WI: Gunpowder invented in Athens during the Golden Age of Classical Greece

Where did you pull the 4 centuries figure from? The first Chinese cannons came about into use in the 12th century. The Mongols were using gunpowder weapons to relatively great extent in the 13th century.
an average number. It was first invented n ~900 AD after all. Cannons using black powder only came In the early to mid 1200s.
 
an average number. It was first invented n ~900 AD after all. Cannons using black powder only came In the early to mid 1200s.
I'd say more of an exaggeration than average tbf. As I mentioned the Song dynasty was using black powder weapons in the 1100s which is more like a couple centuries than four.

I don't see the Greeks taking much longer than that to implement gunpowder into weaponry, especially with their history with Greek fire and the like.
 
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I wonder how would it affect close formation hoplights when they developped the hwatcha. And use it against the hoplights. How would they react
 
I think if the Greeks stumble on gunpowder they will use it. It is too useful in warfare not to be used. First they will use it in sapping. They will probably invent cannon but not muskets. Privative cannon should not be that difficult to make. They probably would be fairly heavy cannon that would be slow and difficult to move but I think they would have them. I don't think metallurgy was developed enough for light cannon.
 
If you take your standard long neck Greek urn, pour in black powder, stone chips & pebbles put a rope soaked in oil down the neck to act as a wick seal it in with clay and you have a primitive bomb with timer fuse. Larger ones could be flung with a catapult, smaller ones thrown by hand or with some string like a slingshot or even just left buried as your forces retreat so they explode as the enemy charges over them.
 
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