History Main / GreekFire

* The Byzantine Empire developed the TropeNamer, which proved instrumental in major naval victories, including two sieges of Constantinople. [[LostTechnology Nobody is sure exactly what the original recipe was]][[note]]there are several known chemical compounds that behave like this, so the question is more which one of them was the one the Byzantines used[[/note]], and "Greek fire" seems to have become something of a catch-all term for any FireBreathingWeapon, but the original stuff was some sort of liquid that ignited spontaneously in contact with water. It was a complete GameBreaker in naval combat well into the early days of WoodenShipsAndIronMen, only being obsoleted when cannon that could reliably hit a target outside its very short range became widespread.

* The Akkadian fire in the Literature/DragonJousters book Sanctuary

* During the [[UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar Vietnam War]], some [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_monitor river monitors]] (heavily armed boats that patrolled rivers) were armed with large flamethrowers with a range of more than 650 feet (200 meters).

[[folder: RealLife]]
* The Byzantine Empire developed the TropeNamer, which proved instrumental in major naval victories, including two sieges of Constantinople. [[LostTechnology Nobody is sure exactly what the original recipe was]][[note]]there are several known chemical compounds that behave like this, so the question is more which one of them was the one the Byzantines used[[/note]], and "Greek fire" seems to have become something of a catch-all term for any FireBreathingWeapon, but the original stuff was some sort of liquid that ignited spontaneously in contact with water. It was a complete GameBreaker in naval combat well into the early days of WoodenShipsAndIronMen, only being obsoleted when cannon that could reliably hit a target outside its very short range became widespread.
* White Phosphorus is a modern example, although it is used for smokescreens as well as incendiaries.
* The infamous napalm fits this trope all too well.
[[/folder]]

* Used literally in the ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' series, in which Percy is attacked with Greek Fire in a chariot race.

* The Byzantine Empire developed the TropeNamer, which proved instrumental in major naval victories, including two sieges of Constantinople. [[LostTechnology Nobody is sure exactly what the original recipe was]], and "Greek fire" seems to have become something of a catch-all term for any FireBreathingWeapon, but the original stuff was some sort of liquid that ignited spontaneously in contact with water. It was a complete GameBreaker in naval combat well into the early days of WoodenShipsAndIronMen, only being obsoleted when cannon that could reliably hit a target outside its very short range became widespread.

* ''MetamorKeep'': the Kingdom of Whales has Greek Fire, the name "Greek" was eventually retconned to be the name of the inventor.

* The ''GentlemanBastard'' universe lacks gunpowder and firearms, yet "alchemy" has devised a type of inextinguishable incendiary bomb which burns white hot like blazing sun and can burn a large man-of-war in minutes. It's so destructive that warship captains avoid its use in combat since storage aboard ship would be too dangerous.

* The Byzantine Empire developed the TropeNamer, which proved instrumental in major naval victories, including two sieges of Constantinople.

* The Akkadian fire in the " Literature/DragonJousters" book "Sanctuary" counts

* The Akkadian fire in the Dragon Jousters book Sanctuary counts

The Akkadian fire in the Dragon Jousters book Sanctuary counts

* ''Medieval 2: TotalWar'' has fire ships for the Byzantine Empire. The Crusades campaign in the expansion also has Greek Firethrower units that use it in handheld flamethrowers.

* It must manifest as a burning liquid or putty

* The honeyfire demonstraited by the Herders in the Obernewtyn Chronicles appears to be this.

* Used literally in the "PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians" series, in which Percy is attacked with Greek Fire in a chariot race.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' has alchemist's fire, though most versions are not waterproof it is still sticky and burns when exposed to air.

* The blazebalm used in the ''TortallUniverse'' fits most of the requirements. It is a flamable jelly-like substance that is often used as an explosive weapon; it is particularly useful against spidrens and other immortals.

* Wildfire from ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' is unquenchable by water, lights anything used to smother it on fire, and burns brilliant green. It was used in [[spoiler: the battle of the Blackwater]] and was essentially the only reason [[spoiler:Tyrion]] won. Its production is a secret well-guarded by the Pyromancers' Guild, but there are strong implications that some sort of magic is involved. Storage is extremely dangerous, and it's eventually revealed that the {{Pyromaniac}} former "Mad King" [[TheCaligula Aerys II]] [[spoiler:had thousands of pots of it buried in secret throughout the city in order to burn the whole place down if it was captured, and that this discovery was the reason Jaime Lannister killed him before he could give the order.]]

* White Phosphorus is a modern example, although it is used for smokescreens as well as incindiaries.

* Wildfire from ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' was made by Pyromancers, unquenchable by water, lit anything used to smother it on fire, and burned brilliant green. It was used in [[spoiler: the battle of the Blackwater]] and was essentially the only reason [[spoiler:Tyrion]] won.

* The ''CouncilWars'' series fills this role with Napalm, although after the first couple uses they get extinguisher foam on all ships, somewhat reducing both effectiveness and the terror factor

* The Byzantine Empire developed the TropeNamer, which proved instrumental in major naval victories, including two seiges of Constantinople.

* ''{{Timeline}}'': Professor Johnston is forced to recreate Greek Fire for Lord Oliver, he succeeds in making something that ignites when exposed to water.

* Wildfire from ASongOfIceAndFire was made by Pyromancers, unquenchable by water, lit anything used to smother it on fire, and burned brilliant green. It was used in [[spoiler: the battle of the Blackwater]] and was essentially the only reason [[spoiler:Tyrion]] won.
* Literature/{{Leviathan}} has Phosphorus rounds, which display all of the characteristics, though they're used against hydrogen filled fliers

* The Council Wars series fills this role with Napalm, although after the first couple uses they get extinguisher foam on all ships, somewhat reducing both effectiveness and the terror factor
* Eldest: green fire is used on an arrow fired at Roran's ship, forcing the crew to hack away ignited portions.

* The blazebalm used in the Tortall Universe fits most of the requirements. It is a flamable jelly-like substance that is often used as an explosive weapon; it is particularly useful against spidrens and other immortals.
* Used literally in the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series, in which Percy is attacked with Greek Fire in a chariot race.

* Fluff occasionally mentions the High Elves of Warhammer having a substance called "Alchemist's Fire" designed for use against other ships (though it can be utilised for other purposes) which burns white and whose recipe is a closely-guarded secret.

* VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresI and [[VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresII II]] had fire-ships that used the historical Greek Fire, projected from hoses. Although short-ranged, they did deal substantial damage to enemy ships

* Assassin's Creed Revelations: Ezio burns down a good part of the Ottoman navy because it was blocking the port.

* ''{{Civilization}} V: Gods and kings'' has the fire-shooting Dromon as one of the unique units of Byzantium.
[[/folder]]

* Medieval2TotalWar has fire ships for the Byzantine Empire. The Crusades campaign in the expansion also has Greek Firethrower units that use it in handheld flamethrowers.

* AgeOfEmpires 1 and 2 had fire-ships that used the historical Greek Fire, projected from hoses. Although short-ranged, they did deal substantial damage to enemy ships