Good old Mythbusters, even the old shows are great to watch repeatedly.
I saw the Archimedes mirrors episode again and it set me to thinking on its possibilities.
A theory for consideration springs to mind (well at the least sluggishly flows) :
The translation or the telling of the deed may have been slightly off and the mirrors (shields) NOT used to start fires but were used to blind the invaders by reflection in order to increase the effect of Greek fire / hurled or catapulted pitch fire balls.
Flames would be harder to spot giving the fire a greater chance of catching properly. Incoming projectiles would be harder to spot and deflect / dodge while return fire from the ships would be disrupted and commanders, easily targeted (due to dress), would find it harder to properly observe if constantly being blinded.
Similar tactics were used in WW1 and 2, with high power spotlights used at sea to blind enemy ships and on land to pinpoint and blind bomber aircraft.
So… what do ya think? busted, plausible?
Worth an experiment by someone?
Could be fun to use as an excuse for an reenactment battle, I wonder if Govt funding would be available?