was probably very similar to modern napalm.
The term "Greek fire" is normally used in English. However, most other languages use other terms such as "sea fire" (Greek: πῦρ θαλάσσιον), "Roman fire" (πῦρ ῥωμαϊκόν), "war fire" (πολεμικὸν πῦρ), "liquid fire" (ὑγρὸν πῦρ), or "processed fire" (πῦρ σκευαστόν).
Byzantine ships had Greek Fire-dispensing mechanisms attached to their fronts as a medival kind of flamethrower. After several accidents of the fire burning the Byzantines' own ships, it was no longer used, and the secret was lost.
