ARCHIME`DES OF SYRACUSE

ARCHIME`DES OF SYRACUSE
   the greatest mathematician of antiquity, a man of superlative inventive power, well skilled in all the mechanical arts and sciences of the day. When Syracuse was taken by the Romans, he was unconscious of the fact, and slain, while busy on some problem, by a Roman soldier, notwithstanding the order of the Roman general that his life should be spared. He is credited with the boast: "Give me a fulcrum, and I will move the world." He discovered how to determine the specific weight of bodies while he was taking a bath, and was so excited over the discovery that, it is said, he darted off stark naked on the instant through the streets, shouting "Eureka! Eureka! I have found it! I have found it!" (287-212 B.C.).

The Nuttall Encyclopaedia. . 1907.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”