Use of a portable Byzantine flamethrower for Greek fire from atop a flying bridge against a castle. Illumination from the Poliorcetica of Hero of Byzantium.
927-8 was a terrible winter. The suffering of the common people led many to sell their farms to their wealthy neighbours. Romanus legislated quickly to put a stop to it. Meanwhile John Kourkouas led the army into Armenia with Melitene in his sights.
Period: 927-931
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The History of Byzantium 
Do you have any sources on the handheld flamethrower? Im studying the period but have never heard of that.Appreciate it!
Ummm… The caption on the above figure (containing a rendering of the “portable flamethrower”) suggests a source.
“Use of a portable Byzantine flamethrower for Greek fire from atop a flying bridge against a castle. Illumination from the Poliorcetica of Hero of Byzantium.”
Likewise, the rendering appears on the Wikipedia page for that source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poliorcetica
Yes wikipedia furnished me with info about this particular illustration.
My guide to the narrative details is Runciman’s “The Emperor Romanus Lecapenus and His Reign.”
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