The Greek warrior Achilles treats Telephus’s poisoned wound on a first century A.D. bas-relief found in Herculaneum.

These ancient Greek weapons were quite literally toxic

Whether laced with viper venom, poison gas, or deadly pathogens—these weapons of war relied on nature's armory to slay the enemy.

Poison in the wound

The Greek warrior Achilles treats Telephus’s festering injuries by scraping rust from his spear into the wound. First century A.D., bas-relief, Herculaneum.
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