 The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea mentions the use of a flame-thrower by the Early Cholas of India by around 50 AD , and the usage of flamethrowers by the later Imperial Cholas during the Battle of Kedah in the 11th century is depicted in an Siamese mural.Although flamethrowers were never used in the American Civil War, the use of Greek fire was threatened, and flamethrowers have been in use in most modern conflicts ever since.The English word "flamethrower" is a loan-translation of the German word "Flammenwerfer", since the modern flamethrower was invented in Germany.