Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs: Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World by Adrienne Mayor (EPUB)

Description

Drawing on sources ancient and modern, Mayor describes ancient recipes for arrow poisons, booby traps rigged with plague, petroleum-based combustibles, choking gases, and the deployment of dangerous animals and venomous snakes and insects. She also explo

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: From Publishers Weekly This dense but highly informative volume narrates the long pretechnological history of the use of poisons and fire in warfare. Mayor, who has published in Military History Quarterly, begins with the first legend of poisoned arrows: Hercules and his quiver of missiles tipped with the hydra’s venom (probably snake venom). He and his wife also figure in an early use of an externally applied poison-the “poisoned” garments that killed them both with an inextinguishable flame may have been impregnated with saltpeter. Using their powers of observation and a sound if rule-of-thumb grasp of cause and effect, our not-so-primitive ancestors went on to set fires, throw fires and project fires (Greek fire reached its apex when flung from a ship-mounted flame thrower). They also put poison on arrowheads, in food and wine and in water supplies, tamed elephants to use as living tanks, bottled scorpions to throw over walls and knew about the problems of accidental casualties, enemy retaliation and lowering the ethical level of warfare. Mayor clearly describes how some of the poisons caused gruesome deaths, and Greek fire was essentially napalm. One antielephant weapon consisted of coating live pigs with pitch, setting them on fire and driving them at the elephants. The sheer mass of information will be daunting for the novice, particularly to one not familiar with classical mythology, but the book is otherwise absolutely absorbing, if macabre, and a formidable source on classical warfare, with bibliography, illustrations and annotations to serve further research. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist We recoil from biological and chemical weapons as uniquely nefarious creations of modern science, but Mayor, combing classical writings both mythical and historical, has found that they existed throughout antiquity. Far from merely reciting the armory of poisons and plagues she found, Mayor shows how the ancients’ reactions to biological weapons prefigure contemporary attitudes about them. Between the poles of the ethical and the expedient, the concept of the honorable in warfare swung back and forth: a toe-to-toe Homeric swordfight, yes; a poisoned arrow from afar, no. Mayor integrates these oscillations into a narrative embracing the contents of Pandora’s box and their adaptation into articles of war. Ancient commentators expressed both repugnance and admiration for ingenuity, attitudes Mayor detects in Hercules’ slaying of the Hydra, in Odysseus’ adventures, and in other myths. Expanding her ambit to Indian writings, and to the use of animals such as bees, scorpions, and elephants on the battlefield, Mayor spices her astute commentary with diverse opinions about biological weapons. Gilbert TaylorCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved About the Author Adrienne Mayor is a classical folklorist who specializes in the early history of science. A frequent contributor to Archaeology, MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History, Folklore, and the Journal of American Folklore, she is often interviewed on NPR, the BBC, and on the History and Learning channels. Read more

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐This delightful read explores the origins of what today we now know as biological warfare. Many books on BW/BT begin their summaries with the 14th century Tatars, but Mayor convincingly traces the use of poisons/chemicals and infectious diseases back to Greek myths and ancient battles/seiges. Those who argue that “moral repugnace” has historically limited use of BW/BT agents are proved wrong. It appears that even the classical Greeks and othe near-contemporaneous societies used venoms, toxins, plant alkaloids, and naturally occurring (and later synthezied) chemicals to defeat their enemies.For those interested in the history of military tactics, weaponry, toxicology, and biowarfare this books adds many news heuristics to consider. (Despite the title, there is very little space devoted to Greek fire. Readers might look to Alfred Crosby’s “Throwing Fire” for a more complete discussion on this subject.)

⭐Adrienne Mayor has breathed new life into ancient history by examining the evidence for biological and chemical warfare over two thousand years ago. There’s a lot of material there, much of it gleaned from evidence found in classical mythology and Homer’s epics. Mayor’s dedication to arcane research makes her conclusions about the use of infectious disease, poisonous reptiles and insects, and primitive but effective chemical weaponry comprehensible and convincing. Obviously, warfare in the ancient world was even dirtier, smellier, and nastier than it is today. Mayor also draws some interesting parallels between chemical warfare in ancient times and more recently, with some amazing new material. (The British actually used gas in Iraq before Saddam did!!)My only regret about this book is that it is limited pretty strictly to the classical or ancient world, finishing up with a brief look at the Mongols’ use of plague stricken bodies as projectiles against a city they were besieging in the 1300s. There is obviously plenty of material for a sequel, which I hope Mayor will eventually provide.

⭐A good book in discussing many aspects of warfare often glossed over or assumed with Hollywood hyperbole. At times I wish it was more specific and less philosophical, but that was enjoyable in its own way as well. If you seek a comprehensive understanding of historical warfare this book is a must.

⭐Adrienne Mayor’s book is the definitive work concerning ancient chemical and biological warfare. No library or knowledge of ancient warfare is complete without it. The book is topical in our current age as well as possessing a fascination all its own. The scholarship is sound and rendered enjoyable for everyone. I highly recommend Greek Fire for general and professional reading.

⭐I bought this book for a reference text for writing and it is proving useful, but not particularly entertaining.

⭐The product was exactly as described, the price was good, and the delivery time excellent. Thank you.

⭐What an amazing read! Who would have thought the Ancients we so skilled in chemical weapons and the use of nature in such a way. I re read sections of this from time to time as it is so fascinating.

⭐If you enjoy reading and learning about the ancient world, this study of classical warfare is truly one to put on your to-read list. The author draws upon actual ancient wars as well as mythological battles of heroes like Heracles to bring to life the belligerent nature of our ancient ancestors.

⭐Great to read. Her book on Mithridates is really worth reading too.

Keywords

Free Download Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs: Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World in EPUB format
Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs: Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World EPUB Free Download
Download Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs: Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World 2003 EPUB Free
Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs: Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World 2003 EPUB Free Download
Download Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs: Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World EPUB
Free Download Ebook Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs: Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World