Riordan Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Riordan Wiki

Greek Fire is a weapon used by the gods and demigods, and is described by most demigods as being "one of the most dangerous magical substances in the world."

History[]

It was an actual weapon used by the Byzantine Empire, which controlled Greece since 672 and soon before the Fall of Constantinople. Because of its effectiveness, similar fire-based weapons used by other empires alluded to Greek fire. Greek fire was a very dangerous weapon for the mortals that used it, and for the enemies. There were two types of Greek fire. The first one was a mixture of chemicals. The second was made by reflecting light off many polished shields (metal) or mirrors. Archimedes was the one who supposedly made Greek fire with mirrors. Mythbusters proved this can be done on their show. The chemical Greek fire was a lot more dangerous to make. Archaeologists still have not yet found the recipe for it due to the fact that it was a well kept secret. Even the different people who assembled the concoction only knew certain ingredients not all.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians[]

Greek fire burns green and can be made used as bombs. Greek fire can also burn underwater as shown in The Last Olympian when Percy goes to Poseidon's underwater palace. Greek fire is described as a swirling green liquid that explodes if dropped on the ground and the container is broken. It is also used as a decoration for Hades' Cabin at Camp Half-Blood.

The Sea of Monsters[]

Hephaestus' cabin used it during the chariot races. When Charles Beckendorf throws some into Percy Jackson's chariot, Percy shatters Beckendorf's blade with his Wristwatch Shield before using Riptide to fling the Greek fire back into the other chariot, destroying it.

The Battle of the Labyrinth[]

Greek fire was used to fend off the forces of Kronos who were invading the camp from the Labyrinth. A pack of Dracaenae gets hit by this substance during the battle.

The Last Olympian[]

Charles Beckendorf used Greek fire to blow up the Princess Andromeda, in order to slow down Kronos's army on his invasion of Mount Olympus. Percy escaped, but Beckendorf sacrificed himself. The Hephaestus campers also used Greek fire to defend the Holland Tunnel during the Battle of Manhattan. Later, before Percy battles Hyperion, the Titan is hit by a Greek fire bomb as he crosses the water. It as no effect, however, has he opens his palm and sucks up the flames.

The Heroes of Olympus[]

The Demigod Diaries []

The Diary of Luke Castellan[]

Luke Castellan, Thalia Grace, and Halcyon Green create a vial of Greek fire using ingredients found in Hal's room and a lightning bolt called down by Thalia after locating the recipe in one of the history books that he owns. They are successful in creating the deadly fire and Hal uses it to destroy the leucrotae evidently causing his death and allowing Luke and Thalia to escape.

The Mark of Athena []

Leo Valdez stocked the Argo II full of vials of Greek fire for the trip to Greece. When the Skolopendra attacked the ship, Leo managed to throw a vial of Greek fire down the creatures throat, scaring it away.

Between the Series[]

The Chalice of the Gods[]

A nervous Ganymede literally sweats Greek Fire during Zeus' brunch for Rhea.

The Trials of Apollo[]

The Tyrant's Tomb[]

Frank Zhang lines the walls of the Caldecott Tunnel with Greek fire as part of his trap for Caligula and Commodus. When Frank burns his stick to kill Caligula, the Greek fire is ignited, engulfing the tunnel. Apollo manages to get out, only to discover that he had failed to hobble Commodus enough for him to be more than burned in the fire, allowing Commodus to escape as well.

The Tower of Nero[]

After the defeat of Nero, Apollo witnesses Sherman Yang negotiating a division of the belongings of Triumvirate Holdings between Camp Half-Blood and the troglodytes, the two forces who defeated Nero and thus have claim to his property as spoils of war. Apollo suspects that Camp Half-Blood is about to be flush with Greek Fire and Imperial gold weapons while the trogs will have a fabulous new selection of haberdashery and whatever lizards and rocks they can find.

Known Ingredients[]

  • Nectar
  • Alcohol
  • Pitch from old torches
  • Quicklime (calcium oxide)
  • Saltpeter
  • Bitumen from tar
  • Sulfur
  • Resin
  • A catalyst (electricity)
Items
Personal Weapons: Riptide | Annabeth's Knife | Backbiter | Master Bolt | Poseidon's Trident | Nico's Sword | Thalia's Spear | Aegis | Ares' Sword | Ares' Shield | Caduceus | Apollo's Golden Bow | Silver Bow | Artemis' Knives | Hades' Sword | Hades' Staff | Kronos' Scythe | Ivlivs | Katoptris | Hazel's Spatha | Frank's Spear | Reyna's Spear | Juno's Gladius | Annabeth's Sword | Sumarbrander | Gungnir | Gjallar | Mjolnir | Gríðarvölr | Khopesh | Mallory's Serrated Knives | Meg's Twin Imperial Gold siccae blades | Thyrsus | Hecate's Torches | Minotaur's Axe | Leroy's Sword | Tyson's Javelin | Alex's Garrote Wire | Piper's Sword
Magical Items: Annabeth's Yankees Cap | Helm of Darkness | Pandora's Pithos | Winged Shoes | Golden Fleece | Flying Chariot | Golden Apple | Apples of Immortality | Greek Fire | Hermes' Multivitamins | Nectar and Ambrosia | Stygian Ice Whistle | Keys of Hades | Leo's Magical Toolbelt | Serapis' Staff | Magic 8 Ball | Arrow of Dodona | Pig Ball | Mechanical Spider | Angel Statues | Athena Parthenos | Chiron's Wheelchair | Diocletian's Scepter | Flaming Dodgeball | Gleipnir | Poseidon's Pearls | Queen Hippolyta's Belt | Mistletoe Arrow | Frank's Stick | Expand-o-Duck | Caligula's Caligae | Ran's Net | Rune Stones | Nábrók | Pomegranate
Spoils of War: Minotaur's Horn | Medusa's Head | Kampê's Scimitars | Nemean Lion's Pelt | Gorgon Blood | Cornucopia | Lydian Drakon Hide | Phineas' Robe and Slippers | Triptolemus's Almanac | Odysseus' Astrolabe
Items: Camp Necklace | Chameleon Armor | Daedalus' Laptop | Golden drachma | Denarius | Red Gold | Mark of Athena | Thalia's Shield | Video Shield | Wristwatch Shield | Golden Mango | Sibylline Books | Letter of Recommendation
Ships Amos' Boat | Argo II | CSS Birmingham | Egyptian Queen | Julia Drusilla Yachts | Pax | Queen Anne's Revenge | Reed Boat | Naglfar | Gorgyra's Canoe
Blessed Metals: Adamantine | Celestial Bronze | Imperial Gold | Stygian Iron | Bone Steel
Advertisement