The ideas of destroying the enemy with the help of deadly forces of nature originated in ancient times and are developing throughout human history. Archaeological finds and evidence of more than 50 ancient authors show that biological and chemical weapons were actively used in real battles - in Europe and the Mediterranean, in North Africa, in Mesopotamia, in Anatolia, in the Asian steppes, and without the use of means of mass destruction, the warring parties could not achieve major successes. Among those who used biochemical weapons or became victims of them were such famous personalities as Hannibal, Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. The supplemented edition of the book by the venerable Western historian Adrienne Mayor shows the depth and scale of the use of biological and chemical weapons in the Ancient World and related practical problems and ethical issues. The time span is almost 3,000 years from the Middle Eastern records of 1500 BC. e. and archaic Greek myths, first collected by Homer around 750-650 years. BC e., there is evidence of Latin authors - from the founding of Rome to the late Roman Empire of the VI century. n e. Presented material on the use of biological and chemical weapons in China, Japan, India, both Americas, Persia, Central Asia and Islamic states. Being in constant contact with historians, scientists, archaeologists and other researchers of ancient and modern biological and chemical weapons, the author provides new facts about the toxic weapons of the past and about modern weapons.