The Siege of Constantinople

The Battle of Blackwater Bay, one of the many spectacular scenes on the show, probably left viewers torn between wanting Stannis to truly punish the loathed Lannisters and simultaneously supporting Tyrion, the fan favorite and the sole redeeming Lannister. In the television series, our favorite dwarf outwits the more powerful Baratheon army with Wildfire, a deadly mixture that burns wood, steel, stone, and human flesh all at once.

This tiny ploy was probably inspired by the second conquest of Constantinople. Greek Fire, a material used in this fight, decisively destroyed the invading Arab army. One of the most potent and enigmatic weapons in ancient history was Greek fire. The name derives from the first recorded use of fire by besieged Greeks in the seventh century. Due to their unique capacity to continue burning while submerged in water, the Byzantines frequently used fire during naval battles in addition to the besieged Greeks. Greek fire's composition is still a mystery to historians, but experts speculate that it may have contained sulfur, quicklime, or pine resin.

Westeros' wildfire, used most effectively in one of Game of Thrones' best episodes "Blackwater", is clearly inspired by Greek fire, both are highly destructive, mysterious, and burn on water.