Biological warfare

[beausefaless]

Did Alexander exploit poisons to his advantage? Heracles, one of Alexander's heroes of ancient history, slew the gigantic, poisonous water-serpent Hydra. He dipped his arrows in the monster's venom, creating the first biological weapon described in Western literature. The "Iliad" provides several clues to primitive biological warfare. When Menelaus was wounded by a Trojan arrow, for example, the doctor Machaon rushed to suck out the "black blood." This treatment is the emergency remedy for snake bite and poisoned arrow wounds in real life. Indeed, snake venom does cause black, oozing wounds. The snake species used in the Trojan War were vipers as their dried venom remains deadly for a long time when smeared on an arrowhead. Odysseus, whose weapon of choice was arrows smeared with poison, aconite (monkshood or wolfbane), black hellebore (the Christmas rose of the buttercup family), henbane (Hyoscamus niger), hemlock, yew berries and belladonna (deadly nightshade ) indeed, Odysseus, the archer renowned for crafty tricks, was one of the first to poison arrows with plant toxins. Other toxic substances used for arrows and spears included venomous jellyfish, poison frogs, dung mixed with petrified blood, the toxic insides of insects, sea urchins and stingray spines.
Greek fire was invented later but botanists did accompany Alexander's army. I'm trying to recall if there was any kind of biological warfare Alexander incorporated into his battles. I would appreciate any thoughts, in advance I thank you for you time.

[iskander_32]

AndewHi im sure poisone were used in warefare as in the same token of assasination,by undehanded weekling who didnt have the gots to try kill the vivtim personally.Basically I thing these tecniques were below Alexander he relished the challenge head on without these tactics,when Advised my Parmenio on a night attack Alexander replied he wouldnt steal a victory.Alexander followed Achiles who must also have been poisoned as I wouldnt think an arrow to the heel would be fatal , but it killed Alexanders hero.I would have thought such notions would give Alexander a bad taste in himself.Only my opinion, he may have but well never knowregardskenny

[ruthaki]

Can't say for sure, Andrew, but considering some of his enemies were using poison arrows it would not be surprising.

[Tre]

I recall that it is mentioned the arrows of the Indians were poisoned, i.e. when Ptolemy was injured.

[marcus]

However, I'm pretty sure that the Greeks were against using poisons, as it was a characteristic of barbarians. I know this was definitely true as far as using poison as an assassination tool was concerned - I can only infer that they would have felt the same about using poison on weapons.All the bestMarcus