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Archimedes of Syracuse > 
One of the most original thinkers of Antiquity was Archimedes of Syracuse. Because our approach to physics is based upon a model that was developed by this scientist, we immediately recognize him as 'on of us'. And indeed: he did all kinds of experiments and brought the results together in a law of physics - the famous Law of Archimedes. He was also interested in mathematics, which led to a new approximation of pi and a remarkable treatise, The sand-reckoner, in which he showed that he could command really big numbers by calculating the number of grains of sand in the universe. Archimedes was also interested in engineering and invented a hydraulic organ and a planetarium (which implies that he thought that the motions of heaven could be described as if they were mechanical). The invention of a machine to lever ships from a dock to the sea made him boast that if he only had a point to stand on, he would move the earth. When the Romans besieged Syracuse, he invented war machines. (The famous anecdote that he built giant burning mirrors to attack ships at sea is untrue.) During the sack of the city, Archimedes was killed.
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More on this Website >
• http://www.mcs.drexel.edu/~cro ... imedes/contents.html
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Virtual History of Sicily
Illustrated history of Sicily based on a 2,800 year timeline. Italy, history, Italian history... |
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Euclid of Alexandria, Mathematician
Euclid of Alexandria is the most prominent mathematician of antiquity best known for his treatise on mathematics The Elements. The long lasting nature of The Elements mus... |
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