Mathematician · 287 BC – 212 BC
Archimedes
Key Takeaways
- Archimedes is widely considered the greatest mathematician of antiquity.
- He discovered the principle of buoyancy that bears his name.
- He calculated a remarkably accurate value of pi and anticipated integral calculus.
- He designed ingenious machines and war engines to defend Syracuse.
Archimedes of Syracuse is widely regarded as the greatest mathematician of antiquity — and one of the greatest scientists of any age. Working in the Greek city of Syracuse in Sicily, he united pure mathematics with physics and ingenious engineering.
Mathematics and physics
Archimedes calculated areas and volumes by methods that anticipated the integral calculus by nearly two thousand years, and arrived at a strikingly accurate value of pi. He founded the science of hydrostatics with his principle of buoyancy and explained the law of the lever — boasting that, given a place to stand, he could move the Earth.
Inventor and defender of Syracuse
His mechanical genius was legendary. He devised the water-raising Archimedes screw and built war engines — cranes, catapults and more — that held the Roman siege of Syracuse at bay for years.
Death and legacy
When Syracuse finally fell in 212 BC, Archimedes was killed by a Roman soldier, supposedly while engrossed in a diagram. His work, rediscovered in the Renaissance, inspired Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo and Isaac Newton — and his cry of “Eureka!” still rings out at every moment of discovery.
Influence
Archimedes founded mathematical physics and engineering, and his methods for areas and volumes pointed directly toward the integral calculus, making him one of the most important scientists in history.
Legacy
Revered across antiquity and the Renaissance, Archimedes inspired Galileo and Newton, and 'Eureka!' remains the universal cry of discovery.
Major Works
- On the Equilibrium of Planes
- On Floating Bodies
- Measurement of a Circle
Controversies
- Stories of his 'heat ray' burning Roman ships are likely later embellishments.
Notable Quotes
“Give me a place to stand, and I will move the Earth.”
“Eureka! (I have found it!)”
Connections
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Archimedes?
Archimedes (c. 287–212 BC) was a Greek mathematician, physicist and inventor of Syracuse, regarded as the greatest mathematician of antiquity and a founder of mathematical physics.
What is Archimedes' principle?
It states that a body immersed in a fluid is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces — the basis of how floating works.
Citations & Sources
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