The Rinella water tanks have seen it all - only last week, they provided the setting for the 1453 Siege of Constantinople, as well as the testing ground for a mysterious weapon, an "incendiary firing catapult", which was used at the time.
Bright flames were sent shooting across the surface of the tank as a team of experts tried to solve the mystery of the weapon and reproduce it, using only ancient materials and techniques.

This article was published by The Times October 29 2002. The full article can be read at timesofmalta.com.