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

Preface to the 2009 edition -- Historical time line -- The maps -- 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. A Comprehensive Look At Wmd's Antecedents, From Flamethrowers Of The Peloponnesian War To Plague-bearing Booby Traps.... Rich And Entertaining. -newsweek Featuring A New Introduction By The Author. Flamethrowers, Poison Gases, Incendiary Bombs, The Large-scale Spreading Of Disease... Are These Terrifying Agents And Implements Of Warfare Modern Inventions? Not By A Long Shot. Weapons Of Biological And Chemical Warfare Have Been In Use For Thousands Of Years, And Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs, Adrienne Mayor's Fascinating Exploration Of The Origins Of Biological And Unethical Warfare Draws Extraordinary Connections Between The Mythical Worlds Of Hercules And The Trojan War, The Accounts Of Herodotus And Thucydides, And Modern Methods Of War And Terrorism. Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs Will Catapult Readers Into The Dark And Fascinating Realm Of Ancient War And Mythic Treachery-and Their Devastating Consequences.