A.E. Albert: A Writer's Blog

Things To Know About Archimedes
by A.E. Albert
@aealbert23

Things to Know

About Archimedes

In my novel, The Time Sphere, the reader will encounter many figures from history. One of these characters is the great Archimedes of Syracuse, one of the greatest mathematicians and inventors in mankind's history.








Here are a few little tidbits:

1.Archimedes (287-212 BC) was the ancient Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor and astronomer.

2. He was born in Syracuse, Sicily and educated in Alexandria, Egypt.

3. He lived his life in Syracuse until the city was taken by the Romans. Although Rome wanted him alive, a disobedient Soldier killed him. As the soldier stepped on his drawings, Archimedes' supposed last words were, 'Don't disturb my circles.'

4. It is believed that he devised and built the Antikythera Mechanism. Pappris of Alexandria stated that Archimedes wrote papers on the construction of the device.


What is the Antikythera Mechanism?

• In 1902, off the coast of the small Greek island of Antikythera, a Roman shipwreck was discovered.
• Many treasures were discovered and among them was a clockwork device. It was used to track astronomical bodies of our solar system and eclipses. It was made up of more than 30 gears.
• The mechanism is considered the world's first analogue computer and believed to be the oldest.
• Previous to its discovery, it was believed that this type of technology had not been in existence until 1575.
• It's existence also proves that many ancient peoples believed that the planets rotated around the sun and not as Aristotle taught, around the Earth. 
• The mechanism is thought to be dated from 100 to 150 BC

Inventions and Theorems of Archimedes:

1. He defined the principle of the lever.
2. Created the compound pulley.
3. Created the hydraulic screw.
4. Discovered the law of hydro-statics or 'Archimedes Principle'
5. He proved that a sphere is 2/3 the volume of a cylinder's surface area.
6. He created the Archimedes Claw- A weapon that capsized ships.
7. He created the Heat Ray- A weapon which used polished bronze and the sun to set ships on fire.
8. He improved the power/accuracy of the catapult.
9. He created the odometer.
10. It is believed he devised the Antikythera Mechanism.

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