Panicked by Fire Attack

[Urg]

There are some references to the use of flaming arrows here.

I'll see if I can find some actual historical sources.

[Urg]

I'm really struggling to find any ancient Roman source which is definite about the use of flaming arrows.

Two web articles refer to the Romans using flaming arrows against elephants (a) at the battle of Beneventum against Pyrrhus, and (b) at the battle of Panormus against Hasdrubal, but when I checked the ancient sources I couldn't find any reference to flaming arrows at those battle.

I haven't checked the Greek sources.

Did anyone else find any ancient sources?

Is it possible that its just a myth. It certainly looks to be the (vary rare) exception rather than, as in TW, the rule.

[Aemilius Paulus]

I read that during Beneventum the velites used flaming javelins (vertum). No mention of flaming arrows. From a very trusted and renowned (in Russia) encyclopaedia.

[Urg]

I read that during Beneventum the velites used flaming javelins (vertum). No mention of flaming arrows. From a very trusted and renowned (in Russia) encyclopaedia.

What are the ancient sources the encyclopaedia relies on?

The only references to flaming "implements" used against Pyrrhus, that I could find, are these:

1. From Dionysius of Halicarnassus, XX, 1:6-7:

"Outside the line they stationed the light-armed troops and the waggons, three hundred in number, which they had got ready for the battle against the elephants. These waggons had upright beams on which were mounted movable traverse poles that could be swung round as quick as thought in any direction one might wish, and on the ends of the poles there were either tridents or swordlike spikes or scythes all of iron; or again they had cranes that hurled down heavy grappling-irons. Many of the poles had attached to them and projecting in front of the waggons fire-bearing grapnels wrapped in tow that had been liberally daubed with pitch, which men standing on the waggons were to set afire as soon as they came near the elephants and then rain blows with them upon the trunks and faces of the beasts."

2. From Cassius Dio / Zonoras, Book 10

The Romans, among other preparations, made ready, as a measure against the elephants, iron-pointed beams, mounted on waggons, and bristling in all directions. From these they intended to shoot fire and various missiles, in order to check the beasts.

(Nb. I have no idea why both translations spell wagon with a double 'g').

[Watchman]

"Waggon" is a perfectly valid, if rather archaic, word for the vehicle.

[Urg]

I finally found what looks like a reference to fire arrows, from Plutarch's life of Sulla, 9:6, concerning Sulla's entry into Rome with his army:

But by this time Sulla was at hand, and seeing what was going on, shouted orders to set fire to the houses, and seizing a blazing torch, led the way himself, and ordered his archers to use their fire-bolts and shoot them up at the roofs.

I can't read Greek so I have no idea whether the original Greek actually refers to fire-arrows, but the translation sounds like fire arrows.

Any other examples?

[Urg]

Also this, from Herodotus 8:52 (pre-EB period)

So the Persians taking their post upon the rising ground opposite the Acropolis, which the Athenians call the Hill of Ares, proceeded to besiege them in this fashion, that is they put tow round about their arrows and lighted it, and then shot them against the palisade.