Callinicus of Heliopolis

Kallinikos or Latinized Callinicus (Greek: Καλλίνικος fl. 650 AD) was an architect and chemist from Heliopolis of Syria or Heliopolis of Egypt. He is credited with the invention of the Greek fire. According to Constantine Porphyrogenitus, Callinicus was a refugee from Syria who arrived in Byzantium in the time of Constantine IV and shared his knowledge of liquid fire with the Byzantines.[1] From interpretations of the texts it has been suggested that the liquid was distributed via siphons or instruments termed as strepta. The fire was supposedly not possible to put out with water. Some have suggested that this was made using a mix of resin, asphalt, sulfur, naphtha, and fine quicklime or calcium phosphide.[2]

References

Paul J. Alexander, "The Strength of Empire and Capital as Seen through Byzantine Eyes," Speculum 37.3 (1962) 347.
Cheronis, Nicholas D. (1937). "Chemical warfare in the middle ages. Kallinikos' "prepared fire"". Journal of Chemical Education. 14 (8): 360. doi:10.1021/ed014p360. ISSN 0021-9584.

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[1] Paul J. Alexander, "The Strength of Empire and Capital as Seen through Byzantine Eyes," Speculum 37.3 (1962) 347.

[2] Cheronis, Nicholas D. (1937). "Chemical warfare in the middle ages. Kallinikos' "prepared fire"". Journal of Chemical Education. 14 (8): 360. doi:10.1021/ed014p360. ISSN 0021-9584.