The most ingenious and horrific device at their disposal.

[**The following takes place during the Siege of Tyre by Alexander the Great’s forces.**] >The Tyrians, who had been long awaiting this moment [**Alexander’s assault on the walls**], fought back with ferocious courage. >The most ingenious and horrific device at their disposal was also the simplest. They filled a number of huge metal bowls with sand and fine gravel, and then heated this mixture until it was almost incandescent. The bowls were mounted on the parapet, each with a tipping mechanism, so that its contents could be emptied over any assailant who came within range. The red-hot sand sifted down inside breastplates and shirts, burning deep into the flesh: an appallingly effective forerunner of napalm. ___________________________ **Source:** Green, Peter. “Intimations of Immortality.” Alexander of Macedon: 356-323 B.C.: A Historical Biography. Univ. of California Press, 2005. 260. Print. ___________________________ **Further Reading:** [Siege of Tyre (332 BC)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Tyre_(332_BC\)) _________________________________ **Edit:** A user on Reddit wanted to see an extra post today, so my Phuks readers will get one also :)