Archimedes

Date of Birth: 287 BC

Zodiac Sign: Unknown

Date of Death: 212 BC

Biography

Archimedes of Syracuse was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. Born in 287 BC in the city of Syracuse on the island of Sicily, Archimedes is often regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians of all time. His contributions to mathematics include the discovery of the relation between the surface and volume of a sphere and its circumscribing cylinder, the formulation of a hydrostatic principle known as Archimedes’ principle, and his work on the laws of levers and pulleys which allowed him to explain how machines work. Archimedes also invented numerous devices, such as the Archimedean screw, which is used for raising water, and war machines that helped defend Syracuse from Roman invasion. His works influenced many later scientists, including Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton. Archimedes died in 212 BC during the Second Punic War when Syracuse was captured by Roman forces.

5 Interesting Facts about Archimedes

1. Archimedes is credited with inventing the Archimedean Screw, a device still used today for lifting water.

2. He famously exclaimed “Eureka!” upon discovering the principle that bears his name, Archimedes’ principle, while taking a bath.

3. Archimedes’ work on levers and pulleys laid the groundwork for modern mechanics.

4. He wrote the famous treatise “On the Sphere and Cylinder,” which established important mathematical principles that are still taught today.

5. Archimedes is rumored to have designed war machines such as the Claw of Archimedes, which protected Syracuse from naval attacks.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Archimedes

1. “Give me a place to stand, and I shall move the world.”

2. “Eureka! Eureka!” (I have found it! I have found it!)

3. “Mathematics reveals its secrets only to those who approach it with pure love, for its own beauty.”

4. “The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.”

5. “Those who claim to discover everything but produce no proofs of the same may be confuted as having actually pretended to discover the impossible.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As an ancient mathematician and inventor, Archimedes did not accumulate a net worth in the modern sense. His contributions were of intellectual and practical value rather than financial.