Archimedes The Life and Work of Archimedes (original) (raw)

are given. Plutarch provides a number of versions. In his first, he states that Archimedes was so involved working a solution to a problem with a diagram that he did not noticed the invasion of the Romans. When a soldier took him by surprise and requested that he follow to Marcellus, Archimedes told the soldier to wait until he arrived at his solution. This so enraged the soldier that he killed Archimedes on the spot.

The other versions of the story are similar with the most colorful quoting Archimedes as saying, "Stand away, fellow, from my diagram," causing rage in the soldier. In his grief for the death of such a noble person, Marcellus erected an elaborate monument in Archimedes' honor and directed that he be honored with a burial. As requested by Archimedes, his friends and relatives placed on his tomb a representation of a cylinder circumscribing a sphere within it and an inscription stating the relationship between the two bodies (the volume of a sphere is equal to two thirds that of the circumscribing cylinder). From this, it can be inferred that Archimedes considered this his greatest achievement.

Centuries later, Archimedes's tomb was found in a neglected state and identified because of the inscription by the Roman orator Cicero. Cicero restored the tomb stating in disgust "And thus one of the noblest cities of Greece, once indeed a very great seat of learning, would have been ignorant of the monument of its most brilliant citizen, except that it was revealed by a man of Arpinum." 12

References << Back

1. T.L. Heath, The Works of Archimedes, with a supplement The Methods of Archimedes as discovered by Heiberg, (New York: Dover Publications, 1912), p. xv

2. Justus Schifferes, "The Alexandrian School,"The Book of Popular Science, September 1956, p.355

3. Robert Maynard Hutchins, Editor in Chief, Great Books of the Western World, II. Euclid, Archimedes, Apollonius of Perga, Nicomachus, (Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 1952), p. 399

4. Heath, p. xvi

5. Marshall Clagett, â€œArchimedes," Collier s Encyclopedia, Volume 2, 1988

6. "Archimedes," Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., Volume 2, 1972

7. Clagett, p.479

8. Heath, pp. xix, xx

9. David M. Burton, The History of Mathematics, An Introduction, Second Edition, (Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1991), p. 206

10. Heath, p.xvii

11. Burton, p. 206

Build an Archimedes Water Screw in just one night with our easy, step by step plans and instructions.

Great Project

Invented in Egypt by the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes , the Archimedes Screw , or water screw , as it is commonly known, was used for irrigation and lifting water from mines and ship bilges. The water screw works wonderfully for science and history class assignments and science fair projects.

Easy to Build

All TrebuchetStore.com plans use common, inexpensive and easy to find building materials, available at your local hardware store or home center. Basic skills and tools are required, but the straightforward designs require no complicated layout or joinery.

TrebuchetStore.com plans come complete with:

Parts Shopping List
Measured Drawings for all parts
Assembly Drawings
Step by step Assembly Instructions
Step by step Operating Instructions All the information you need to complete your project quickly and easily.


Roman Ballista	Highland Trebuchet	daVinci Catapult	daVinci Trebuchet
12.95FreeShipping∣12.95 Free Shipping	12.95FreeShipping∣12.95 Free Shipping	12.95FreeShipping∣12.95 Free Shipping	12.95FreeShipping∣12.95 Free Shipping
Plan # BP1	Plan # TP6	Plan # CP2	Plan # TP5

U.S. Orders Only	U.S. Orders Only	U.S. Orders Only	U.S. Orders Only

Tennis Ball Trebuchet	Medieval Trebuchet	Golf Ball Trebuchet	Stirling Trebuchet
12.95FreeShipping∣12.95 Free Shipping	12.95FreeShipping∣12.95 Free Shipping	12.95FreeShipping∣12.95 Free Shipping	12.95FreeShipping∣12.95 Free Shipping
Plan # TP2	Plan # TP1	Plan # TP3	Plan # TP4

U.S. Orders Only	U.S. Orders Only	U.S. Orders Only	U.S. Orders Only

Roman Onager	Roman Mangonel	Statistics Catapult	Repeating Crossbow
12.95FreeShipping∣12.95 Free Shipping	12.95FreeShipping∣12.95 Free Shipping	12.95FreeShipping∣12.95 Free Shipping	12.95FreeShipping∣12.95 Free Shipping
Plan # OP1	Plan # MP1	Plan # CP1	Plan # RC1

U.S. Orders Only	U.S. Orders Only	U.S. Orders Only	U.S. Orders Only

Archimedes Screw	Trebuchet
12.95FreeShipping∣12.95 Free Shipping	12.95FreeShipping∣12.95 Free Shipping
Plan # WS1	Plan # TP7

U.S. Orders Only	U.S. Orders Only

Save up to 50% with Multi-Plan Deals

2 Plans $19.95 FREE Shipping - Save Over 30% U.S. Orders Only

Do It Yourself Working Model Trebuchet Kit

Side view of a working model trebuchet kit in the cocked position.

Trebuchet Kit Item #TK

$75.00 Free Shipping U.S. Orders Only

The trebuchet kit includes fully precut and drilled frame parts, pins and axles, sling cord and sewn pouch, projectiles and fully illustrated assembly and firing instructions. Unlike the flimsy, snap together plywood trebuchet kits, this all hardwood trebuchet kit does not require additional cutting, trimming or shaping. This DIY Trebuchet Kit requires only white carpenter's glue and a few bar clamps (not included) to assemble. Read More >

Fully Assembled Working Model Trebuchet

Side view of a working model trebuchet in the cocked position.

daVinci Trebuchet Item # T4

$299.00 Free Shipping U.S. Orders Only

Inspired by the great war machines and siege catapults of Leonardo da Vinci , this all Red Oakhardwood trebuchet features an open counterweight cabinet for range and trajectory adjustment. Fire with an empty counterweight for indoor use, or add weight (nuts, bolts, scrap lead, iron or steel, sand, or small rocks not included) for increased range.Individually crafted from cabinet-grade red oak, the da Vinci Trebuchet stands 14 inches tall in the cocked position, 24 inches tall in the fired position and will hurl a projectile up to 60 feet. Includes six projectiles and fully illustrated instructions.Read More >

Archimedes The Life and Work of Archimedes - Page 3