Greek fire, poison arrows, and scorpion bombs : biological and chemical warfare in the ancient world
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references (p. [295]-305] and index. Introduction: War outside the rules -- Hercules and the Hydra: The invention of biological weapons -- Alexander the Great and the arrows of doom -- Poison waters, deadly vapors -- A casket of plague in the temple of Babylon -- Sweet sabotage -- Animal allies and scorpion bombs -- Infernal fire -- Afterword: The many-headed Hydra. From myth to history, Hercules to Hannibal, battle-elephants to bubonic plague, Greek Fire to napalm, onward and upward, here it is - carefully documented, expansive in scope and told with brio, irony, and outrage - the sorry story of man's genius for turning natural forces into weapons of mass destruction. [In this volume, the author] offers a ... look at the unorthodox and scary ways in which ancient armies sought to poison, burn, and infect their enemies. -- dust jacket.