Page 26 - All About History - Issue 11-14

Science

ARCHIMEDES

Greek, 287-212 BCE
One of the world’s
Brief most celebrated
mathematicians
Bio and philosophers,
his discovery of
hydrostatics, application of pi
in geometry and invention of
numerous war machines made
him revered both in his day and
centuries later. His weapons of
war were vital to the defence of
Syracuse when it was besieged
by the Romans from 214 to 212
BCE, but the city eventually fell
and the great man was slain.

Top 5 facts

ARCHIMEDES

GENIUS MATHEMATICIAN
SYRACUSE, SICILY, 287-212 BCE

01 INVENTOR OF SUPERWEAPONS

While living in Syracuse he designed
numerous weapons to defend the city
from attackers, including an elaborate

‘death ray’ designed to concentrate
the rays of the Sun onto enemy ships,
setting them alight. He also developed
effective catapults and a ‘giant claw’
that would latch onto the hull of a ship
and cause it to capsize.

Master Defined the Discovered His screw
02 of levers 03 number pi 04 hydrostatics 05 changed the
Archimedes applied his understanding A brilliant mathematician, When taking a bath one day, he world forever
of geometry and physics to develop Archimedes is credited with forming noticed the displacement of water Though it seems relatively simple
immensely powerful levers. By the earliest accurate measurement was proportionate to the volume to modern eyes, Archimedes’ screw
calculating the length, strength and of a circle, using the irrational of his body submerged in it – it was was revolutionary at the time
position of the lever and fulcrum number pi (circa 3.14). Also known as rising up the sides as he lowered and demonstrated how low-lying
point relative to an object being Archimedes’ Constant, this number himself down. Legend has it he was water could be transferred upward
lifted, he revolutionised methods of was theorised by the mathematician so astonished by this epiphany, to canals or artificial streams for
construction. He was so confident in in his book Measurement of a which formed his understanding irrigating farmland. This invention
the potential of his levers, he even Circle. Though it’s been described of hydrostatics, that he ran naked would later influence Leonardo da
claimed: “Give me a place to stand, more accurately since, Archimedes’ through the streets crying the now- Vinci in his attempts to develop a
and I shall move the Earth.” number is still used today. famous phrase ‘Eureka!’ functioning flying machine.

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