Editing Flamethrower (section)

=== Roman Empire ===
{{Main|Greek fire}}

In 107&nbsp;AD the Romans used a flamethrower against the Dacians; the device was similar to the one used at Delium.<ref name=":1">{{cite book |last1=McNab |first1=Chris |title=The Flamethrower |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2015 |isbn=978-1472809049 |location=London |pages=7}}</ref>

Later, during the [[Byzantine]] era, sailors used rudimentary hand-pumped flamethrowers on board their naval ships. [[Greek fire]], extensively used by the [[Byzantine Empire]], is said to have been invented by [[Callinicus of Heliopolis|Kallinikos]] of [[Baalbek|Heliopolis]], probably about 673 AD. Byzantine texts described weapons, used by Byzantine land forces, which were shooting Greek fire and called cheirosiphona (χειροσίφωνα, meaning hand-held siphons, singular χειροσίφωνο).<ref>{{cite book |author=Dr. Ilkka Syvänne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RtLLDwAAQBAJ |title=Caracalla: A Military Biography |publisher=Pen and Sword Military |year=2017 |isbn=978-1473895249 |quote=In later Byzantine texts, the syringe was replaced by cheirosiphona (hand-held siphons) that were also used to shoot Greek Fire.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=John W Nesbitt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JrKH5YDebtgC |title=Byzantine Authors: Literary Activities and Preoccupations |publisher=Brill |year=2003 |isbn=978-9004129757 |page=189}}</ref> The flamethrower found its origins in a device consisting of a hand-held pump that shot bursts of Greek fire via a [[siphon]]-hose and a [[piston]] which ignited it with a match, similar to modern versions, as it was ejected.<ref name="needham volume 5 77">Needham, Volume 5, 77.</ref> An illustration in [[Poliorcetica]] of [[Hero of Byzantium]] display a soldier with a portable flamethrower.<ref>{{cite book |author=John Pryor |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vAhZEAAAQBAJ |title=The Age of the DROMON: The Byzantine Navy ca 500–1204 |author2=Elizabeth M Jeffreys |publisher=Brill |year=2006 |isbn=978-9004151970 |page=619}}</ref><ref>[https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat.gr.1605/0077 Vatican Library - Manuscript - Vat.gr.1605]</ref> Byzantines also used ceramic hand grenades filled with Greek fire.<ref>[https://www.ancient-art.co.uk/byzantine-empire/byzantine-hand-grenade-with-circular-designs/ Byzantine Hand Grenade with Circular Designs]</ref><ref>[https://www.ancient-art.co.uk/byzantine-empire/byzantine-clay-hand-grenade/ Byzantine Clay Hand Grenade]</ref>
Greek fire, used primarily at sea, gave the Byzantines a substantial military advantage against enemies such as members of the [[Caliphate|Arab Empire]] (who later adopted the use of Greek fire). An 11th-century illustration of its use survives in the [[John Skylitzes]] manuscript.