Archimedes (c. 287 BC – c. 212 BC) was an ancient Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. He’s often regarded as one of the leading scientists in classical antiquity.
Here’s what you need to know about the the life and contributions of the renowned Greek mathematician:
Archimedes was born in the city of Syracuse on the island of Sicily, which was then a self-governing colony of Magna Graecia.
Archimedes made pioneering contributions in the area of geometry, particularly in the calculation of areas and volumes of shapes. He derived formulas to calculate the volume of a sphere and the area of a circle. He also introduced the concept of the mathematical infinite with his method of exhaustion.
Archimedean solids are convex polyhedra with identical faces of regular polygons. Archimedes identified 13 such solids, though his original work did not survive, and we know of them through later references.
Archimedes’ Principle states that any object, wholly or partially immersed in a fluid, is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. This principle is foundational in the field of fluid mechanics.
The story goes that Archimedes used mirrors or polished shields to focus sunlight onto Roman ships, causing them to catch fire during the Siege of Syracuse. While it’s an intriguing tale, its accuracy remains a subject of debate among historians. Practical experiments have produced mixed results.
The word “Eureka!” (Greek for “I have found it!”) is famously attributed to Archimedes. According to legend, he made this exclamation when stepping into a bath and noticing the water level rise, leading him to understand the principle of displacement, which then helped him solve a problem about the purity of a gold crown for the King of Syracuse.
Archimedes died during the Roman siege and capture of Syracuse. According to the historian Plutarch, he was killed by a Roman soldier despite orders from the Roman general Marcellus that he should not be harmed.
Archimedes’ work laid the foundations for calculus and his methods anticipated many of the integral calculus techniques developed centuries later. His ability to prove geometric theorems and apply them in practical ways showcased an extraordinary combination of theoretical insight and practical ingenuity.
Yes, though not all his works have survived. Some of the most notable ones include “On the Sphere and Cylinder,” “Measurement of a Circle,” “On Floating Bodies,” and “The Sand Reckoner,” in which he tried to calculate the number of grains of sand that would fit in the universe.
The Siege of Syracuse was a military conflict that took place during the Second Punic War between the Roman Republic and the Greek city of Syracuse in Sicily from 213...
The last words of history’s greatest leaders offer glimpses into their final moments and provide insights into their thoughts, beliefs, and legacies. From profound reflections to poignant farewells, these parting...
Born in Sicily, Magna Graecia, Archimedes was a critically acclaimed Greek scientist who attained so many feats in a host of scientific disciplines like astronomy, physics, mathematics, mechanics and engineering....
The ancient Greek civilization consistently ranks very well whenever a list of greatest civilizations in world history is made. This is primarily as a result of the sheer impact they...
