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Mythology adds zest to this fascinating survey of man's inhumanity to man. In Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs - Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World, Adrienne Mayor demonstrates how only minor details regarding how best to destroy one's enemy have changed over the millennia.



Pros

• Filled with details about ancient poisons and warfare
• Goes as far back as possible using mythology

• Well written and researched
• Provides background for the relevant ancient history
• Because of the wealth of detail, it's a very memorable book

Cons

• If you don't like folklore mixed with history, you may object to the evidence

Description

• Even crafty Odysseus, known for his trickery, was honor bound to refrain in some situations.
  
• The venom that Hercules dipped his weapons in was the first biological weapon.
• Greek (Xenophon) and Roman (Pompey) armies were almost defeated by eating rhododendron honey.
• The scorpion bomb in the title is meant literally. Mice, hornets, and gadflies were also used.
• Today's uses for bees include chemical detection.
• Ancient incendiary devices contained sulphur, resins, tar, and petroleum.
• Describes Mithridates and other skilled poisoners.

Guide Review - Review of Adrienne Mayor's Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs

In Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs - Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World, Adrienne Mayor does a masterful job of showing how everything modern in the areas of terrorism and warfare has ancient antecedents.

While ancient warriors had codes of behavior, these standards seem more fluid than fixed and depend on who is doing the dirty deed. "Vile tricks and treachery" might be "shameful to any true warrior," but even in the Hindu Laws of Manu, which condemns attacking sleeping enemies, encourages polluting the enemy's water. Causing unnecessary suffering or harming non-combatants is forbidden in Sun Tzu's Art of War, but toxic smoke is not. Hypocrisy is rampant.

Warfare, whether ancient or modern, seems patterned on the many-headed hydra that Hercules subdued: each head he sliced, sprouted two more in its place. Even after Hercules learned to burn the stump, he was unable to stem the original source of venom. The best he could do was staunch the flow by burying the head -- just like nuclear waste today. The incredible forces unleashed by man in his efforts to destroy the enemy have gone on from the mythological era.

Even religious organizations have used bacterial warfare as a passive means of punishment. From a temple of Apollo and the Ark of the Covenant from the Temple of the Jews may have sprung fomites that spread plagues against the infidels.

Greek Fire is fascinating.

Also see Adrienne Mayor's The Poison King - The Life and Legend of Mithradates.