Greek fire: incendiary balls and fire-projectiles
Flammea and a family of related fire-weapons, with notes on the history of Greek fire
The sheet is filled with incendiary projectiles drawn like blazing comets, each labelled: Flammea, Philocroto, Arzilla, Crusida, Lampade and Astula. The long notes give recipes for these fire-balls, built up of charcoal, saltpetre, spirits, sulphur, pitch and camphor wound on wool or hemp tow and hurled by cord, dart or pole. Leonardo names this weapon Greek fire, said to burn even under water, and recalls that Callimachus the architect first taught it to the Romans, that the Emperor Leo used it to burn the fleets attacking Constantinople, and that Lucan tells how Caesar burnt German ships and shore buildings with it.
On this page
Flammea, a Greek-fire ball, and its history
Flammea is described as a ball of willow charcoal, saltpetre, spirits, sulphur, incense and pitch with camphor, wrapped on a thread of wool, spiked, and slung at ships by a cord. It is named Greek fire, marvellous because it burns everything even under water. The note credits Callimachus the architect with teaching it to the Romans and the Emperor Leo with using it to burn the eastern fleets that attacked Constantinople.
Philocroto, Arzilla, Crusida, Lampade and Astula
These projectiles, though varied, are said to be of almost one substance, their fire like the Flammea but with added varnish, petroleum, turpentine and strong vinegar. Pressed, dried in the sun, wound on hemp tow and rounded, they are thrown by cord or fixed to darts, some studded with sharp nails, and clothed in rosin and sulphur with a hole left for the fire. The note adds that the ancients bound such fire to the top of a pole against enemy ships, and that Lucan tells how Caesar burnt the ships and shore buildings of the Cherusci with it.
The projectiles drawn as blazing comets
Each fire-weapon is drawn as a spiked or radiant ball trailing a long flaming tail, laid out across the sheet beside its name. The comet-like tails show the burning mixture streaming behind the projectile in flight. The forms range from smooth spheres to spiked, sunburst heads.