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Early thermal weapons
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Early thermal weapons, which used heat or burning action to destroy or damage enemy personnel, fortifications or territories, were employed in warfare during the ancient and post-classical periods.
The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans Under the Command of Titus, A.D. 70, by David Roberts (1850), shows the city burning
The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans Under the Command of Titus, A.D. 70, by David Roberts (1850), shows the city burning
Normans use torches to fire the wooden keep on a motte at Dinan, 1064, Bayeux Tapestry
Normans use torches to fire the wooden keep on a motte at Dinan, 1064, Bayeux Tapestry
Chinese fire ships from the Wujing Zongyao military manuscript, 1044, Song dynasty
Chinese fire ships from the Wujing Zongyao military manuscript, 1044, Song dynasty
Two fire arrows (crossbow bolts). Southern Germany, ca. 15th century, with preserved incendiary mixture of saltpeter, charcoal, sulphur and textile on
Two fire arrows (crossbow bolts). Southern Germany, ca. 15th century, with preserved incendiary mixture of saltpeter, charcoal, sulphur and textile on the shaft.
Fire arrow
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Fire arrows were one of the earliest forms of weaponized gunpowder, being used from the 9th century onward. Not to be confused with earlier incendiary arrow projectiles, the fire arrow was a gunpowder
Early thermal weapons
…the sea. The noise and the cries which came from the town were very great by reason of the havoc that was wrought." The Chinese Song dynasty created fire arrows – arrows with pouches of gunpowder, which were launched en masse through platforms, and later created rockets such as the huo long chu shui, a multistage…
An arrow strapped with gunpowder ready to be shot from a bow. From the Huolongjing
An arrow strapped with gunpowder ready to be shot from a bow. From the Huolongjing
Depiction of rocket arrows, from the Huolongjing. The right arrow reads 'fire arrow', the middle is an 'arrow frame in the shape of a dragon' and the
Depiction of rocket arrows, from the Huolongjing. The right arrow reads 'fire arrow', the middle is an 'arrow frame in the shape of a dragon' and the left is a 'complete fire arrow'.
Arabic illustration showing a gunpowder arrow on the left, fireworks in the middle, and a midfa (fire lance or hand cannon) on the right, from Rzevusk
Arabic illustration showing a gunpowder arrow on the left, fireworks in the middle, and a midfa (fire lance or hand cannon) on the right, from Rzevuski MS, c. 1320-1350