Archimedes
Ancient Greek mathematician and inventor of Syracuse.
Archimedes, born in Syracuse, Sicily, was an Ancient Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer, and inventor. Though little is known about his personal life, his surviving work marks him as a top scientist of classical antiquity and one of history’s greatest mathematicians. He foreshadowed modern calculus by using infinitesimals and the method of exhaustion to prove key geometric theorems, such as the area of a circle, the surface area and volume of a sphere, the area of an ellipse, the area under a parabola, and the volumes of segments of paraboloid and hyperboloid revolutions, as well as the area of a spiral.
Beyond geometry, Archimedes approximated pi, studied the spiral that now bears his name, and created a system using exponents to express huge numbers. He was among the first to apply math to physics, working in statics and hydrostatics. He proved the law of the lever, popularized the center of gravity, and stated the principle of buoyancy (Archimedes’ principle). In astronomy, he measured the Sun’s apparent diameter and the universe’s size, and is said to have built a planetarium showing celestial motions—possibly a forerunner of the Antikythera mechanism. He also designed practical machines: a screw pump, compound pulleys, and defensive war machines for Syracuse.
Archimedes died during the siege of Syracuse, killed by a Roman soldier despite orders to spare him. Cicero later visited his tomb, marked by a sphere and cylinder—the shape Archimedes requested to honor his favorite mathematical discovery.
His mathematical writings were little known in antiquity, though Alexandrian scholars read and quoted them. The first full compilation came from Isidore of Miletus in Byzantine Constantinople, and Eutocius’ commentaries later opened them to a wider audience. In the Middle Ages, his work was translated into Arabic in the 9th century and into Latin in the 12th, influencing Renaissance and Scientific Revolution thinkers. The 1906 discovery of the Archimedes Palimpsest revealed new insights into his methods.
Biographical details are sparse. A lost biography by Heraclides Lembus is doubted by modern scholars. Based on John Tzetzes’ statement that Archimedes lived 75 years before his death in 212 BC, he was likely born in Syracuse, then a self-governing Greek colony. In *The Sand-Reckoner*, he names his father as Phidias, an otherwise unknown astronomer. Plutarch claimed Archimedes was related to King Hiero II, but Cicero and Silius Italicus suggest humble origins. It is unknown if he married, had children, or visited Alexandria as a youth, though his works addressed to Dositheus and Eratosthenes show ties to scholars there. In *On Spirals*, he notes that many years had passed since Conon’s death (c. 280–220 BC), hinting he was older when writing some works.
One famous story involves King Hiero II’s golden wreath. Vitruvius wrote that the king suspected a goldsmith had mixed silver with the gold. Archimedes, stepping into a bath, noticed the water rose as he sank, realizing this could measure the wreath’s volume. Excited, he ran naked through the streets shouting “Eureka!” He then compared the water displacement of gold and silver lumps equal in weight to the wreath, proving it was alloyed. A different account in a 5th-century Latin poem describes using a balance scale instead.
- born
- c. 287 BC, Syracuse, Sicily
- died
- c. 212 BC, Syracuse, Sicily
- field
- Mathematics, physics, engineering, astronomy, invention
- nationality
- Ancient Greek (Syracusan)
- known_for
- Archimedes' principle, law of the lever, Archimedean spiral, approximation of pi, war machines, screw pump
Lore & Background
Archimedes was born c. 287 BC in Syracuse, Sicily, then a self-governing colony in Magna Graecia. His father was Phidias, an astronomer about whom nothing else is known. Plutarch wrote that Archimedes was related to King Hiero II, though Cicero and Silius Italicus suggest he was of humble origin. It is unknown whether he ever married or had children, or if he visited Alexandria, Egypt, during his youth; his surviving works, addressed to Dositheus of Pelusium and Eratosthenes of Cyrene, suggest collegial relations with scholars there. In the preface to On Spirals, Archimedes says that 'many years have elapsed since Conon's death,' indicating he may have been an older man when writing some works.
According to Vitruvius, King Hiero II suspected a goldsmith of adulterating a golden wreath with silver and asked Archimedes to investigate. While stepping into a bath, Archimedes noticed the water level rose and realized this could determine the wreath's volume; he allegedly ran naked through the streets crying 'Eureka!' He then demonstrated the wreath was mixed with silver by comparing water displacement. A different account in the Carmen de Ponderibus describes using a balance immersed in water, applying the hydrostatic principle now known as Archimedes' principle. Archimedes also designed the Syracusia, a huge ship, and reportedly used mechanical advantage to move it, with the oft-quoted remark 'Give me a place to stand on, and I will move the Earth.'
During the Siege of Syracuse (214–212 BC), Archimedes oversaw war machines that greatly delayed the Roman army under Marcus Claudius Marcellus. He died during the siege, killed by a Roman soldier despite orders that he should not be harmed. Cicero describes visiting Archimedes' tomb, surmounted by a sphere and a cylinder that Archimedes requested to represent his most valued mathematical discovery.
Reader's Guide
Archimedes' mathematical writings were little known in antiquity, though Alexandrian mathematicians read and quoted him. The first comprehensive compilation was made c. 530 AD by Isidore of Miletus in Byzantine Constantinople, and Eutocius' commentaries in the same century opened them to wider readership. In the Middle Ages, his work was translated into Arabic in the 9th century and then into Latin in the 12th century, becoming an influential source for scientists during the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution. The discovery in 1906 of the Archimedes Palimpsest provided new insights into how he obtained mathematical results. His achievements include deriving an approximation of pi, defining the Archimedean spiral, devising a system using exponentiation for large numbers, proving the law of the lever, using the concept of center of gravity, and enunciating the law of buoyancy. In astronomy, he measured the apparent diameter of the Sun and the size of the universe, and may have built a planetarium device that was a precursor to the Antikythera mechanism. He is also credited with designing innovative machines such as his screw pump, compound pulleys, and defensive war machines.
Did You Know?
- Archimedes is estimated to have been born c. 287 BC based on a statement by John Tzetzes that he lived for 75 years before his death in 212 BC.
- He is said to have built a planetarium device that demonstrated the movements of the known celestial bodies, possibly a precursor to the Antikythera mechanism.
- The discovery in 1906 of the Archimedes Palimpsest provided new insights into how he obtained mathematical results.
- Cicero describes visiting Archimedes' tomb, which was surmounted by a sphere and a cylinder that Archimedes requested be placed there.
Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)
"Archimedes of Syracuse (c. 287 BC – c. 212 BC) was a Greek mathematician, philosopher, scientist and engineer." — Archimedes "I have found it! or I have got it!, commonly quoted as Eureka!" — Archimedes "Give me the place to stand, and I shall move the earth." — Archimedes "Give me a place to stand and with a lever I will move the whole world." — Archimedes
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