Archimedes: The Greatest Mind in Ancient History

Summary

This video delves into the life of Archimedes, the ancient Greek mathematician and inventor, renowned for his contributions to geometry and physics. Born in Syracuse, he invented the 'Archimedes Screw' for irrigation and defended his city from Roman invasion with innovative war machines. His work on the principle of buoyancy and the law of the lever laid the groundwork for fluid mechanics and engineering. Despite his death during the Roman conquest of Syracuse, his legacy endures, influencing future generations with his theorems and equations.

Takeaways

• 😎 Archimedes was an ancient Greek inventor and mathematician renowned as one of the greatest minds in human history.
• 🏰 He was born in Syracuse, Sicily, and was the son of a renowned mathematician and astronomer, possibly of noble descent.
• 🔧 Archimedes invented the 'Archimedes Screw', a device for lifting water that revolutionized irrigation and is still used today.
• 🌟 His work in geometry and physics laid the foundation for many principles that are now considered laws of physics.
• 🏹 During the Roman invasion, Archimedes designed innovative defensive weapons that helped Syracuse resist Roman attacks for two years.
• 🏺 The story of the golden crown led to the discovery of the Archimedes Principle, which is fundamental to fluid mechanics.
• 🚢 King Hieron II commissioned Archimedes to build the luxurious ship 'The Syracusia', demonstrating his understanding of buoyancy and hydrostatics.
• ⚖️ Archimedes is famous for stating 'Give me a place to stand, and I will move the Earth', showcasing his understanding of the lever principle.
• 📚 His work 'On the Measurement of the Circle' calculated Pi, and he developed a system of exponents to describe large numbers.
• ⚔️ Despite Roman orders to spare him, Archimedes was killed by a soldier during the capture of Syracuse, with his last words being 'Do not disturb my circles!'
• 📜 The Archimedes Palimpsest, discovered in 1906, was a significant find, revealing hidden original works of Archimedes that had been overwritten in the Middle Ages.

Q & A

Who sponsored the video about Archimedes?

The video about Archimedes was sponsored by Brilliant.

What significant contributions did Archimedes make to the field of mathematics?

Archimedes made significant contributions to mathematics including inventing the 'Archimedes Screw', developing the principles of buoyancy and hydrostatics, creating the law of the lever and balance, and calculating mathematical constants such as Pi.

What was the 'Archimedes Screw' and how did it revolutionize life in Syracuse?

The 'Archimedes Screw' was a spiral-shaped device used for lifting water from a lower to a higher level, which made it easier to fill buckets with water and drain wells. It revolutionized life in Syracuse by improving irrigation and water management.

How did Archimedes prove the purity of the golden crown made for King Hieron?

Archimedes proved the purity of the golden crown by using the principle of displacement. He compared the amount of water displaced by a known weight of pure gold with that displaced by the crown, thus revealing if any cheaper metal was used.

What is the historical significance of the phrase 'Eureka!' in relation to Archimedes?

The phrase 'Eureka!' is historically significant as it is attributed to Archimedes upon his discovery of the principle of displacement in water, which helped him determine the purity of the golden crown. It signifies a moment of great insight or discovery.

What was the 'Archimedes Claw' and how did it function as a defense mechanism?

The 'Archimedes Claw' was a war machine used during the Roman invasion of Syracuse. It functioned by attaching to enemy ships, lifting them out of the water, and dropping them, causing the ships to capsize and sink.

How did Archimedes contribute to the defense of Syracuse during the Roman invasion?

Archimedes contributed to the defense of Syracuse by inventing war machines such as the claw, catapults, and possibly 'burning mirrors' that reflected sunlight to set fire to Roman ships, which helped the city resist the Roman invasion for two years.

What is the Archimedes Principle and how did it originate?

The Archimedes Principle states that the upward buoyant force exerted on a body immersed in a fluid is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the body. It originated from Archimedes' work to determine the purity of the golden crown for King Hieron.

How did Archimedes' work with levers and pulleys demonstrate his understanding of physics?

Archimedes demonstrated his understanding of physics by stating that with a lever and fulcrum, he could move the Earth. He used this principle to lift heavy objects and ships, showcasing the mechanical advantage provided by levers and pulleys.

What is the significance of the sphere and cylinder inscribed on Archimedes' tomb?

The sphere and cylinder inscribed on Archimedes' tomb represent his discovery that the volume and surface area of a sphere are two-thirds that of the circumscribing cylinder, which he considered one of his greatest achievements.

How was the lost work of Archimedes, the Archimedes Palimpsest, discovered and restored?

The Archimedes Palimpsest was discovered in 1906 buried within an old Christian text. It was restored by a team called The Friends of Archimedes, who spent over four years using various techniques to reveal the hidden text, and made it available online for public access.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Early Life and Inventions of Archimedes

Archimedes, born in 287 BC in Syracuse, Sicily, was the son of a mathematician and astronomer. He studied in Egypt and is believed to have been of noble descent. His first invention, the Archimedes Screw, was a spiral device for water transportation, which was later used in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Despite his achievements, little is known about his personal life, and many of his works were lost over time. Archimedes was known for his intense focus on work, often neglecting basic needs. His most famous anecdote involves discovering the principle of displacement while bathing, leading to the exclamation 'Eureka!', which is still used today to signify a significant discovery.

05:03

🏺 The Golden Crown and Archimedes' Principle

The story of the golden crown is a legendary tale where King Hieron suspected a goldsmith of fraud. Archimedes was tasked with determining the crown's purity. His 'Eureka' moment in the bath led to the Archimedes Principle, which is fundamental to fluid mechanics and is still applied in engineering. Some historians doubt the authenticity of the story, suggesting it may be a simplified or symbolic tale. Regardless, the principle is real and has had a lasting impact on physics and engineering, including the design of modern cruise ships and mega-yachts.

10:07

🛠️ Archimedes' Ingenious Inventions and Theoretical Contributions

Archimedes was commissioned by King Hieron II to build the luxurious ship Syracusia, which was an engineering marvel for its time. He applied the Law of Buoyancy to ensure its flotation. Archimedes is also known for his work on the Law of the Lever and Balance, famously stating, 'Give me a place to stand, and I will move the Earth.' His simple machines revolutionized construction and engineering. His geometric equations, particularly his work on the Measurement of the Circle, calculating Pi, and his system of exponents, were groundbreaking. Archimedes' approach of using math to prove theories before experimentation laid the foundation for much of modern physics.

15:11

🏰 The Roman Invasion and Archimedes' War Machines

During the Second Punic War, Syracuse faced Roman invasion. Despite being in his 70s, Archimedes developed formidable defense mechanisms, including the Archimedes Claw, which could capsize enemy ships, and catapults that could destroy them. He is also credited with the use of 'burning mirrors' to set Roman ships on fire. These inventions held off the Romans for two years. However, Syracuse eventually fell, and Archimedes was killed by a Roman soldier during the conquest, reportedly while working on mathematical drawings, with his last words being 'Do not disturb my circles!' His death was a loss to the scientific community, and his tomb, marked by a sphere and cylinder, became a site of reverence for his mathematical achievements.

📜 Legacy and Rediscovery of Archimedes' Work

After his death, Archimedes' tomb fell into disrepair but was later rediscovered and restored by the Roman statesman Cicero. Over time, many of Archimedes' works were lost, but the Archimedes Palimpsest, a manuscript hidden within a religious text, was discovered in 1906. This led to a meticulous restoration process that revealed his original writings. The restored works were made available online, contributing to the ongoing study of Archimedes' contributions to mathematics, science, and engineering. His influence endures, and without his work, the fields of modern technology and theoretical physics would be significantly different.

Keywords

💡Archimedes

Archimedes was an ancient Greek inventor and mathematician renowned for his contributions to science and engineering. In the video, he is portrayed as one of the greatest minds in human history, with his theorems becoming laws of physics and his equations essential for future generations. His work in geometry and invention of devices like the 'Archimedes Screw' are highlighted, showcasing his impact on both theoretical and practical applications.

💡Archimedes Screw

The 'Archimedes Screw' is a device invented by Archimedes, which is a spiral-shaped tool used for lifting water from a lower to a higher level. It revolutionized irrigation and was used in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. In the video, it is mentioned as one of Archimedes' first inventions, illustrating his practical ingenuity and its continued relevance in modern irrigation systems.

💡Geometry

Geometry is a branch of mathematics that deals with the properties, measurement, and relationships of points, lines, surfaces, and solids. In the video, Archimedes' passion for geometry is emphasized, as it was his favorite area of study. His work in this field is exemplified by his theorems and equations that have become fundamental to the discipline, such as his work on the relationship between a sphere and a cylinder.

💡Eureka

The term 'Eureka' is famously associated with Archimedes, as he is said to have shouted 'Eureka!' upon discovering a method to determine the purity of gold. In the video, this moment is depicted as a significant breakthrough in his work, leading to the formulation of the Archimedes Principle. It has since become a universal exclamation of discovery or a solution to a problem.

💡Archimedes Principle

The Archimedes Principle is a law of physics that describes the buoyancy of objects submerged in a fluid, stating that the upward buoyant force exerted on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. The video narrates how Archimedes discovered this principle while taking a bath, which led to his running naked through the streets shouting 'Eureka!', marking a pivotal moment in the history of fluid mechanics.

💡Law of the Lever

The Law of the Lever, also known as the principle of moments, states that for a lever at rest, the product of the force and its distance from the fulcrum (force arm) is equal to the product of the resistance and its distance from the fulcrum (resistance arm). In the video, Archimedes is credited with formulating this law, which he used to demonstrate that with the right leverage, he could move heavy objects, including ships, showcasing his understanding of mechanics and forces.

💡Syracusia

The Syracusia was a massive ship commissioned by King Hieron II and designed by Archimedes. It was one of the largest boats of its time, requiring the materials for 60 ships and taking over a year to construct. The video describes its luxurious interior and the engineering feat of making it float, which was achieved through Archimedes' understanding of the Law of Buoyancy.

💡Second Punic War

The Second Punic War was a conflict between Rome and Carthage, which included the Roman siege of Syracuse. In the video, Archimedes' role in defending Syracuse against the Romans is highlighted, where he invented war machines that held off the invaders for two years. This period exemplifies Archimedes' transition from a theoretical mathematician to a practical engineer and inventor.

💡Archimedes Claw

The 'Archimedes Claw' was a war machine designed by Archimedes to defend Syracuse during the Roman siege. It was a crane-like device that could grasp Roman ships and overturn them, causing significant damage to the Roman fleet. The video describes this invention as one of Archimedes' most powerful weapons, demonstrating his ability to apply scientific principles to warfare.

💡Pi

Pi, or π, is a mathematical constant representing the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, which is approximately 3.14159. In the video, Archimedes' work in calculating the value of Pi is mentioned, particularly in his publication 'On the Measurement of the Circle'. His calculations were foundational to understanding the properties of circles and are still relevant in modern mathematics and engineering.

Highlights

Archimedes was a renowned ancient Greek inventor and mathematician, with his work influencing the fields of science and engineering.

His theorems became foundational in physics, and his equations were essential for future scientific generations.

Archimedes was passionate about geometry and invented war machines to defend Syracuse from Roman invasions.

Born in 287 BC, Archimedes was the son of Phidias, a mathematician and astronomer.

He traveled to Egypt for education, suggesting possible noble descent or relation to King Hieron II of Syracuse.

The 'Archimedes Screw' was one of his early inventions, used for irrigation and water management.

The screw's efficiency led to its use in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Little is known about Archimedes' personal life, with historical records being scarce and often lost.

Archimedes was known for his deep focus and dedication to his work, sometimes neglecting basic needs.

The story of the golden crown illustrates Archimedes' discovery of the principle of displacement, leading to the Archimedes Principle.

The principle of buoyancy, or the Law of Buoyancy, was a significant discovery that influenced the design of ships.

Archimedes invented 'The Syracusia,' an extravagant vessel showcasing his understanding of hydrostatics.

He is credited with inventing the lever, pulley, and screw, which were revolutionary simple machines.

Archimedes' work in geometry included calculating Pi and developing the system of exponents for large numbers.

During the Roman invasion, Archimedes created defense weapons like The Archimedes Claw and various catapults.

He was also credited with the use of 'burning mirrors' to set Roman ships on fire by reflecting sunlight.

Archimedes was killed by a Roman soldier during the capture of Syracuse, despite orders to preserve him.

His tomb, representing his mathematical achievements, was later found and preserved by the Roman statesman Cicero.

The Archimedes Palimpsest, a lost work rediscovered in 1906, provided new insights into his mathematical contributions.

Archimedes' work has had a profound impact on modern math, science, and engineering, shaping the world as we know it.

Transcripts

This video is made possible by Brilliant.

You'll learn more about Brilliant later in todays video, but if you would like to learn

more about them right now, go to Brilliant.org/biographics.

You'll also find a link in the description below!

Archimedes was the ancient Greek inventor and mathematician who is remembered for being

one of the greatest minds in all of human history.

His theorems became laws of physics, and his equations became essential for future generations

of scientists and engineers.

While his great passion in life was the study geometry, Archimedes also used his mind to

invent weapons of war that successfully defended the city of Syracuse from Roman invaders.

On today’s Biographic, we tell the story of a man whose legacy has lasted thousands

of years.

A Life of Academic Achievement

Archimedes was born in 287 BC in the city of Syracuse, which is located on the east

coast of the island of Sicily.

He was the son of Phidias, who was a renowned mathematician and astronomer.

When he completed his basic education in Sicily, Archimedes traveled to Egypt to complete his

education.

At the time, the city of Alexandria was known for being one of the greatest places to receive

an education in the entire world.

Of course, not everyone can afford to send their child to Egypt for school, which leads

people to believe that he may have been descended from nobility.

Many scholars claim that he was a relative of King Hieron II, who was the ruler of Syracuse

at that time.

When Archimedes returned to Syracuse after completing his education, he arrived with

the object that is credited as one of his first inventions.

This was known as the “Archimedes Screw”.

Scholars believe that Archimedes could have borrowed the idea from something that had

already existed in Egypt, but bringing it to Greece it truly revolutionized life for

people living in Syracuse.

This was a spiral-shaped device that could be placed into a river or a ditch of water,

and when you turn the handle, water travels uphill.

This made it incredibly easy to fill a bucket with water, and to drain an underground well

or ditch.

The device is now named after him, called the Archimedes Screw.

It would later be used to water the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which became one of the

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The Archimedes Screw is so efficient, it is still sometimes to irrigate fields to this

very day.

Aside from these details of his achievements, we don’t know very much about the personal

life of Archimedes.

He actually did give the details of his life to his friend and biographer, Heracleides,

but the text was lost over the course of time.

We don’t even know if he was ever married, or had any children.

But the stories of his greatest achievements were based down through the years, which is

how they still survived today.

Many of these stories seem so outlandish, that they are often debated, and some historians

consider to be legends.

At the very least, we do know Archimedes’ personality.

According to the Greek biographer Plutarch, Archimedes was so hyper-focused on his work,

that it became the most important thing in his life.

He often forgot to take cadre of his basic human needs.

"(Archimedes would) forget his food and neglect his person, to the degree that when he was

occasionally carried by absolute violence to bathe or have his body anointed.

He used to trace geometrical figures in the ashes of the fire, and diagrams in the oil

on his body.

(He was) in a state of entire preoccupation and, in the truest sense, divine possession

with his love and delight in science."

The Golden Grown

One of the most famous stories about Archimedes is that of the golden crown.

This story was originally recorded during the first century BC by a Roman architect

named Vitruvius, based on the tale that had been passed down for generations by word-of-mouth.

It has been retold again and again ever since.

As the story goes, a local goldsmith in Syracuse was commissioned to create a golden wreath

crown out of pure gold.

These crowns were placed on the heads of the statues of the Greek Gods and Goddesses in

order to pay tribute to them.

However, once King Hieron got the crown back, he was surprised by its weight.

He believed that the goldsmith possibly swindled him out of some of his gold by creating the

crown by using silver, and then plating it with gold.

However, he had no way to prove that without damaging the crown.

Archimedes was given the task of figuring out of a golden crown was truly made of pure

gold, or if it was simply a gold-plating on a cheaper metal.

After he was given this problem to solve, he became obsessed with it, and this was all

that he could think of day and night.

He would write down mathematical equations without positive results.

Just like always, he stopped eating, sleeping, and bathing while he tried to solve the problem.

Eventually, his students dragged him into the bath house to clean himself, because he

was beginning to seriously reek.

When he laid down in the bath, some of the water splashed over the edge of the tub.

He realized that the weight of his body dispersed the water, and the excess had to leave the

tub in order to accommodate his body.

Suddenly, he realized that he could use this to solve the issue of the golden crown.

Apparently, he was so excited by this discovery that he jumped out of the bathtub, and ran

down the streets shouting, “Eureka!”- “I have found it!” without ever bothering

to get dressed.

People gasped and covered their children’s eyes, while others laughed at the eccentric

genius they all knew and loved.

Some historians believe that this last part was exaggerated, and that it may have just

been a silly story told for fun.

Even so, the practice of shouting the phrase “Eureka!” after a huge discovery is still

used today.

Vitruvius wrote, “The solution which occurred when he stepped into his bath and caused it

to overflow was to put a weight of gold equal to the crown, and known to be pure, into a

bowl which was filled with water to the brim.

Then the gold would be removed and the king’s crown put in, in its place.

An alloy of lighter silver would increase the bulk of the crown and cause the bowl to

overflow.”

Once Archimedes proposed this solution to the king, they compared the containers of

water side-by-side, it was clear that the goldsmith had, in fact, taken a lot of the

gold for himself, and gave the king a gold-plated crown.

They had sufficient evidence to find him guilty of stealing from the king.

In modern times, there are some scholars who believe that this story has been over-simplified

throughout the years, and that Achimedes may have used a more complex method in order to

figure out the solution to the golden crown.

Others say that it was a symbolic story, and that the incident never happened at all.

But we do know that it truly did happen, because these experiments resulted in the creation

of the Archimedes Principle.

This discovery would later become a law of physics, and began as the basics of fluid

mechanics.

It is still used by engineers today.

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Inventions and Achievements

Throughout his lifetime, King Hieron II continued to bring his requests to Archimedes, and he

was often challenged to use his mind to create the impossible.

The King commissioned him to build a vessel known as The Syracusia.

It was said to have been one of the largest boats that was ever built in ancient times,

and required the same amount of material that would normally go into building 60 ships.

It took over 100 men to assemble it after one year of work.

According to the historian Moschion of Phaselis, the interior of the Syracusia was so extravagant,

it would even impress people in modern times.

The boat was to be constructed of exotic wood and marble.

It had watchtowers staffed with soldiers, statues of the gods, fresh water baths, a

massive dining hall serving the finest food, a gymnasium, a library, and a temple.

Objects were made of ivory and gold.

One of the largest pieces of original artwork that was commissioned for the ship was an

illustration of the entire epic of the Iliad along the walls of the ship that had been

hand-assembled in mosaic tiles.

King Hieron wanted to do more than just a luxury pleasure cruise along the coast line.

He planned to take it across the Mediterranian sea.

So, how could something so heavy actually float?

Archimedes figured out The Law of Buoyancy and hydrostatics in order to make it all work.

The King wanted the impossible, and yet Archimedes was able to make it happen yet again.

Without his calculations and the Law of Buoyancy, modern-day cruise ships and mega-yachts may

not exist.

Once the ship was finally finished, the people of Syracuse celebrated its completion, and

nearly 2,000 people were allowed on board.

tHowever, after its maiden voyage from Sicily to Egypt, no one knows what happened to the

famous ship.

Aside from figuring out how luxury cruise liners can float, Archimedes invented some

pretty incredible things that we still use to this very day, like the Law of the Lever

and Balance.

He told the King that he could lift any object, no matter how heavy it was.

He was quoted saying to the King, “Give me a place to stand, and I will move the Earth”.

Impressed and slightly skeptical, the King asked to see him lift a ship out of the sea.

Through a set of cogs and pulleys, Archimedes was able to sit down at one end of the lever

and lift a ship that was full of heavy gear.

While we take them for granted today, his simple machine inventions of the level, pulley,

and screw were completely revolutionary, and would be essential to building modern society.

All of this was incredibly impressive, but his favorite achievements might surprise you.

They were his geometric equations.

In one of his publications called Method, he explained how he was testing various levers

with geometric shapes.

He would see how weights balanced against one another with the center of gravity.

Sometimes, he would see that something worked, but that wasn’t enough.

He needed to use math to prove step-by-step why it worked.

These were some of the world’s first geometric proofs.

Archimedes was so obsessed with calculating math problems, that he would carry around

a tray of sand with him so that he could trace calculations with his fingers.

One of his most significant contributions to math came from his publication called On

the Measurement of the Circle, where he figured out the ratio of a circle's circumference

to its diameter is Pi, or 3.14.

He worked on calculating the volume and surface area of various shapes and objects.

He even created the system of using exponents to describe large numbers.

Before this time, Greek scientists would perform an experiment, and draw conclusions from it

afterwards.

Archimedes would begin with math first, and then perform experiments in order to attempt

to see what would happen in reality.

Through this form of experimentation, Archimedes was responsible for so many theorems that

would eventually be classified as laws of physics.

Because of this, his mind has been compared to Einstein.

His brain was a truly remarkable level of genius that you rarely see but once in a lifetime.

The Roman Invasion of Syracuse

In the 3rd century BC, the Mediterranean basin was split between the Carthaginians in the

west, while the Greeks in the east.

The Romans controlled Rome, of course, but they were getting ready to invade the surrounding

territory to build their empire.

The Romans and the Carthaginians fought the First Punic War from 264 to 241 BC.

The war ended with Rome taking the victory over Carthage.

This meant that Sicily was now a Roman territory.

King Hieron II was able to maintain peace with Rome, and remain and independent city,

so long as they paid tribute in the form of goods.

This all changed in 218BC when The Second Punic War began.

In 215 BC, King Hieron II died, and King Hieronymus became the new ruler of Syracuse.

He chose to switch the city’s loyalty from Rome, and became rivals with Carthage instead.

Clearly, this was a huge mistake.

From 214 to 212 BC, the city of Syracuse now had to fend off Roman invaders.

So far in this story, you may think that Archimedes was more of a nerdy type who was only concerned

with maths.

If you were to put him in a fight, you wouldn’t exactly put your bets on him that he would

win.

But when the king gave him the task of inventing unstoppable war machines to fight the Roman

Empire, his mind delivered.

Archimedes may have been an old man in his 70’s, but his mind was still sharp as a

tack.

Yet again, he was able to achieve the impossible.

He created defense weapons that successfully defended the city for at least two years.

One of his most powerful weapons was known as The Archimedes Claw.

The claw was attached to his levels and pulley system.

The claw would grab on to the front of a Roman boat, lift it up in the air, and drop it back

into the sea.

This would capsize the ship, dumping the crew and all of its weapons into the Medeterranian

sea.

The Roman commander, Marcellus was quoted saying, “Archimedes uses my ships to ladle

sea water into his wine cups”

But he didn’t stop there.

Archimedes also created both large and small catapults that were able to blast holes through

the Roman ships.

According to Plutarch, "When Archimedes began to ply his engines, he at once shot against

the land forces all sorts of missile weapons, and immense masses of stone that came down

with incredible noise and violence; against which no man could stand; for they knocked

down those upon whom they fell in heaps, breaking all their ranks and files.”

Archimedes has also been credited for helping Syracuse use “burning mirrors”, which

reflected the sunlight onto the sails of the Roman ships, causing them to catch fire.

The following scene was described in a 12th Century text called The Book of Histories:

“The old man [Archimedes] constructed a kind of hexagonal mirror, and at an interval

proportionate to the size of the mirror he set similar small mirrors with four edges,

moved by links and by a form of hinge, and made it the centre of the sun's beams--its

noon-tide beam, whether in summer or in mid-winter.

Afterwards, when the beams were reflected in the mirror, a fearful kindling of fire

was raised in the ships, and at the distance of a bow-shot he turned them into ashes.”

The defense weapons were so successful, that they were responsible for killing thousands

of Roman soldiers.

So long as the continued to go after Syracuse, the men were killed by these machines.

Commander Marcus Claudius Marcellus decided that it was futile to attack Syracuse, so

they waited until they could find their perfect moment to conquer the city.

By 212 BC, Syracuse could not defend itself for much longer.

According to some historians, the citizens of the city were beginning to starve, because

they were surrounded by the Romans and could not get their supplies.

This starvation forced them to surrender.

According to others, Syracuse refused to surrender, and Archimedes’ weapons were strong enough

to hold them off.

But the Romans managed to take advantage of a weak spot in one of their land-facing defensive

walls while everyone was busy celebrating a religious festival.

Either way, Rome finally captured Syracuse, and ultimately won the Second Punic War.

Death, and Legacy

Marcellus Claudius Marcellus knew that Archimedes was responsible for these glorious weapons,

and he knew that he could be an asset to the Roman Empire.

Once they captured the city, he gave strict orders that this genius was an asset, and

must not be harmed.

He gave the order to bring Archimedes to him.

The only issue was that the Roman soldiers had no idea what Archimedes looked like.

The finer details of the story of his death change depending on the source, but what we

do know is that Archimedes was in the middle of working on his geometry on the beach.

He was tracing images of circles and mathematical equations in the sand.

A Roman warrior walked over top of his geometric drawings, which scattered all of his work.

Archimedes was outraged, and seemed to be totally oblivious to the fact that this was

a Roman soldier.

According to legend, his last words were, “Do not disturb my circles!” before being

cut down by the man’s sword.

He was 75 years old.

After his death, Archimedes was buried in a large tomb that represented his mathematical

achievements.

Even though he had destroyed so many Roman ships, they still had a tremendous amount

of respect for him, and scholars would visit to pay homage to his great mind.

At the tomb, there was a statue of a sphere and a cylinder.

This represented what Archimedes considered to be his greatest achievement; “If a sphere

is inscribed in a cylinder, then the sphere is 2/3 of the cylinder in both surface area

and volume.”

Years later, the famous Roman statesman named Cicero wrote that he wanted to pay his respects

to the tomb of Archimedes.

After searching for hours, he finally found it near the Agrigentine gate in Syracuse.

It was overgrown with vegetation, and clear that no one had bothered to visit in a very

long time.

Cicero cleaned up the area, and wrote down the inscriptions that he found on the tomb,

so that it would never be forgotten by history.

In modern times, people have theories as to where the location of the tomb may be, but

no one knows for sure.

In the 1960’s, the Hotel Panorama claimed that they discovered the tomb of Archimedes

during construction, and that they preserved it in their court yard.

However, some people believe that this was just a publicity stunt to attract more guests

to the hotel.

Years after his death, the works of Archimedes had been re-written, passed down by scribes

over and over again.

As tragic as it sounds, there must be countless numbers of notes and texts that Archimedes

created from his lifetime of work, and it would have been lost or destroyed over time.

Even though it was nearly impossible to find one of these missing original texts, it happened

In 1906.

A lost work known as the Archimedes Palimpsest were discovered buried in an old Christian

text.

Way back in 1229 AD, a man named Johannes Myronas was reusing parchment from old books,

and he unwittingly covered up the original work of Archimedes and replaced it with prayers.

In 2008, the text was purchased by its present owner who was open to the idea of allowing

it to be dissected for research purposes.

A group called The Friends of Archimedes got together to restore the 3rd Codex.

A team from a variety of different professional backgrounds spent over 4 years restoring the

manuscript.

One of the scholars, William Noel, explains in his TED Talk that they had to go through

a painstaking process of removing glue and examining the pages one-by-one under various

light sources in order to reveal the hidden works of Archimedes.

This group did not do this project for the money, but rather, for the love of knowledge,

and out of respect for Archimedes’ mind.

They believed that this information should be free to the public, so they made the entire

3rd Codex available to read online for free.

The only catch is that you need to know how to read in ancient Greek.

The odds that we will ever find more of his discoveries like this are slim-to-none.

But the work that we do remember from Archimedes was enough to revolutionize modern-day math,

science, and engineering.

Without his brilliant mind, the world truly would be a very different place.