Archimedes Inventions

Often, we are left only bits and pieces of information about individuals who lived thousands of years ago. Although the same can be said about the man, Archimedes, there is enough information for us to understand a lot about who he was as an individual and some of the Archimedes inventions that were used at the time. As a matter of fact, some of these inventions are still used today because they are so practical.

Archimedes was an inventor, engineer and mathematician who lived in ancient Greece during the third century B.C. Some of his strongest points were the Archimedes inventions that came about as a result of his strong background in physics. For example, he is often given credit for the invention of the lever although it had been used for thousands of years prior to this time. What he did do, however, is give a working theory of how this particular invention operates. He is credited with making the statement that if he were to have a place to stand, he would be able to move the entire earth.

Many of the Archimedes inventions also came about as a result of the military conquests of the Romans. During that time, a siege was one of the most terrible thing that could happen to a city. By being cut off from the outside world, the inhabitants of the city would either slowly starve or be prone to various diseases of the day. Some of the more notable Archimedes inventions include siege machines that were used in defending against a Roman siege against the city of Syracuse, on the east coast of Sicily. Some of these inventions included giant mirrors which focused the sun's light onto Roman ships, causing them to burn and giant cranes which overturned the ships.

Another of the Archimedes inventions that many of us are familiar with in one way or another is the Archimedes screw. This screw is used as a way of transferring water from lower lying areas to higher ground. By constantly rotating this screw inside of a tube, it forces the water through the tube and out the other end, even though it is at a higher level. This is one of the Archimedes inventions that is still in use today. Interestingly enough, this particular invention may not have come about as a result of Archimedes at all. It is thought that a form of this screw may have been in use centuries earlier by Sennacherib, the king of Assyria. It is also thought that Nebuchadnezzar may have used a device similar to this to water the famous hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Eventually, the siege by the Romans was successful, regardless of whether the Archimedes inventions which defended the city from the onslaught had some limited success or not. It was during this time that Archimedes died, even though specific orders were given that he should not be put to death. According to some information, he was killed by a Roman soldier after demanding that his spheres, or circles in the dirt not be disturbed.

A relatively accurate history of these Archimedes inventions has been recorded by some ancient historians that lived during that time. We can be thankful that somebody had the foresight to put some of these things down in writing so that we could learn about them today.