It had an ability to keep burning while on water. It's deadlines in combat, especially at sea, has been cited as a prime reason for the long survival of the Roman empire* in the face of many enemies. The art of compounding the mixture was a secret so closely guarded that it's precise composition remains unknown to this day.
* term 'Byzantine empire' is incorrect and was coined by the coping westerners who couldn't stand the fact that [Eastern] Roman empire was the real Roman empire and not their 'Holy Roman Empire'.
In Yngvars saga Vidforla, Vikings encountered 'greek fire' during their expedition somewhere to Caucasus:
"There stood there also a brass [or bronze] tube and from it flew much fire against one ship, and it burned up in a short time so that all of it became white ashes..."
[Eastern] Romans also had a portable flamethrowers and hand grenades.
* term 'Byzantine empire' is incorrect and was coined by the coping westerners who couldn't stand the fact that [Eastern] Roman empire was the real Roman empire and not their 'Holy Roman Empire'.
In Yngvars saga Vidforla, Vikings encountered 'greek fire' during their expedition somewhere to Caucasus:
"There stood there also a brass [or bronze] tube and from it flew much fire against one ship, and it burned up in a short time so that all of it became white ashes..."
[Eastern] Romans also had a portable flamethrowers and hand grenades.
