Religious Rites

• A number of early civilizations used sulphur for spiritual purposes. They burned this substance to ward off evil spirits from their homes. Pagan priests regularly used it in religious ceremonies in temples and elsewhere. This sulphur is called brimstone by many early Christian speakers and writers, which is why fiery preaching against paganism was called a fire-and-brimstone sermon.
  
  

Fumigation

• Ancient Greeks and Romans used sulphur for similar religious reasons but also recognized sulphur's additional property as a fumigant. Burned in homes of sick people to drive away evil spirits, this substance's fumes also drove out insects and left the residence a healthier place. They manufactured special bricks of sulphur to be burned for this purpose.
  
  

Pyrotechnics

• Romans learned how to make fiery displays with sulphur. The Roman circus used it to amaze onlookers and entertain the populace. These inventions led to sulphur's use in some primitive incendiary weapons but this use was eventually forgotten after Rome's decline, and Europe would not rediscover this use for sulphur until contacts with the East were re-established.
  
  

Medicine

• Sulphur found use among many ancient peoples in various balms. It was used in medicinal concoctions as an anti-parasitic agent. Ancient Chinese cooks mixed it with saltpeter and charcoal to remedy indigestion. They discovered, however, when this compound was left to dry it formed a black powder. When set on fire, this black powder exploded.
  
  

Weaponry

• The most famous use for sulphur was as a weapon. After this discovery, the Chinese designed arrows that would burn and explode, terrifying their enemies. They launched projectiles from rocket tubes with the force of an explosion of black powder. They developed small grenade-like bombs full of this substance. In the 13th century, the Chinese invented numerous kinds of guns that used this black powder to fire bullets long distances.